A Calculated Gamble
Cleopatra froze on her track when the voice boomed through the hallway, her fingers tracing the dagger in her hands firmly, ready to attack if need be.
“I asked you a question, what are you doing here and who let you in by this time!!?”
Cleopatra took a deep breath, her mind racing with different scenarios that could play out given the situation. She quietly stood up right, and was about to turn towards the direction of the voice.
“What are you doing here Sarah?” Williams repeated, sounding irritated.
A jolt of surprise and relief shot through Cleopatra. Sarah? What could she be doing here by this time?
Cleopatra inched closer, her curiosity getting the best of her. Maybe whatever Sarah has could help her mission, she thought.
Through the narrow gap from her hiding place, she could make out their figures. Sarah, her back to Cleopatra, stood poised with an air of defiance like she wasn't caught cheating, weeks before her wedding.
“Don't play Coy with me, Sarah,” Williams spat. “What are you doing here?”
“I have an information that would make you beg to have me back,” she purred, running her fingers across Williams's chest seductively.
Williams caught her hand almost immediately, like he just came in contact with a plague.
“I want you and your crazy information, out of my territory this instant,” he growled in a deep cold voice, “Get out!”
“Fine! Fine! I will leave,” she whined.
Cleopatra turned to leave as there was no secret Intel for her to pick.
“But don't you want to know about the guest you're entertaining in your pack?” she asked tauntingly, flipping her hair delicately.
Cleopatra stopped dead in her tracks. Her curiosity piqued and a gush of adrenaline coursed through her veins almost immediately. Could it be Theo? Or worse still her!! Anticipation gnawed at her. What if Sarah reveals her identity as a spy?
“What do you mean?” Williams replied, his gaze steady and his fist clenched.
“What do I get in return?” Sarah whispered, a sly smile playing on her lips.
“How about telling me as payment for your betrayal?” Williams responded, sounding distant and firm.
Cleopatra felt her knees give away and she stumbled. Williams glanced over her direction cautiously.
“Who's there?” he called out, matching towards the end where Cleopatra hid.
“Are you going to listen or would you rather chase ghosts?” Sarah hissed, making Williams stop and turn towards her with a grunt.
“Let's go to my study,” he replied, scanning the hallways cautiously, his expression grim.
“Phew, that was a close one,” Cleopatra muttered to herself. She debated on trailing them and finding out the information Sarah has on either her or Theo.
If it's about her, then she could escape as quickly as possible before they confront her. If it's indeed Theo, it would answer many of her questions about his real identity.
Should she go after them or go ahead to meet Theo?
Cleopatra stood alone with her thoughts, deliberating on what choice to make.
The sinister smile on Theo’s face earlier flashed through her mind and quickened her resolve.
“I'd rather know who exactly I'm getting into a tunnel with,” she muttered to herself and with determined strides, carefully made her way out of the hallway towards Alpha Williams study.
She knew her way to the study despite the dimly lit hallways, courtesy of Alpha Williams and how he took her around during her first visit here.
Cleopatra crept in through the back and made her way to the study. She leaned in closer, her ears pressed against the crack on the door.
She listened intently, trying to make out the words but could only hear bits of it. Frustrated, she leaned closer, quietly pushing at the door.
“Are you sure about this?” She heard Williams ask.
Sure about what? Cleopatra wondered. Their hushed voices made it difficult for her to understand the conversation accurately.
“He's out to get you, I can swear on my life. Rumor has it that he was obsessed with your late Luna. He's a maniac. He believes you killed her and wants his revenge!” Sarah whispered, “I only came to tell you this because I owe it to you and I feel terrible about my betrayal,” she finished quietly.
I knew it! Cleopatra thought. Theo’s story never made sense. She felt liberated. This revelation means that she could save the young man who gave a false testimony.
Her Alpha would not want to have anything to do with Theo if he finds out that he lied and that his plan doesn't favor their pack in any way but for his selfish obsession.
Cleopatra decided to wait it out in her room and talk to Alpha Williams before dawn when suddenly, a hand clamped down on her shoulder. A strangled gasp escaped her lips as she whirled around to see who it was.
“What are you doing here? I've been waiting for you,” a gruff voice said, cutting through the air.
Theo!
Cleopatra looked up at him with disgust. His brow furrowed, noticing her expression.
She dragged him out and pulled him towards the hallway, careful not to make a sound.
The air crackled with tension as she stopped and faced him, careful not to let him notice that she's out to get him.
“Don't you see? This is our only chance to put an end to Williams's reign of terror,” he persuaded, his voice tight with maniac energy, “Did you fall for his charms like my sister? I swear to God I won't let him hurt you like he did my sister,” he whispered in an urgency that made Cleopatra's inside churn.
“Remember,” he continued, “I saved you from the Night Wolves, so you have to do this with me, if not for your pack but for me who saved your life.”
Cleopatra was short of words. Was this why he saved her? So she could be a weapon to achieve his selfish gains?
He made a big mistake, Cleopatra thought. How would she get him to leave?
“There's another way,” Cleopatra said in a calm tone, “I overheard them discussing something very important. We couldn't have done it tonight anyway. So just go to your room, we'll talk in the morning.”
Just as she thought, Theo seemed to be on the verge of defiance.
“What did you hear?” he asked suspiciously.
“Just enough to know that we'll be caught if we proceed tonight. I'll fill you in on everything tomorrow. Just go” she replied.
Theo hesitated, uncertainty raging in his eyes. Cleopatra held her breath, praying silently that he would buy her lies. Finally, with a muttered curse, he leaned in, “Don't make me come get you tomorrow morning,” he whispered and disappeared into the darkness.
With a deep breath, Cleopatra straightened herself and turned to head to her room. “I need to change into something else before someone sees me dressed as a ninja,” she muttered to herself.
As she turned to leave, a chilling voice cut through the air. “Leaving so soon, Cleo?” Renée growled, a suspicious smile playing on her lips.
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