Liberty POV
I refuse to go down, to share another meal with them. Yes I’m beyond hungry but right now, I can’t be anywhere near them.
Even Pierce. For some reason there’s a pull towards him, an attraction, but he was too old for me. He must be Reuben’s age which is twenty-four, and I eighteen. Six years is a big difference surely? I’ve not even experienced anything yet and he seems to ooze confidence. He’s experienced in the world and with women no doubt.. What can I really offer him?
What had I got myself into? What is Father going to say…to do?
I can’t believe what is going on…that there’s a secret world of werewolves. That I’m supposed to be one as well?
Yes Vicky had a bitch side, I’ve experienced that first hand but to be capable of murdering Evelyn’s parents in such a calculated attack…really? And then framing it on Reuben and to kidnap an innocent child? In a game of power…I don’t know. It all seemed rather far fetched.
I was a believer in what you see kind of person, and all I could see was Malcolm chained in a cell looking in a lot of pain.
I keep pacing the floor, they must hear my footsteps from downstairs. I really should eat. It might be the last time for a while, but I just can’t eat their food. Not if what they say is true, they should despise me. I should be in their cells with Malcolm surely? I was my Father’s Daughter. They should hate me.
Unless, unless they were using me as well. Holding me for ransom or a deal with Father?
Argh I just didn’t know who to trust anymore, I scream in my mind pulling at my hair. The safety of the apartment now seemed such a long time ago.
I should eat, yes, it might be the last time for a while but I can’t eat their food. Not when if what they say is true… they should despise me. I should be in the cells with Malcolm.
Sod them! I’m my own woman now, I will not end up in the cells like Malcolm or as a pawn in this power play battle with my Father. They said Father was using me for my money but he’s never been cruel to me, yes domineering but never cruel. But if this was the secret world he was apart of, the ex ruler of, then now wonder he kept me hidden away.
They were all eating together which meant my best time to escape would be now. I open the bedroom window and look down at the grass ground. Okay shit, that’s quite high. But I think I could scale down it using the drain pipe. Hopefully it will support my weight… I’ve not eaten a lot recently after all.
I slowly lower myself out of the window, already dreading my stupid decision as I grab on to the drain pipe and use it to ease myself down. As soon as my feet touch the ground, I’m great proud of my abseiling abilities.
Crouching down, I keep myself low around Reuben’s house and other neighbouring properties. I keep off the main gravel path, sticking to the shadows of the trees. Jeez, how much land does he actually own?
In the distance I can make out the odd gate that we drove through, which still had men on guard. Was the gate always guarded? Okay think Lib, think….
“Through the trees.” A voice demands in my head. Rather than panic about the odd voice that is becoming more apparent, I decide it had a good point and I should follow.
I run into the trees, tripping over a few times from the lack of lighting. I can hear some kind of busy road in the distance and make my way into that direction when I stop abruptly in a semi open clearing.
Eyes!
Eyes were watching me in the dark. At first I panic, terrified…my own body starting to shiver from those eery eyes. Goosebumps now covering every inch of my skin.
“We can’t let you leave!” Someone shouts out. Guards…so he had guards everywhere.
“I’m free to go as I please.” I shout back, my voice sounding a little more croaky than I would have liked.
“If that was the case, you would have used the main gate.” The men start to step out of the shadows, their eyes still burning into me as they block my path. Making it very clear they were not willing to let me pass.
“I’m not a prisoner here, now move.” I shout back, my own voice surprising me this time by the strength behind it. It didn’t sound like me.
I go to walk through them when I hear him coming from behind. I don’t need. to turn around, I can feel his eyes on the back of my head, like heated vision, burning into me.
“I’m leaving!” I command, having had enough of this bullshit. I didn’t leave one controlling person to be around another. I’d rather take my luck on my Own.
“No!” He roars.
“No?” I turn on my heel, scowling at him. “I thank you for your hospitality but I’m leaving. I don’t want any part of this…this life you have.”
“It’s too late now. What do you think will happen huh? Without the drugs your wolf is already starting to present herself. What if she shifts in front of humans…you’ll expose our world, I can’t allow that.” He takes a step towards me but I reply with step back, forgetting for a moment that I am surrounded again.
I can see Nate and Pierce running in the distance, why was Reuben so much faster?
“This is all bullshit, I won’t have it. I haven’t left one caged life to swap it with another. I don’t care what crap you come up with…if Vicky…”
Just the mention of her name brings out the devil in Reuben. He shifts before me, I watch the entire thing. Such a smooth transition but heart stopping at the same time. He charges at me…this huge wolf and I lose my footing in my panic to run. I fall onto my bum, my palms crazing against the woodland ground. They’ve cut open, I can feel the stinging already. But I can’t seem to register the pain as his wolf stalks towards me like a night time predator.
I try to move away, to crawl backwards but something is stopping me. He’s giving off some kind of vibration that has frozen me. He gains on me, his wolf now in my face. His warm breath fanning my face as he starts to snap his teeth at me.
A dangerous growl emitting from the back of its throat. I want to close my eyes, but I can’t, they are wide open. Watching the live show of some kind of werewolf devil revenge show, and I the main actress.
If I survive this, I’ll have trauma for years. I watch in slow motion as Pierce, in human form, runs up to this wolf and knocks him from the side.
The wolf, or should I say Reuben? Is catapulted to the side, rolling around in the leaves before regaining his footing. Pierce remains in his human form as he stands in front of me, challenging Reuben to attack.
“You should have shifted!” That voice returns in my head.
“I don’t know how!” I scream out, clutching at my head as all eyes look at me. My odd behaviour seems to break Reuben’s anger long enough for him to shift back into human form.
Clutching my head, I start to rock back and forth, to find any comfort in this horror scene that has become my life. Pierce crouches down, prying my hands away before placing a kiss on top of my head.
“It’s going to be okay…” He whispers in my ear before picking me up in his arms. Cradling me tightly to his chest.
“I’m taking her home with me, you can’t keep your temper at bay. She’s mine to protect, not yours.” Pierce growls at Reuben before walking back in the direction of the houses.
“Pierce wait.” Reuben stops Pierce by placing a hand to his shoulder, seemingly agitated by his own behaviour towards me when the most soul piercing scream comes from the main living area.
“Evelyn…” Reuben utters.
“Go!” Pierce orders before Reuben shifts back into wolf form and is followed by his guards.
