Free Web NovelChapter 19: 019
Roselle’s POV
True to his word, Dr. Elias arrives within the hour, a gentle smile resting on his lips as though he’s determined to put me at ease. A nurse follows closely behind him, her crisp uniform immaculate as she makes her way to my bedside. The moment she reaches me, concern flashes across her face.
"Are you okay?" she asks softly.
I look at her for three seconds before signing to her, "Yes, I am."
They probably must have already heard I almost got eaten up but at least they don’t know it’s because my silly self tried to escape. And would I do it again? I don’t know.
Dr. Elias nods at my response, a look of quiet approval crossing his features.
"If you’re okay, then that’s good," he says gently.
He glances toward the nurse and gives a small signal. She immediately steps forward, carrying a medical tray in her hands, and on the tray is a clear bag filled with pale amber liquid.
My stomach drops. Another IV. I hate it. I hate needles.
The nurse notices my expression and I genuinely don’t know how much my look had given away and she offers a reassuring smile.
"Your body has been through a lot, you need it." She says softly.
Well, that’s one way to put it atleast it’s enough reason for me not to be terrified.
She carefully hangs the IV bag onto the metal stand beside my bed and I just lay down watching her, unable to sign to her.
I better stay calm.
Dr. Elias walks closer to me, sitting beside me on my bed as he reaches for my arm, which I offer willingly.
His hands are warm and steady as he checks my pulse. He then reaches for my wrist next, counting my pulse manually while glancing at the watch strapped to his arm.
He whispers a medical term to the lady, I can’t really place what he is saying. I blink but not in a confused way but a do-your-thing way.
And just as if he can tell I might get confused he smiles a little and speaks. "Your heart is beating faster than I’d like."
Oh, really? Am I tense?
"So you need to relax." He completes.
"Relax," the nurse backs him up.
Well, easy for them to say if only they weren’t the one almost eaten up by wolves because their scents wasn’t recognised.
Finally, she inserts the IV drip catheter into my vein. I look away like it’ll stop the immediate piercing pain and soon the pain fades and I’m settled.
I watch the drip start flowing and Dr. Elias watches me to be sure I am comfortable and there’s no difficulty. The steady dripping sound fills the room.
"You need sleep," he concludes. "Your body needs sleep."
I stare at him and to be honest I’m comfortable.
"You’re safe here, Roselle, if at all, trust Alpha Ronan’s protection."
My only job tonight is to sleep, that’s all right?
I don’t sign that to him because I know that’s just what I’ve got to do.
Dr. Elias stands up from the bed and gives the IV line one final inspection and he nods to his nurse, she walks to me, pop a bottle of pills and I can already tell its to aid my sleeping.
"This is to aid your sleeping, Roselle." Dr. Elias confirms.
Yes, I know. The nurse hands me a cup of water and I raise myself up, taking a sip of the water and throwing a pill in my mouth.
Digested. Celeste should be here soon too.
They both stare at me to see if it’ll have an immediate effect and internally, my eyelids feel heavier than before now.
"You’ll be fine, trust." He assures me and they both step out of the room.
Once they’re out, no damn thought of escaping cross my mind, only how lost of words I was when Alpha Ronan asked where I was going and my head was totally blank but dearest goddess helped me...
The pills worked faster than I imagined and truly my body needs it. It’s almost like I stepped into a trance, not just any trance, I’m back to the same particular route that Alpha Ronan had rescued me from.
The same damn route with those same four wolves, the white, black, brown and the taupe-colored.
Why am I here?
No, that’s not the right question I should be asking but... why am I not running?
Immediately the thought clicks in my head, it’s just as if the wolves heard my thought and they start chasing. I can’t bring myself to scream and immediately I start running like never before.
I took to my heels and with everything in me I’m running so fast, very fast, really fast.
I can’t scream for help and Alpha Ronan doesn’t seem to be anywhere close by to tell them that I’m their Alpha Bride and I can’t start signing that to them right now.
Thank goddess that I can see a dark alley just five steps away, atleast my little strength can take me there and my little hope is that there is an escape route after.
As I enter the alley, I spot a locked door. Metallic and huge. I don’t have enough time to think if this is a good idea because it’s the only idea and the wolves seems to be faster behind me, they eat me up if I stop to think and even though my life is miserable, I’m not ready to die yet.
I push through the door without thinking twice and luckily, it doesn’t need a key to unlock. I shut myself inside falling on the floor, panting so loudly, too loudly like I’ll pass out if I try to even stand up.
I catch my breath and I try to steady my breathing. The wolves can’t break through a metallic door, so I’m safe for now...
I’ll wait here till Alpha Ronan notices I’m missing and he’ll search the whole palace for me and speaking of Alpha Ronan... that’s when I hear it.
A growl, not a normal growl. A deep, monstrous sound.
My entire body freezes and very slowly... I lift my head.
Only then do I truly look at the room I’ve stumbled into, the room is enormous with cold stone walls disappearing into the darkness.
I can perceive the scent of blood already... Someone moves.
A man. No, not just a man, a beast disguised as one.
Massive chains wrap around his wrists, ankles, and chest, each link as thick as my arm.
Blood stains his skin, crimson rivulets trailing down the hard lines of his body as though he has just walked out of one of history’s bloodiest wars. It drips from his shoulders, streaks across his chest, and slides down his arms in slow, terrifying trails.
His face is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen and his eyes are red like the blood moon. This is a man-beast, not just a werewolf, a beast!
My heart lurches into my throat, I am dying today and as I look closer, his face is almost recognisable but I choose not to believe who it is and something that hasn’t happened in a long time happens...
He growls again, the sound deep and feral, vibrating through the room like distant thunder. The chains rattle violently as he throws his weight against them, fighting with everything he has to reach me.
My heart lurches into my throat. When he suddenly lunges forward, I stumble backward in panic.
I spin around and rush toward the heavy metal door. My hands slam against the cold surface, and I begin pounding on it as hard as I can.
"Help!" I scream in my head, terror making my head. "Someone, please help me!"
The door doesn’t budge. It’s already locked. freewebnoveℓ.com
My palms sting from the force of the blows, but I keep hitting it anyway, desperation overriding reason as the furious rattling of chains echoes behind me.
***
I jerk awake from sleep, my body drenched in sweat and my heart pounding a thousand beats per second. I inhale and exhale, trying to calm myself down.
It’s just a dream. It’s just a dream. Or a nightmare...
There are no wolves haunting me, and Ronan isn’t turning into some terrifying creature. Everything feels so real in the dream, I shut my eyes close trying to drown myself away from thinking about it again.
I repeat the words over and over until my chest finally eases. Only then do I open my eyes and suddenly become aware of my surroundings.
I turn to the left, where the IV drip had been connected to my hand, expecting to still see it there, but it’s gone. The line has been disconnected. I quickly assume that Dr. Elias or one of the nurses removed it while I was asleep.
The light in the room has changed, afternoon slowly slipping toward evening, the golden glow filtering through the window softer than before. I’ve been asleep for hours.
I press a hand against my chest and force myself to breathe. In. Out. In. Out.
"You’re alright." A voice so familiar says, and I freeze, turning toward the voice.
The chair in the corner, the one Ronan usually occupies whenever he refuses to leave my side, has someone sitting in it. Dark hair spills over her shoulders, and the familiar maid’s uniform immediately makes me think it’s Celeste.
Relief washes through me. I almost smile, lifting a hand, ready to sign a silent thank you for being here while I sleep.
But then she turns fully toward me, and slowly the smile dies on my lips. My breath catches.
For a second, I can only stare, the face looking back at me isn’t Celeste’s. Shock slams into me so hard that I nearly gasp.
Every muscle in my body goes rigid as I stare at the one face Ronan warned to stay away from me. Or am I suddenly hallucinating from.the drug Dr. Elias had given me?
I blink once, twice, pinched myself, but that doesn’t change her true nature.
She suddenly rises to her feet, the dark hair doesn’t fall the way Celeste’s usually does, and there is something strangely unnatural about the way it sits on her head. A knot forms in my stomach as unease creeps through me.
Before I can figure out what I’m seeing, she lifts both hands and reaches for the dark strands framing her face. My confusion deepens as her fingers curl around the hair, and then, with one smooth motion, she pulls it away completely.
My eyes widen in shock. The dark hair comes off in her hands. It’s a wig.
A cascade of rich auburn hair spills down her shoulders, catching the fading afternoon light as it tumbles into place.
No. My heart begins hammering against my ribs, and the lingering haze of sleep vanishes instantly. Every nerve in my body snaps awake as I stare at the woman sitting in front of me, unable to tear my gaze away from her face.
She casually places the wig aside as though revealing her true identity is the most ordinary thing in the world. Then she lowers herself back into the chair with an ease that makes my skin crawl, crossing one leg over the other as she settles comfortably.
A slow, satisfied smile spreads across her lips. Mara. The realization crashes into me with terrifying force.
It’s Mara.
And judging by the amused gleam in her eyes, she knows exactly how shocked I am to see her.
"Sorry," she says, though there isn’t a hint of apology in her tone. If anything, she looks amused by my reaction. "Did I startle you?"
My hands curl tightly in my lap as I stare at her, every muscle in my body tense. My pulse is still racing from the shock of seeing her sitting here, in my room.
"The guards outside are very loyal," she continues casually, as though we’re friends "To Ronan, not necessarily to his instructions about me specifically."
A smug smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she tilts her head.
"It’s amazing what a smile and a tray of food will accomplish."
I continue staring at her, unable to decide whether she’s reckless, insane, or both.
Then her expression changes; the playful mockery vanishes from her face, and she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"How much do you need?" she asks.
My brows draw together.
"To leave," she clarifies, her voice low and serious now. "I’ll help you."
I blink. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve heard her correctly.
"Money. Transportation. A safe house in neutral territory." She continues. "Whatever it takes to get you out of this pack and far enough away that nobody can find you."
The intensity in her gaze sharpens as she holds my stare.
"I’m being genuine, Roselle."
Something about those words sends a strange feeling twisting through my chest.
"I’m offering you a way out," she says quietly. "Take it."
