*Abi POV*
Omario continues chatting with Olivia and Loyd while I pretend to be drowsy and then sleeping. With my eyes closed I try to link with my wolf.
“Nina. Are you really there?”
Nothing
“If you…I am really looking forward to talking to you.”
Still nothing
I really don’t know how the first communication with one’s wolf is meant to start but I can’t wait to have someone who completely understands me and feels everything I feel.
“Please talk to me.” I am desperate, she’s apparently kickass but she’s two years late already.
“What are you waiting for, Nina?”
I eventually give up and listen in on Omario and his fiancée conversation. Loyd must have gone out when I was trying to talk to Nina because I don’t hear him anymore.
“I thought we would spend this evening together. Why can’t you get other slaves to care for her?” Olivia asks. Maybe I am imagining the menacing tone but it makes me cringe.
“Servants,” Omario corrects her.
“It’s the same thing,” she insists and there’s the tone. I was not imagining it. Maybe she’s still sad about Sylvester.
“You are starting to sound like your aunt. Abi is hurt and almost died. What do you think will happen to her in the servant’s quarters?” Omario sounds irritated. Maybe the two are not as perfect as we all thought.
“I don’t want to fight with you, Rio. You know where to find me,” Olivia says and I hear footsteps before the door opens and closes.
Omario does not respond, nor does he try to stop her. I hear his footsteps coming closer to the bed instead.
“I know that you are awake, Abi.”
I open my eyes and meet his brown piercing ones. “How do you know?”
He chuckles.
“I even heard you trying to link up with your wolf.”
My eyes open wide. That’s not suppose to happen! “You are not supposed to…”
He cuts my objection short.
“To do what? There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Abi.”
I have no idea what’s that supposed to mean but I have a problem with him hearing me when I try to link with my wolf. It makes me wonder what else he can hear because my thoughts are far from being pure ever since he insisted that I watch that porn movie and imagine him doing it on me.
“I will be fine in the servants quarters. They will take care of me.”
He shakes his head. “Who will take care of you there? The two who almost drowned you the other day?”
I swallow my saliva. Being almost killed by ny fellow servants still hurts.
“Except them.”I say softly.
I don’t see those two taking care of their own siblings, let alone me, the person they despises.
“You are not going anywhere until you are fine,”he says decisively.
He really is a good person and I appreciate his help but I don’t want to be responsible for his relationship falling apart. Brenda already hates me, this will only make it worse.
“You can get Terrence to watch me then,” I suggest.
“So he can lecture you about how irresponsibly you are?”
I sigh. Terrence would probably still be mad that I tried to kill myself but he will always have my back.
“It’s water under the bridge now. He spoke his mind, that’s it.”
Omario just looks worriedly at me.
“Go to your fiancée.”
“You don’t tell me what to do.”
So typical man! Oh well, I tried.
Two days later, I am still weak but able to at least get myself to the bathroom. Omario has not not left the room but I hear irritation in Olivia’s voice every time she comes by.
Queen Nala has come by too and given her son a piece of her mind to no avail. Omario insisting on me remaining here is creating a strain I wanted to avoid but he does not seem the least bothered by it. Terrence has just walked in when the the two people I loathe also walk in. I hold my breath before bowing my head and Terrence follows suit. Anger and resentment gets my heart racing.
Alpha Theo looks at me and frowns. I really hate this man.
Blake, his new Beta looks lustrous at me. I am fully dressed and covered but I instinctively pull the linen over to cover myself.
“Dad,” Omario greets while I keep my head down.
“You are still alive. No one has seen you in a week,” Alpha Theo says mischievously. “Is she that good?” he adds.
Omario shakes his head. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“Can’t I come to my son’s chambers anymore now?”
“Come on Dad, you are a busy man.”
“Fine. It’s thirty minutes before our hunt and you have our prey. These idiots are all scared to come on their own, in case you are still on your killing spree,” Alpha Theo says.
Fuck! I have been so out of it, I forgot that it’s already Friday, the torture Abi day.
“She’s still weak and can hardly walk.” Omario says, his response getting his evil father all worked-up.
“I don’t give a damn! I want to hunt something. She can crawl all the way for all I care!” Alpha Theo roars. Such a drama queen!
I get myself emotionally ready. I really don’t have any energy today. I will just walk until they catch me and hopefully they won’t bash me too much. I don’t know how much I can take at the state I am currently in.
“I can run on her behalf if His Highness will allow it,” stupid Terrence suggests and Blake had an evil grin on his face.
“No, you won’t!” I say sharply. I swear I will strangle him for being such an idiot.
Alpha Theo looks at both of us and sneers.
“Interesting. I don’t care who does it, but hunting I shall,” he says and heads towards the door but stops halfway. “One more thing, Son, you can’t be around her anymore.”
“I claimed her.”
“And almost got all of us killed. You are my son but I love my life more than yours. Olivia is around if you are horny but you are welcomed to get yourself another slave if she can’t satisfy you.”
“Yes, Sir.” Omario says, Blake winks at me and my heart sinks. Without Omario’s claim, I am completely exposed but I have more pressing issues right now. I turn to Terrence who grins at me.
“You are not running for me, Terrence.”
“Because I am not a worthy Creekian leader?” he says sharply.
“It’s not about that!”I snap at him. This is one of the many things him and I argue about.
“Oh! Really?”
“How are you two even friends when you fight like this?” Omario asks.
“We get on very well when she’s not her usual proud and stubborn,” Terrence responds and I glare at him.
“This has nothing to do with being a Creekian. They will kill you, you idiot!”
Terrence laughs in disbelief. “You do realise that I am a thousand fold stronger than you, right?”
He can be a arrogant, cocky fool sometimes.
“It’s not about being strong. The prophecy prevents them from killing me, nothing prevents them from killing you.”
“They will have to catch me first,” he says proudly.
I love and hate his confidence because of this. I know that his wolf is pretty fast but I don’t know if it’s enough to keep him alive.
“Terrence.” I call him softly. He is doing this for me but it will get him killed and I can never forgive myself for it.
“For once, Abi, let me do this for you,” he persists.
“What if they catch you? I won’t be..”
“They won’t. I promise.”
“Abi is right that they have no reason to spare your life. Appointing you as my Gamma is another motive for them to get rid of you. Are you sure that you can outrun them?” Omario finally intervenes.
“Yes, Your Majesty and besides, she’s in no state to be hunted,” Terrence says and they both look at me before Omario agrees with him.
“Okay then. You will run but be careful.”
Terrence nods her head. I clench my teeth and look away, not impressed with them for overruling my objection. This is my fault. Had I not tried to kill myself I would be strong enough to run s as d be hunted. This would not be happening if I had my wolf. My best friend would not be risking his life for me.
“Come on, Abi. Don’t be mad, okay?”
“Fine, but only this once.”
He shrugs his shoulders
“I need to hear it.”
“Yes, Abi. This once. Happy?”
I sigh and helplessly watch him leave. With my fingers crossed, a prayer in my heart and my eyes misting. I hope this is not the last time I am seeing my best friend.