Slipping through my door, I make it to the stairs until the familiar click of a door brings me from my thoughts. Spinning around, I expect Alex to be standing behind me, but instead I see a messy haired Stephanie standing in front of Alex's bedroom door. My face drops down even farther than it had before. My heart throbs painfully in my chest as I take in her appearance.
Her hair is up in a messy bun on the top of her head, but you can still tell very clearly that it was sex hair. The rest of her outfit proves it even more. She is wearing a long button up shirt of Alex's, paired with bare feet. Tears build in my eyes and I stumble back a step. A devilish smirk graces her face and she stalks towards me. She moves to stand directly in front of me.
"If it wasn't clear to you before, I hope it's clear now." She whispers in my ear, "He will never be yours."
I close my eyes shut, as I feel the familiar sting and the flare of my anger. She pushes past me and prances down the stairs. Hurt is stirring in my chest. I move my hurt to the back of my mind, walking down the stairs and out the front door. I had to talk to Sebastian.
My determined walk brings me to his den much quicker than I had expected. Tears well in my eyes at the thought of what I am about to do. I was torn. I never thought that I would actually get this far.
I raise my hand, preparing to knock, but the door swings open before I can. Sebastian raises an eyebrow at me and ushers me through the door and I willingly step through.
"What's wrong?" Sebastian mumbles immediately, noticing my tear stained cheeks.
"I'm leaving." I hiccup, the dam of tears finally breaking and they openly stream down my cheeks.
His mouth drops open and his eyes widen in horror.
"What are you talking about? You're leaving?" he gasps, stumbling back a step.
I nod my head, pulling a lip into my mouth.
"I'm sorry, Seb. I just can't be here anymore and Alex has allowed me to leave. I need to take the opportunity." I sigh, cupping my elbow.
"You can't leave!" he exclaims, "Not right now!"
"You don't understand, Sebastian! He gave me a chance! I have to leave! You don't know how much it hurts to know that your mate is sleeping with someone else!" I screech.
"Really, Lisa? You think I don't?" he shouts back, outraged, "Did you think Katherine has been celibate for all these years?"
My mind went blank and I have no idea what to say.
"Katherine has slept with more people than I can count." Sebastian mutters, staring down at the ground.
"I thought you said you hadn't seen her in years." I question, raising an eyebrow.
"I haven't. You can feel it Lisa." He sighs, running a hand through his hair, "You start to feel sick to your stomach and then your heart starts to throb. The longer they're at it, the more intense the pain gets. Sometimes it even feels like you're having a heart attack."
I frown deeply. I had never felt like that. Does that mean that Alex hadn't slept with her?
"That's the only way to know?" I ask, wringing my hands on front of me.
"Yes." He huffs, "That's the feeling you get when your mate cheats on you."
"I didn't get that feeling though." I trail off, biting my lip.
"Then Alex didn't cheat on you." Seb says, rolling his eyes.
"But I saw her! She was wearing his shirt!" I yelp, throwing my hands in the air.
"Who?"
"Stephanie!"
He sighs deeply, "What did I tell you yesterday? Stephanie is going to do everything in her power to hurt you. She wants that crown and she won't stop until she gets it. The quickest way to break you is to make up lies about Alex and her.
Is this why you're leaving? Because of her?"
I roll my eyes, "No. I wouldn't leave just because she is taunting me. I'm leaving because I want Alex to be happy. I've seen them together. He loves her and she makes him happy. That's all I want. It's all I've ever wanted."
"And you think that she is the thing that makes him happy?" Sebastian asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Of course she is." I huff, looking away from him.
"You know that's a lie right?" he questions, raising an eyebrow at me.
"You make him happy, Lisa!" He exclaims, throwing out his hands, "Alex is a dick, I'll admit that, but I haven't seen this guy happier than he is right now!"
"He is never happy! He only ever smiles when he's with her!" I scream, running a hand through my hair and tugging at the strands.
"Because he is trying to make you jealous! And it's obviously working! Lisa, you should have seen him before you got here! He was dark and moody. He barely talked to anyone and when he did it was always a threat!"
"He's dark and moody now!"
"No, Lisa, he isn't. Not as bad as he was before! He's changed a lot since you got here, Lisa! You may not believe me because of how rude he's acted towards you, but it's true! Ask anybody! Alex used to have lotteries before you got here! And you know what happened in them?"
"You won money?" I question.
"No, he pulled a name from a hat and that was the guy that he castrated that day! He was out of control, Lisa! Since you got here he hasn't had the lotteries or the daily whippings!"
"Whippings?" I gasp, memories flashing through my head of my old pack.
"Alex used to whip every single warrior in the pack. He used to say he did it to toughen them up, but everyone always knew he was just letting out his anger. And don't even get me started about the silver baths!" he shouts.
I open my mouth to reply, but no words come out. I had no idea what to say to that. Is it actually possible?
"Do you get it now, Lisa? He has changed because of you! You! Not Stephanie or any other female! You! Do you get that?" He shouts, stepping towards me.
Swallowing my doubts, I nod my head. I had never seen somebody be awarded with a silver bath since I got here and I had been in the prison many times over my stay.
"Good. Now if you want to stay here or something. I don't really care, but Alex put out new rounds for patrol today. He put me in charge of the south border. I'm already late, I have to go." He explains, before leaving the small den and running into the forest.
I sigh harshly, flopping back onto the bed. I couldn't wrap my mind around this. It didn't make any sense. How is it possible that I am changing him? If this is a mellow Alex, then I would be terrified to meet the Alex he was before I was captured.
A loud slam on the den outside draws my attention away from my thought and worries. Getting up from the bed, I furrow my eyebrows and peel the small door away. Sticking my head out, I see Katherine leaning against the side of the den. She was panting and looked to have been running from someone.
"Katherine?" I questions, stepping towards her.
"Lisa! I need to warn you! Something bad is happening! You are in grave danger!" she gasps, clutching her chest.
"What are you talking about?" I yelp, starting to get freaked out.
Before she can say anything a black mist appears behind her. It takes the form of a hand and it reaches forwards to grasp her neck.
"KATHERINE! WATCH OUT!" I screech, lunging towards her.
But it is too late, the mist wraps his hands around her neck and with a quick snap, he leaves her head rolling on the floor. Then the mist disappears and a shrill shriek leaves my lips. Katherine's body collapses to the ground in a heap of her own blood. Tears collect in my eyes and another scream leaves my lips.
I couldn't believe my eyes, Katherine was dead.