My Fated One

8. THE AFTERSHOCK

POV (THOMAS)

They say in the heat of the moment anything goes, but the aftershock can leave one paralyzed for life. No truer words could explain the debilitating freeze that was now taking over my mind and body. The cold and hot sensation was making me want to stay perfectly still but also flee all at the same time. Is this what the elders referred to as the fight or flight instinct? The animal nature we all hold close that saves us from making a life altering mistake.

“Well then where the hell were you five minutes ago!”

I groaned, a little too loudly, causing the already dispersing crowd to scurry away like I had an infectious disease. Maybe they were right to run, for I was now a deadman. No worse then that, I was a cursed man. Cursed to forever be controlled by a split second decision that would demand that I live my life shackled to a child who had refused to offer me the simple courtesy of thanking me for saving her life. Yet, just before anger could consume me, the soul crushing reality of how I would ever justify what I did to Lucas took hold.

Dear God, what if the news reached him before I even had a chance to explain? Was it even possible to stop my idiotic proposal from making the rounds at every dinner table before sundown? Wait, what about my table? After what transpired between her and my Father would there even still be a seat for me?

“I really am a deadman.” I said, as I begrudgingly tried to locate my runaway bride while not letting my regret control me.

Yet, as I stood there in front of Lucas’ house staring at the Nanny who was suppose to be tending to her, I could not help but feel something was amiss.

"Sorry, my Young Lord, she is not here." The young nanny said, as she rested her back against the door frame. She looked to be around 15 maybe 16, but the cigarette dangling from her fingers and the rancid smell of midday sweat made me think otherwise.

"I have not seen her since she left to go after her brother. Maybe he took her with him. He does so hate to have the little pup out of his sight." She hissed, as she took a deep drag and blew the smoke through her nose, giving off the feeling I was talking with an ill mannered dragon.

"He did not take her with him.” I clarified. “So I came here to see if she…”

“Really, he left the little welp behind!” She interrupted, as her eyes sparkled with delight, causing my stomach to churn.

“Excuse me?” What the heck was this? This nonchalant manner in which this servant spoke of her master. Yes, the girl was a pup but a welp? How dare she refer to her lady in such a way. Yet, before I could say much else she vanished into the house humming a horribly off tune song with glee.

“Excuse me!” I barked again, but she seemed completely oblivious to me as I watched her rush from one room to the next with a massive bag half her size. “What in the world are you doing?” I ordered.

“Packing.” She said, slightly irritated about why I was bothering her when her actions were so obvious.

“Yes I can see that, but what I don’t understand is why?”

“Because I am leaving this godforsaken prison before it becomes my coffin.”

“Your coffin, what are you talking about?” I snapped, as she let out a frustrated sigh while she put her bag down. It made a loud metal clanging noise the moment it touched the floor. I should have known something was strange about that, but I was so taken back by her impertinent behavior that I could not be bothered with anything else.

“Listen, my Lord.” She said, as she placed her hands on her hips and took a step towards me. Giving me the chance to get a better look at her features. She had brown mossy hair, that was sort of wrapped up in a white bonnet that was in bad need of washing, actually everything about her needed a good scrub. Why in the word would Lucas allow such a woman to care for his precious sister? Nothing was making sense.

“If you were me, my Lord, you would not be asking such a question and you certainly wouldn’t be hindering me in my quest to leave this place.”

Was she serious? Not only had she been zero help in locating my missing bride but now she was going to shirk her duties of taking care of her too. No way, not a chance.

“How dare you woman! It is clear you have forgotten yourself, as well as to whom you are speaking to!” I growled, causing her eyes to go wide and her body to instantly go low.

“F..Forgive me, my Lord.” She said clumsily, as she stumbled to a bow. “I unfortunately am in a hurry, which is why I mindlessly let my tongue flap about when I should have held it in.”

I could feel my blood boiling as she glanced up at me, showing her impatience. Honestly, did she really think I was going to let her get away with this so quickly. Not only had she been rude to the rightful heir of the pack, the Alpha’s eldest and only son, but she had the audacity to instigate the packs future Luna was a welp. A derogatory term we used to describe a commoners pup, that was useless or showed no value to the betterment of the pack. Did she really believe that Lucas’ sister, who had just been granted a royal title and carried MoonLight blood, was worthless and deserving of such a name?

“Please, My Lord, if you will allow me to explain.”

“What!” I snapped, causing her to gulp. “Did you just ask me to let you further insult my family’s honor!”

“No, no, no, my Lord, that is not what I meant!” She whimper, in such a pathetic way that I was finding myself more and more repulsed by her mer presence.

“Go ahead, then.” I mussed with a raised eyebrow. “I look forward to the next way you will deface my families honor.”

“Please, I beg of you.“ She cried, as she fell to her knees, while I took a seat at the kitchen table. To my surprise it was spotless, so clean that the afternoon sun which was streaking through the window curtains had turned it into a golden mirror. A mirror that reflect just how angry and tired I was.

“Oh, now your begging. Interesting, I would have expected a different phrase to come from your treasonist lips.”

“No, my Lord please. I’m sorry. I swear, I did not mean any harm.”

“Did not mean any harm!” I roared.

“No, what I mean is, it was a mistake! A horrible mistake! I should have never said what I said! I was wrong, very very wrong!” She screamed, as she began to wring her hands as if she were praying to some invisible god for salvation. But I was not ready to let her go.

“Then why did you do it?” I said, as her sobs filled the room.

“I just…I just…”

“You just what?” I yelled, as I slammed my hand down on the table causing her to jump. “SPEAK!”

“I just don’t understand.” She yelled back.

“Understand?” I said, as I closed my eyes and tried to remain my calm. Everything about this situation was confusing and aggravating. Why was she not home? Why was this Nanny being such a complete waste of my time and why did Lucas not just take her with him? Was it really so impossible to hide a secret in the capital?

“What the hell don’t you understand?”I said through my teeth, causing her to look at me and open her mouth. “And let me remind you, before you speak, you better think very carefully about your next words.” Quickly she shut her mouth and nodded her head, as she tried to gather her thoughts. But what came out of her ugly thin chapped lips was like nothing I could have imagined.

"Are you sure, you really wish for her to be found?"

“What did you just say?” I could feel every nerve in body reacting as my eyes glowed red. Fifteen seconds, it would only take me fifteen seconds to unleash my Alpha nature and turn Lucas’ golden table into a bloody alter.

"Please, my Lord. I don't mean to offend. But if you wish to protect the ones you love. It would be best for you to kill her in a way, you can't be blamed for."

“Kill her?” I repeated, as I slowly stood up while her cold, calculating words lingered in the air. Dangerous, she was dangerous and even if I entertained the thought of killing Lucas’ baby sister I knew in my heart he would accept no excuses for the loss. He would throw honor, brotherhood, and family out the window, the minute she was gone. And in their a place, a monster would be born, a beast not even the kings army could contain.

“Yes, all you have to do is…”

“HOW DARE YOU?” I roared, sending her flat to the ground. “If I had the time I would punish you with death or banishment for your insubordination!”

“No my Lord, please.”

“But instead.” I mused with a smile. As I took a deep breath. “I have decided to grant you a pass, thanks to your dedicated care of my intended all these years.”

“Your inten….”

In a flash I raised my clawed hand and slashed her across the face, speckling the floor and leaving four deep wounds forever embedded in her flesh. Her howls of pain, provided me a little solace and seeing her clutch her bloody cheek was all I needed to feel her punishment was just.

“If I ever catch you near this house or near her again, I will do much worse then a slap!” I snarled, as I headed for the door, but just before I left I could hear her gasping something out.

"Trust me, you’ll understand my warning the moment you really see her. But by then it will be too late! She laughed. “And you will forever be caught in her web.”

“Foolish woman. I am not a fly and I certainly won’t let any she-wolf get the better of me. I am Alpha and your words mean nothing.” I scoffed, as I slammed the door behind me.