EVANGELINE.
âPrince Zedkiel.â I turn when grandmother Philomena steps forward.
No grandmother! He might hurt her too!
I quickly get up, wanting to pull her away. He needs someone strong to save him, not her!
âG-grandmo-â She raises her hand, her eyes flashing as she looks at me warningly.
âEnough.â She growls at me, a noise I had never heard her make towards me before.
I felt a pang of hurt but say nothing, she is disappointed in me⦠I have messed up again.
âPrince Zedkiel, if I may?â Grandmother Philomena speaks clearly, no ounce of fear in her voice or even a stutter.
Zedkiel stops in his tracks.
âMy grandson has foolishly insulted you, and on his behalf I apologise to you.â She says clearly.
He turns to her and raises one of his brows.
âAnd how will one apology fix his insult?â
Insult? What did Sinclair do?
âNot an apology⦠a compensation.â Grandmother continues as I pray someone comes to her side, I donât want Zedkiel to hurt her. âA prized possession of the Welhaven family. An omega I raised as my own.â
My heart sinks as my head snaps towards her.
No! No, this wasnât happening! She means me!
âG-grandmother, pl-please no!â I beg her in a panicked whisper, clutching her arm with shaking hands. I can feel his gaze on me, like a beast before it devours you.
âBehave.â Grandmother Philomena warns, pulling free.
Terror encases me as I look at Sinclair with tears pooling in my eyes.
Help meâ¦
âGrandmother, I donât think-â Sinclair looks at me in panic. My heart races, my breathing shorter as fear writhes through me.
âDo you accept this compensation?â Grandmother cuts him off, looking at Zedkiel while motioning toward me.
âMother.â Alpha Aeron says from behind us.
I run over to him, tugging at his sleeve.
âPlease donât give me to him, Iâll move to the servant quarters, or Iâll leave! I promise I wonât be any trouble! Please, Alpha.â I beg, my eyes sting with unshed tears. Alpha Aeron grabs me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, his fingers cupping the back of my neck and I lean into the safety he offers. He squeezes my shoulders as he would his child.
âSon!â Grandmother Philomenaâs voice cuts through the air like a sword. âDo not make matters worse.â
They seem to be exchanging words through the link, before I feel Alpha Aeron stiffen, he slowly rubs my back and just when I thought all will be ok, he slowly pushes away from me.
No!
I choke, losing his warmth. He looks down at me, sympathy in his eyes, he cups my cheek softly, but I can tell he isnât going to argue as he looks away from me.
âPleaseâ¦â I murmur, my voice sounding so small and broken. His gaze drops back to mine, his eyes soften and just when he is about to speak, Zedkiel beats him to it.
âFine, Iâll accept the omega as compensation⦠next time I wonât be so merciful. Cross me again⦠and you will die.â His threat isnât empty, and I knew he would follow up on it.
Sinclair looks angry as he glares at the ground, his chest heaving⦠but he canât do anythingâ¦
âA-Alphaâ¦â I plea once more, looking at the man who had taken me in, helped raise me as I clutch his sleeve.
Please. Save me once more. Please? Just this once and I would never ask for anything again.
I will do whatever they ask of me.
But when he gently brushes my hands off that were now clutching his suit, what was left of my world comes crashing down around me.
âIâm sorry. There is nothing I can do.â He says, turning and leaving the hall.
I stand there under the blinding light of that hall, like a deer caught in headlights.
âHeâll kill me,â I whisper, looking around at the guests, but no one speaks.
Each one stares at me coldly as if I deserve this. Not one offering any form of defence or protection.
I see Celia smirking from where she stands close to her sister. Grandmother Philomenaâs cold expression as she shakes her head in disappointment at me.
No one caresâ¦
And why should they? I was just an Omega.
âEvangeline.â Sinclair is about to approach when Zedkiel blocks his path.
âShe belongs to me now, and I donât give you permission to talk to her.â He growls, turning, he advances towards me and this time he looks me over a lot slower.
Like a product to use and toss aside.
I shudder under his gaze.
No, I canât give up, I have to try to save myself if no one else would.
âC-can I g-go to-to-â
âSpeak properly.â He snarls, making me whimper in fear.
âC-can I go to ge-get my things tonight. I-Iâll c-come in the morning.â I whisper.
I need to run away.
He raises an eyebrow taking hold of the back of my hair, he leans in taking a deep whiff of my neck. It takes everything not to move away from his touch.
âIâm no fool, little mouse. Youâre mine now.â
â
âSheâll be dead by morning.â The guard says as Iâm pushed into the princeâs room by his command.
âPity, sheâs so young too, to think the Welhavens raised her and just discarded herâ¦â
I fall to my knees on the cold floor of the Princeâs quarters. I place my face in my hands, sobbing into them.
What did I do to deserve this? I really did try to be the best I possibly could, but it wasnât enoughâ¦
Wiping the tears away, I look around. This canât be the end, I have to do something, for myself.
Forcing myself to my feet and after scanning the room, I notice it doesnât have a window. I hurry to one of the three doors on the other side of the room, the first is locked, and I rush to the second, not giving up.
Luckily, it opens and I step inside, realising I am in the princeâs bedroom. To my relief, I see this room has a window. It is the only thing that doesnât match the modern interior of the room with its sharp pointy dome-like shape, and the intricate metal design around the edge of the dark frame.
Please openâ¦
I didnât know how, but I am sure he wonât come up so soon⦠if I can get away, I will leave Dark Falls immediately. Iâll go far, far away. Iâll live amongst humans. Iâll get a job or something, anything will be better than staying here to be killed.
With shaky fingers, I brush away my tears, pulling at the window handle. It opens pretty easily, and relief floods me, but the moment I look down I feel sick. It is high⦠extremely high.
âThat or stay here and die.â I tell myself, stepping away from the window. I remove my heels, pushing them under the bed before I roll my dress up to my knees and return to the window.
Yes, Iâm going to do this and Iâll get as far as I can.
I am trying not to give in to the emotions and the pain I am feeling. Not only that, but I am running on ad.renaline, the only thing rushing through my mind is to survive as I begin climbing down the castle wallâ¦
â
I reached the Welhaven manor, which is dark and silent, and I wonder if the Alpha family has returned. I hope not⦠I enter and quickly hurry to my room, relieved that I donât run into anyone, and quickly change into a hoodie and leggings.
Finding my sneakers, I pull them on, quickly grabbing a few items of clothing and the small stash of money I had saved. It isnât much, but it will get me a room and food for a few nights. For a second I look around the place that had been home for the last ten years, one final time.
Homeâ¦
A place that no longer wants me.
S.ucking in a shaky breath, I wipe away the tears that brim my eyes. My emotions that are wreaking havoc inside of me are barely held at bay threatening to break their damn.
Turning I leave my room, sneaking to the staff quarters. The wooden key box that holds all the staff car keys id in sight, but I have to be careful no one hears meâ¦
Iâll take Josieâs car, she is out of town anyway, no one will notice for at least a few days.
Iâm sorry for stealing Josieâ¦
Grabbing the keys I slowly sneak out into the rain that is now pouring down. Ready to get out of this place and save myself before he ends up killing me tooâ¦