Contract 15
Chapter 15 63%
"I can explain." Fiona's voice trembled as she spoke, the words rushing out the moment Elijah returned to his human form. She could barely meet his gaze, the guilt weighing heavily on her.
Elijah's piercing eyes softened slightly as he looked at her, but he said nothing, waiting for her to continue as he found a piece of cloth to wrap around his torso.
"I didn't mean to hide it. Fiona stammered, her hands trembling. "Tut if my family knew about my ability, they would never have let me go. They would have kept me trapped in the pack, using me for their own purposes. Zach... he wouldn't have allowed me to leave either. I would have been stuck there forever."
Her voice cracked as she continued, tears welling up in her eyes "All I wanted was to escape, to find a way out. I didn't mean to use you. Elijah. Tim so sorry...
Elijah stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her mid-sentence. "Fiona, stop crying," he said softly, his tone surprisingly calm. "You don't need to apologize
Fiona sniffled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She looked up at him, confused. "You're not... surprised?" she asked hesitantly. "I-" she stuttered.
Elijah's expression remained steady. "Surprised" Elijah's brows furrowed. "You did what you did to survive
She blinked, unable to process his words. Seeing her reaction, he added, "It was you who saved me besides, it was me who exposed you to danger."
""You mean...
*Since the Rite of Kings started, the attempt on my life doubled, he casually shrugged before taking a step back. Then he rummaged one of the cabinets in the room and found a bottle of wine. He opened it, gave it a whiff before drinking it from the bottle. "From poison to using snipers. And now, sending rogues and potent poison claws. Again, he took another sip.
It is I who should apologize for dragging you into this, for dragging you into my world," he added.
"It
Fiona pursed her lips. However, just before she could say another word, the door burst open, and Regor rushed in, his expression grim and urgent.
"Your Highness, Regor began, his voice taut with urgency. The rogues have been dealt with, but we can't stay here any longer.
Elijah turned to face Regor. "What happened?" he asked, his voice instantly commanding, the softness from moments ago replaced with the authority of a leader.
Regor's eyes flicked to Fiona for a brief second before returning to Elijah. "We killed the remaining rogues, but not without cost. Most of our men are wounded, and I discovered that the rogues were using poison on their claws-similar to what was used on you. We don't have the resources here to treat everyone. We're vulnerable, and if more enemies find us, we won't be able to defend you."
Elijah's expression darkened as he absorbed Regor's words. The severity of the situation settled heavily over them.
Fiona wiped at her tears, forcing herself to focus. She opened her mouth, wanting to tell Regor that he could heal the others. But Thjah held her hand, turned to her, and gave her a knowing look.
"We will leave," Elijah said. "We cannot stay here any longer."
a
Fiona blinked but quickly nodded. It seemed that Elijah wanted her to keep her secret, and a part of her was relieved to know that
III
"Prepare everything. We leave as soon as we can," Elijah said.
"The cars are ready," Regor said.
Elijah nodded. He quickly put on a new piece of clothing and held Fiona's hand as they boarded the car.
Regor then took the driver's seat, while Elijah and Fiona settled in the back. The vehicle moved swiftly along the dark, winding road, the tension inside palpable.
"We're about 20 miles away from the next pack's territory," Regor reported. "Once we reach them, we should be safer. They're allies, and their Alpha is loyal to the crown."
Elijah nodded, his expression unreadable as he processed the information Fiona sat quietly beside him, her mind racing with everything that had just happened. She could still feel the warmth of Elijah's hand in hers, a silent reassurance amidst the chaos inside her head. Regor continued, "The rogues we fought-they seemed off. It was as if they were drugged, not fully aware of what they were doing. This wasn't a random attack. It was planned, deliberate." He paused, his voice dropping lower. "I suspect someone might have been watching our every move. The healer. he could be a spy, or at the very least, compromised. It's possible someone knew exactly where we'd be and when."
Fiona's heart sank as she listened. The realization of just how deep the danger went was overwhelming. She had thought escaping her pack was the hardest part, but now she was thrust into a world far more dangerous than she had imagined. The politics, the betrayals, the constant threat of death-it was suffocating.
Elijah's grip on her hand tightened slightly, pulling her out of her thoughts. T'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to drag you into this world. You've been through enough."
Fiona looked up at him, meeting his gaze. His gray eyes, usually so sharp and calculating, now held a softness she hadn'tExclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
seen before
She shook her head, squeezing his hand in return. "Elijah, this was my choice," she said firmly. "I knew what I was getting you think into when I decided to leave my park. Besides."she swallowed. "You said that everyone knew our location. Do Alpha Cris would.." She already had this ugly feeling in her chest. "I mean-that wolf-the one who hurt you was trying to kill me." What if it was actually Alpha Cris who sent those wolves after them?
Elijah challenged Alpha Cris's authority in front of his whole pack. Surely, the Alpha would not just let that pass, right?
Before Elijah could say a word, Regor already butted in. "We will immediately investigate the matter."
Fiona nodded, surprised that Regor seemed to consider her words seriously. Encouraged, she pressed on. "I'm curious about. something," she began, glancing at Regor. "You mentioned the others were injured, but they weren't unconscious, right?" She recalled seeing the bandages on their arms and various parts of their bodies, yet all of them remained alert and aware. "Why, then, did His Highness lose consciousness after the first attack?"
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"I mean..." Fiona cleared her throat, glancing at Elijah, who was watching her closely. He gently took her hand, silently encouraging her to continue. "Why didn't they use the same poison on the others as they did on His Highness? If their goal was to kill us, it would have been easier to use that poison to render everyone unconscious and weak
Just what was their intention all along? For some reason, the more she asked questions, the more confusing it became.
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