The Alpha's Hunt Chapter 66

Gabe’s guilt-ridden face haunted me when I stormed off and headed to my old room. 

After our talk, he had gone to his brother and told him about my biggest fear knowing full well that Darian would use it as ammunition.

My secrets were a weapon to him, something he could use to continue his torment and Gabriel gave him the key that I trusted him with.

I hurried to the door and pushed the handle but it wouldn't budge. No matter how hard I pushed and kicked the door wouldn't open and I was about to faint from the shallow breaths that entered my lungs.

“Pulling harder won't turn the lock,” Nora’s smooth voice filled the empty hallway and her perfume lingered on the walls.

“I got that,” I said without turning around.

She stood still behind me and maybe she waited for me to turn around and acknowledge her presence but I had no interest in doing that. 

What I wanted was for the thick door to magically unlock itself because I knew I couldn't kick it down, and then I wanted to get inside and cry.

I wanted to take a breath without it feeling like a bolder was sitting on my chest and I wanted to wake up one day and have all of this be a terrible nightmare.

“Hazel,” she put a hand on my shoulder, “I'm sorry for your loss,”

I spun on my heels and stared her down but Nora didn't seem faced at all.

“How do you know about my loss?” 

“I was there when he left,” she said and cupped her hands in her front. Abby must've left if Nora was the new go-to but she would probably do best in not speaking to me.

“If Darian sees you here-“

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, cutting me off.

Nora looked around, I don't know if it was out of fear of someone seeing us or if she was just uncomfortable but after a careful scan, she grabbed my hand and didn't say a word as she dragged me behind her.

We went up to the bridge that connected the towers and crossed over onto the building where I'd had my class that first day.

Nora guided me past the somewhat rundown doors and we passed a few of the house maids and helpers on the way. They watched me and turned to each other for whispering gossip followed by a high-pitched giggling.

We reached a door and she pulled on the handle before leading me inside.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” she smiled.

There was a single bed in the corner with a small table and a lamp. Over by the squared window was a vintage desk with beautiful engravings and silver handles and on the floor was a handmade carpet with glorious flowers in various colors. 

“This is where you sleep?” 

She smiled and twirled in the room. 

“No men allowed, you’re welcome to stay here anytime you want,”

She didn't know what she was saying. Anyone who tried to do something nice or who got too close to me was met with a gruesome fate that Darien resided over. 

Just me being here was dangerous for her and watching Nora’s smile and her eyelashes flutter when she looked at the window where the sun stretched in, I knew I had to go.

It was sweet of her to show me where she stayed and to say that I was welcome whenever I wanted to, she was a good person, better than me I think from the strength I've seen so I couldn't risk anything happening to her. Everyone was dead and if I could save one life while I was still here then I had to do that.

“Where are you going?” She hurried after me when I opened the door to leave.

Her hand shot out and the door slammed closed as she watched me with her siren-like eyes.

Nora's hair looked like a lion's mane and her eyes had a fiery glint in them that I noticed for the first time at MarryBell.

I turned, somewhat exhausted and biting, and stared at her dumbfounded.

“Do you want to die or do think that you're immortal?” 

Nora swallowed and backed away.

“Neither,” she answered.

“You’re not stupid either so why did you bring me here? You know what Darian will do if he finds out that we've talked. Anyone who could do me well won't breathe for long in this palace,” 

Nora walked over to the bed and grabbed a book from under her pillow.

She scoffed as she walked it over and handed it to me, the first thing I noticed was the wilting cover and the torn spine.

“My mom gave this to me when I was a child. It was after the war, the royal guard had slaughtered most rogues and those of us that were left had to find a way to survive with the small numbers we had. She said to me that whenever life gets a little scary or sad, I should read this and that I will go somewhere else for a moment. Somewhere happy,” she dragged her fingers over the cover and the light danced on her blush pink nails.

“They died a few days later, caught by the royal guards when they stepped over the border to get some food- I was brought up by our Alpha who taught me how to fight and how to fuck, the twenty-year-old age difference didn't bother him. When I turned eighteen last year I was of legal age to join the Bells so I ran there, at least there I get paid for being treated like a whore- but I always carry that with me, wherever I go, so when life gets a little too dark I read and go somewhere else. You don't have to be my friend if you don't want to but act like you're doing it to protect me because I genuinely do not give a fuck about the King finding out,” she said and opened the door for me.

I held the book in my hands and wondered what it would take for me to gain her confidence and strength. I saw it on her face, she genuinely did not care whether or not Darian knew that she spent time with me but I was terrified of it. Just staying here now was enough to shake me to my core.

But I had to start somewhere and Nora seemed like she had a thing or two to teach me. 

I walked over and dropped the book on the bed while taking a seat. 

Nora grinned, she closed the door and walked with a power I envied across the floor.

“I don’t how to live anymore. Breathing is hard, keeping my eyes open when all I see is death and misery, everything feels hopeless,” the words fell from my tongue with not much effort.

“But there’s something else as well- something in your eyes that wasn't there before,” 

I looked up at her mirroring eyes.

“Rage,” she said and the smile stretched over her rosy cheeks, “that rage is what will keep you alive. Feel it, live it, breathe it, and remember where it came from. Don't try to forget because you never will but you can survive by shifting the emotion,” she said and clicked her tongue.