THE WOMAN IN THE SHADOWS
1066 Words
I was still shaking when I walked out of the audition hall, the sting of Selene’s words echoed behind me, threatening to consume everything I hoped and dreamt for.
The cool evening air brushed against my skin as I began to make my way towards the parking lot, but it wasn’t soothing. Just like Selene’s words, the night air was biting, sharp and dangerous.
It wanted me to rush forward. I didn’t.
Instead, I kept on walking slowly, taking the time to re-arrange my thoughts. It was obvious to me now, that I should have done more research about the company handling the production of the movie before I applied for the audition. If I had, none of this would have happened.
I spotted my car from across the parking lot, and began making my way towards it, but that was when I felt it,
The air shifted, the scents intensified as my wolf grew alert, and… I felt them.
Two male wolves stepped out of the shadows of a large van, their scents unmistakable – Viscount wolves, just like Selene.
The wolves moved with an easy confidence, their shoulders squared, and their eyes narrowed as they stared at me. I stopped, because I knew I could not avoid them.
The only way towards my car was through the wolves.
“Well, well, well,” one of the wolves spoke up, his words slurred as his tone dripped with venom, “What do we have here? If it isn’t the little bride to be of a cripple?”
I frowned, my head spinning as I tried to wrap my head around why I was suddenly hated by Viscount wolves. I have never once gotten into an altercation with the pack. And if their issue with me was that I was going to be mated to their alpha, I still didn’t see why they would be so mad at me.
The other wolf smirked, his lustful eyes wandered across my body, like I was somehow his property, “Our future Luna, huh?” he chuckled with a sneer, “You don’t exactly look like much. You are just lucky our Alpha is too deep in a coma to see exactly what kind of trash is being handed to him.”
My stomach twisted, a shiver running down my spine as I forced myself to stay still. My wolf stirred uneasily within me.
“I do not want trouble.” I spoke slowly, my hands raised as I kept on walking, trying to edge past the two wolves.
But the taller one stepped forward, directly blocking my path, the grin on his face widening, “Oh, no, no, no, what makes you think we are trouble?” he smirked, “We are just here to make sure that you know your place.”
Suddenly, his hands darted out, clamping around my arm with so much force, it almost tore my skin,
For a moment, I stopped breathing, shock filled my entire being as I lifted my head up. “Let me go,” I growled,
The shorter one laughed, circling around me as he moved to get out of my eyeline, “I’ve got to give it to her, she does have nerves,” he murmured. “Selene told us you are weak, that you are just a clingy b***h who believes she could act her way into a crown.” he paused and turned to face his friend, “What do you think Joe? Should we test out that weakness ourselves?”
My chest heaved as I heard her name pass through his lips.
I knew Selene had orchestrated this moment, and I was pissed.
Rage surged within me as the blood pumped harder through my veins, my fury was hot, wild and unyielding.
“What do you say, Lily?” The taller one, Joe, drawled as he leaned closer and tried to kiss me, “How about you -”
Something within me snapped,
My wolf roared forward, and I moved faster than even I could think.
I triggered the shift. At the same instant, twisted my arm sharply till it broke free from Joe’s grip, I slammed the now free arm into his chest. The force of the slam shocked even me, he flew a couple of feet till his body slammed into a car.
The smug grin was wiped from the faces of the two wolves, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“You b***h,” the shorter wolf lunged, and just like me, he had partially shifted, his claws were half – extended as he moved to cut off my head.
I was already moving when he made his move.
I ducked low, grabbed his wrist and twisted hard, until the sound of bones cracking filled the air. He howled in pain and dropped on one knee, his eyes filled with fear now.
“You-” Joe rasped, getting on his feet as he rubbed his chest, his eyes darted towards his kneeling friend before darting towards me, “You are not supposed to be this strong.”
I shook my head as I walked over to him, “I am.” I hissed, chest rising and falling as I resisted the urge to collapse from exhaustion. “Do you want to continue, or are both of you going to leave my sight?”
For a moment, both wolves froze. Their eyes darting towards one another, unspoken panic filling their gaze. I could tell that they had not even expected me to resist.
They had wanted to remind me of my place, and I had shown them exactly what I thought my place was.
They backed away slowly, moving out of my way, both muttered curses under their breaths, their false bravado collapsing like a castle made of sand.
Within seconds, they had both disappeared into the shadows.
My body trembled as the adrenaline rushed out of me, my hands were still curled into a fist as I began to walk towards a car. I leaned by my car, trying to catch my breath before I could ride home.
That was when I felt it,
A piercing gaze.
I turned my head, my chest tightening as I froze.
On the far side of the parking lot, leaning against a car with a cigarette expertly held between her fingers was my supposedly dying sister,
Ella.
- Writer
