Chapter 8

AMELIA’S POV I froze as I raised my eyes from her body to look at who had snapped her head. Before me stood a creature, about 6ft tall, dressed in a hooded black cloak, covering all its body. Its hands were literally made of sticks, like twigs and which creaked as it drew them back. It had no eyes, just empty sockets with a golden hue in them. I couldn't move, I could hear the rapid beating of my heart. It felt like it could pop out at any moment. I wanted to scream, but it got stuck at the back of my throat. ‘What in the goddess’s name was this?’ I screamed in my head. So this was how I was going to die, getting killed by an unknown creature. It stretched it towards me and I shut my eyes, awaiting whatever was to come. My wolf was unusually calm. Normally, when facing threats, she would howl, but at this moment she was quiet. She didn't consider it a threat, but I sure as hell did. Seconds passed, minutes passed, I felt nothing. Slowly I opened my eyes, but the creature was no longer there. I scanned the room slowly, wondering where the creature had gone to. It was just like it wasn't even here at all. I looked at the body of the head maid on the floor and shifted away from it. I was in deep trouble, I just jumped from frying pan to fire. I panicked not knowing what to do, who would believe me if I said she was killed by a creature made of sticks? They'll definitely call me a lunatic and sentence me to death, for killing a pack member. ‘What was that creature?’ It had partly saved me from getting brutally injured, and it had put me into trouble. ‘Why didn't it kill me and killed only the head maid?’ I looked at the head maid’s body and felt nothing, not even an ounce of pity or sympathy. I had to do something, anybody could walk in, and I would be doomed. I didn't want to touch the body. I wondered what was taking Charles so long. While contemplating on what to do, someone entered the room. My heart almost jumped out of its rib cage as I subconsciously shook. “Relax Amelia, it's me.” A familiar voice said. It was Charles, I sighed in relief. “What…what happened?” He stuttered, his gaze settling on the corpse of the head maid. “Believe me, I didn't kill her. What happened was…was…” I stuttered, unable to form any words. “Calm down.” He said as he held my shoulders. “Look into my eyes. You didn't kill her right?” He asked in a firm tone. “Yes, I promise I didn't kill her. It was…it was…” My voice broke once again, unable to explain what I saw. “Pull yourself together. I believe you, I know you didn't do it. You can tell me what happened later, but for now, we need to leave. I'm sorry for not coming earlier, the wheels of the carriage I picked was faulty.” He explained and I nodded, feeling warm on the inside that he trusted me. “They wouldn't suspect me leaving the pack, because I'm handling some matters as the king is sick.” He said. “Let's go, the palace is calm except for the guards surrounding the outside. There's a hidden passage, you’ll pass there and wait. I’ll meet you with the carriage there.” He pulled my arms, leading me to the hidden passage which was at the under the stairs case. He rubbed his hands over something on the golden rim of the stairs, and an opening appeared under the stairs. I was shocked by this discovery, the passage was perfectly disguised. “Go ahead. Just walk through the narrow path, the door at the end will automatically open. You don't have to worry, the door would automatically lock once you’re out. Just wait at the other side for me.” He flashed me an assuring smile. I took a deep breath before walking down the stairs of the passage, the opening closed as soon as I entered. The path was narrow as he had said, the place was dimly lit, and the walls were plain. I walked through the path, before arriving at the door. It opened by itself and I stepped out, I sighed in relief when I saw the carriage waiting. Charles stepped out and led me into the carriage. He drove the carriage himself, as it would be risky taking a coachman along. He suddenly stopped the carriage, someone had stopped us. “Beta Charles! Thank heavens I saw you. What are you doing outside by this time? Are you also planning to attend the meeting concerning the sickness of the king?” I heard a voice ask. The person sounded nosy. “No. I have an urgent business to handle at a nearby pack.” Charles answered coldly. “By this time? What meeting is that?” The voice asked, in a suspicious tone. “Private political issues.” Charles answered coldly. “I would have loved to ask for a ride, bu—” “I'm late. See you later, Gamma Raphael.” Charles said and drove away. ‘That was close.’ I sighed. “That bastard.” Charles cursed. Charles had always hated gamma Raphael, he was too nosy and gossiped a lot, he didn't deserve to be a Gamma. The main reason he hated him, was because he always harassed the maids in the pack. He groped them inappropriately, and always got away with it because of his position. He had tried to touch me once, but had steered clear when he found out I was the Lycan king’s breeder. “We’re out of the pack.” I heard him say. I was finally able to sit without fear of being caught. I looked through the window, everywhere was getting bright slowly. It would soon be morning. Our carriage suddenly staggered, and Charles came to a halt, he had bumped into something. He got down to check what it was as, taking a lamp. I waited, I didn't hear anything from him. “Charles?” I called, “What is it?” I asked as I made to get down from the carriage. “Get back inside Amelia, it's a dead body! A fresh mutilated corpse!” He exclaimed.