ISOBEL
"Going somewhere?" Never in my life did I think those two words could scare the shit out of me but I guess we learn everyday.
"Mason!" I gasped, "W-what are y-you doing here?" I couldn't stop myself from stuttering. It was a terrible habit of mine.
Mason chuckled softly, "It seems like you love to ask me this question." He paused, staring straight at me, "But if you must know, I'm keeping watch. Watching closely for any dimwit, who may be trying to escape from the pack without the proper documentation."
I swallowed, knowing fully well that he caught me red handed but how?
"And now that I've answered your question, I think it's time for you to answer mine…" He chuckled,
"No need to get all worked up. I'll ask you exactly the same question you asked me."
Mason strolled towards me at an excruciatingly slow pace and with each step he took, my heart threatened to burst out of my chest. This was fun to him, no doubt. He enjoyed seeing me shiver in fear at the sight of him.
"…Dearest Isobel," he began as he came to stand before me and with a smile on his face, he asked, "Tell me, what are you doing here?"
"I- I" I didn't know why I tried to answer, knowing how speechless I became when under pressure.
"Don't tell me you're trying to run away for the second time in a row, dear Isobel, because that'd be utterly ridiculous," He commented as though he was oblivious to my true intention.
"Mason I—" I tried to calmly talk some sense into him but in the next second, he raised his voice at me, causing me to jerk back in fear.
"Don't you dare call my name, Isobel!" His entire form vibrated in anger, flexing a fraction of his Alpha authority. "I warned you, didn't I?"
"I warned you to remain in this pack but you chose to disobey me and leave." His voice turned calm but I could still feel anger emanating from him and radiating all over the place. He was my mate after all, meaning that I got to experience his emotions first hand.
"I-I'm sorry," I apologized with my head lowered because that was the only rational thing to do. Because with the way he was vibrating in anger, he could easily tear me apart within seconds.
Mason looked away and huffed loudly, "Take her away!" He called out, and before I could figure out who he was talking to, two sentries came from behind the tree and dragged me away. This was all a plan! Somehow, Mason had figured out that I'd try to flee the pack and so he stationed himself by the border gates. How pathetic!
I took one last glance at Mason and the man wasn't even looking at me, instead, he looked extremely pleased with himself. He was just as hard hearted as his mother. Just how on earth did I get in this mess? Why was it always me?
The guards roughly dragged me to the dungeon and threw me in. "You shouldn't have tried to escape a second time," One of them commented with spite. "You can outsmart Ophelia but not her godson."
While the other looked at me with what I deduced to be pity, "Try to keep your mouth shut," He calmly said and no matter how hard I tried to figure out what his words meant, I just couldn't.
What did he mean by that? Did nobody else know of my arrest? I didn't understand.
I didn't realize I had fallen asleep in the dark cell until I heard the gates open. "Isobel!" Quinn rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me and burying her face in my nape, "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault!" She cried.
"No, it's not." I berated her. "It has nothing to do with you. I was the one who wanted to run away."
"But I supported you. I should have tried to stop you. If I had done that, then you wouldn't be in this filthy environment." She sniffled.
"Oh, Quinn, what am I going to do with you?" I held her closely, "You should even be mad at me for risking your life, yet here you are, crying on my behalf. I'm so sorry." I apologized sincerely.
"Don't be." She let me go, "I don't mind standing in the front line in a battle just to see you smile."
"Thank you," I smiled, but then the thought that had been bothering me came flashing back, "You told me that Ophelia's godson was asleep right?"
"Yes, he was" Quinn nodded, "I made sure to confirm it."
"Then how was he at the border gates?" I asked, "If he was asleep like you claimed, then he shouldn't have been there."
"I- um- it's probably a misunderstanding. Maybe the guard lied to me." She said, "I was so naive to believe them."
I stared at her, with no thought in my head. I was genuinely blank.
"You don't happen to blame me now, do you?" She asked with raised brows.
"Of course not!" I said immediately. Not once have I ever blamed her for what happened to me. If she had known that the guard was lying, then she'd have stopped me.
"Let's forget about that, shall we?" Then she brought a flask to my view, "I brought food!"
Quinn always had a way of cheering me up, even in the worst situations and I was grateful to have a friend like her.
"Thank goodness. They've starved me of food and water to the point that I couldn't help but think that running away is my only crime." I said, whilst stuffing my mouth with the warm, moist bread.
"About that…" Quinn drawled and just as she was about to continue, the cell gate was pushed open and a guard came in.
He pulled me harshly by my arm, not caring that i had food on me, "Take it easy. I just tried to escape, it's not like I killed anyone." I complained, unable to keep shut.
"If not that, then why else do you think you're here, you bloody murderer!" The guard spat.
What? Me? A murderer? This has to be some sort of sick joke.