Chapter 7 Almost

• “It’s a hidden monster with claws, just like ours! Do you think it lies beneath the dungeon?” One of the boys behind Rhaeven screamed.
• “Do you think it's just like us or different?” Another asked, his voice sounded more excited than scared.
• Rhaeven sighed and walked a distance away so they wouldn’t get suspicious of her.
• She needed space, away from their prying eyes.
• Needed to breathe.
• It was enough that they reminded her that her father was a human traitor and that she would never measure up to them.
• She leaned against the side of the wall, wondering if the toe biting had been the work of a werewolf? They were rough by nature, but something about doing that while they were undergoing inspection made her imagine if it was a rogue one.
• Why had it bitten the boy and not killed him instead?
• They’d managed to restrain and rechain the monster just moments ago and the boy with the bitten toe had gotten treatment, or so they’d been told.
• Now she wondered just how long it would take before she became exposed.
• She rubbed her neck, where her dream of the Alpha still haunted her, and stared out, towards the boys.
• “Jackal?” Someone called out behind her and Rhaeven froze.
• Slowly, she turned, prepared to face whoever it was that had called her that.
• It was another soldier who simply looked down at her.
• “What are you doing over here? Planning on running away? Prisoners are always caught a mile before the river. You will be doing yourself in, I assure you.”
• He said with a smirk, and Rhaeven simply lowered her head.
• She had nothing to say, at least not to him.
• Not yet.
• Not with the guards and soldiers scattered all over.
• “What? You’ve got nothing to say? Have you gone daft, perhaps?” He said, raising a hand to slap her.
• Rhaeven stepped back, and his hand paused mid-air as a sound filled the air, followed by a shout:
• “Boys, assemble! Form the lines again! Inspection resumes now!”
• The soldier hurried away, and Rhaeven’s heart dropped.
• Heavens, she was in for it!
• The boys’ little circle scattered as they began walking back, towards the lines, stepping back into it and murmuring while at it.
• Her heart began to beat faster as she dragged her feet towards the line too.
• She was the second to the last person in line, but still, it didn’t stop her already pacing heart.
• Didn’t calm her in any way.
• She wondered what Luther and the other boys would think of her now.
• If the Alpha requested that she be beheaded or set on fire.
• Or both.
• Oh, today would be the day she dies.
• Suddenly, the thought took root in her heart, and Rhaeven seemed calmed by it.
• It must be her destiny after all.
• At least, she would be dead, and away from the horrors of war, being hunted alive and constantly living in fear of being caught.
• Perhaps she’d even be reunited with her mother and father in the afterlife and if she was lucky enough, Zuri, her favorite horse would be included.
• That was more than enough, it was all she needed to be content.
• So she made a silent prayer to the goddess to make her wish come true.
• Someone’s boot rammed into hers from behind, causing her to stumble.
• Right into him.
• He reached out, catching her before she hit the ground.
• Rhaeven looked up to see who’d saved her.
• The Beta.
• The same man who’d rescued her from the soldiers who’d tried to kill her, right before he ordered that she be captured.
• Her heart almost stopped. His hold on her was firm, but his eyes never left hers.
• Rhaeven let his grasp quickly as if she’d been burned by fire.
• She lowered her head, blaming herself for being so clumsy today.
• Repeatedly bumping into people she had no business bumping into.
• The man stared at her like he had something else to say but couldn’t then cleared his throat.
• His voice was sharp and commanding:
• “Hold the inspection!” He ordered.
• Everyone paused, excluding him.
• “Commander?” One of the men on the front line asked, his face confused. “We’re almost through, just four more and…”
• The beta held up a hand.
• “I said, hold it. There’s a new threat and the cells need to be wiped clean from top to bottom.” The beta said calmly but with authority.
• “On whose order?” Another asked again, as if questioning the beta’s authority.
• The beta took a step forward, unable to believe his eyes.
• “You dare question me?” He threw back at the soldier, who immediately fell to his knees.
• “Never, I wouldn’t dare, my Lord. Please forgive me!” He put in.
• He sighed, then turned towards the other man.
• “Your inspection will wait. Unless, of course, you want your toe bitten off next, to test your theory?”
• He lowered his head instantly.
• “Of course not, Commander.”
• He sighed and turned to walk away, then paused as if he’d changed his mind.
• “It’s by the order of the Alpha.” He said, and everyone else bowed their heads as Sinjun appeared as if on cue.
• Rhaeven stood in front of the beta now, not daring to move.
• Her heart had begun to thump again, and she found breathing properly difficult.
• Sinjun’s boots sounded noiselessly against the stone floor as he approached Rhaeven and everyone bowed.
• She tried to shift, but he didn’t need to look to know where she was.
• He stopped a few feet away from her and said in a low voice.
• “You’re trembling, Roy.”
• Rhaeven froze, her feet stuck.
• Unable to utter a single word.
• His voice came again, lower than before.
• “You’re hiding something.”
• He said matter-of-factly, not a question.
• And her blood turned cold as her legs weakened.
• Then he turned away and addressed everyone.
• “The boys can return to the servant quarters and the stables. I want everyone else armed and in positions before nightfall. No one leaves. Anyone who dares...”
• He let the silence speak for him, then he turned and walked away, with the beta by his side.
• Rhaeven stood, unmoving. Her heart was in her mouth and her breath was barely there.
• The inspection was over, for now.
• But his words had shaken her much more than any threat of exposure.
• Rhaeven blinked.
• He knew something.
• And that was worse than knowing nothing at all.