The Alpha's Mate (Alphas of Lair Series #1)

Chapter Thirty-Four

I blinked for a few times to adjust my eyesight. Ang ilaw mula sa mga tanglaw ang unang bumungad sa'kin nang naging klaro ang paningin ko. I scanned the surroundings. It is dim and the air is dead which means I'm still inside the cell. Sinubukan kong gumalaw ngunit kalaskas ng kadena ang aking narinig. Napatingin ako sa aking mga kamay at paa at nakitang nakagapos ang mga ito sa mga bakal. I forcefully pulled the chain but it won't break. Habang pinipilit itong tanggalin mula sa mga kamay ko ay nakarinig ako ng mga yapak mula sa isang sulok.

"You never learned, Assassin.", ani ng isang papalapit na boses. Nagpantig ang aking tainga nang marinig iyon. Napatingin ako sa kanyang sapatos na tumigil sa aking harapan. I clenched my fist when I saw a familiar pair of shoes. What a traitor.

"Paano ba 'yan? You're totally helpless.", aniya at iginala ang paningin sa akin. Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang pinakamatalim kong titig. Napaismid siya sa naging reaksyon ko at napailing.

"What do you think you're doing? Itatakas mo ang mga bilanggo?", ang kanyang boses ay mas matigas na ngayon. May bahid iyon ng iritasyon at galit.

"You're like your father. A traitor." , dagdag nito sa kanyang sinabi. I gritted my teeth at the thought of my father. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya sinabing traydor ito ngunit wala akong pakialam doon. What a moron. Hindi kaya siya ang traydor sa aming dalawa?

Dahan-dahan niyang inilapit ang kanyang kamay sa akin. Tinitigan ko siya habang ginagawa iyon. Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa niya akong baliktarin pagkatapos ng lahat. I don't even know what to feel first. Betrayed? Hurt? Wrath?

Agad kong inilayo sa kanya ang aking mukha bago pa man niya ito mailapat sa akin. For a moment, I saw a flicker of sadness at the pair of eyes in front of me. Ngunit agad din iyong nawala nang umiwas siya ng titig sa'kin.

"So, I'll give you choices.", panimula niya at naglakad palayo sa'kin. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa mga magulang ni Duke.

"Madali lang naman. I just need your answer. First choice...", aniya at hinawakan ang kadena ng ina ni Duke.

"You kill them...", aniya habang nakatitig sa'kin. " or I will kill them myself.", matigas niyang tanong at itinutok sa mag-asawa ang isang samurai. Ako naman ngayon ang napaismid. I am going to kill you, idiot.

Naglakad ito pabalik sa'kin. Kung sana nakamamatay ang titig ay kanina pa siya duguan. But I don't kill people in the easy way. I won't kill a traitor through the easy way.

Lumuhod ito sa harapan ko habang nakatukod sa sahig ang kanyang samurai. "Answer me, Gabriel.", utos nito sa'kin. Bago pa man ako makasagot ay naagaw ng kanyang paningin ang mga yapak galing sa bukana ng bastille. Maging ang mag-asawa ay napatingin sa bagong dating.

"Pinapatawag ka ni Chief.", aniya. Saglit siyang napatingin sa'kin at ibinalik ang tingin kay Gesa. I can't read any emotions in his eyes. It's empty, cold, and hollow. It wasn't the expression I am expecting from him. Everything feels odd. I am confused. It's the first time I felt helpless after my parent's death.

And I can't help but to feel hurt. It's painful. When you trust people and they end up breaking every wall you built just to protect them. Hindi ko akalaing ang taong pagkakatiwalaan ko ang siyang babaliktad sa'kin.

Is this how life works?

Saglit na tinitigan ni Marcus ang kapatid bago ito muling humarap sa'kin. He caressed my face with his fingers. I remember those years how much I wished for this thing to happen. I've always hoped he'll come home and tell me he's back. But right now, I can't thank him in any way I can think. I can't feel the spark in his touch again, all I can feel is that, I despise him.

"Tara na. Leave the prisoner.", pambabasag ni Theron sa katahimikang namayani sa pagitan namin. Sinundan ko sila ng tingin habang papalabas ng silid. Naunang naglakad palayo si Marcus habang sinundan siya ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid. He stopped midstep and threw a quick glance to my place. Nang makitang nakatitig ako sa kanya ay agad itong umiwas ng paningin at dali-daling naglakad palabas ng silid.

"Iha.", ani ng babae na nasa aking harapan. Napatingin ako sa kanya nang sambitin niya iyon. Her soft eyes immediately landed on my spot. It was so gentle, so fragile, and calming to my nerves.

"You're Venus' daugther." she asked. No, it wasn't a question. Batay sa kanyang boses ay nakakasisigurado siya sa kanyang naging pahayag.

"You look like her.", dagdag nito na siyang umagaw sa aking atensyon. Napatitig ako sa kanya at nakitang nakangiti ito sa'kin. The same vibrant smile Karleen possesses.

"I remember those years we spent together the first time I saw you. Her eyes, the aura she has... you have all of those.", she added. Napakunot ang aking noo dahil doon. She sounds like she knew my mom very closely. Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

"Siguro'y namana mo rin ang kanyang ugali.", ani naman ng lalake. All I can do is stare at them and confuse myself with their words. It feels like I'm at the edge of the cliff. Hindi ko alam ngunit palakas ng palakas ang naging tibok ng puso ko sa bawat salitang binibitawan ng mag-asawa.

"Ugali? You mean stubborn, strong, fierce, serious... ano pa ba?", ani Gesa na nasa dulong parte ng silid. Tulad ko'y nakagapos rin ito sa bakal. I knew it would be a bad move to bring her here. Now, were both chained by those people we trusted the most.

"Selfless, full of love, and brave.", ang lalake ang dumagdag sa kanyang sinabi. Unti-unting bumabalik sa akin ang mga mumunting ala-ala kasama ng mga magulang ko.

I remember the first time I tried to stand at the top of the falls. I was afraid of heights back then. I am shaking as I gaze the view under my feet. The rushing water from the falls drops into the deep, blue, river below me. I know how to swim but I was too scared to jump.

It was mom who told me I can do it. Ang sabi niya ay naniniwala siyang makakaya ko iyon. But the problem is, I can't trust myself.

"I won't let you try if I know you can't. But how will you know you can if you won't try?", she said as I positioned myself on the dropping point. I was hesitant at first but when I saw the courage on her eyes and the smile she flashed that time, I know I could do it.

Magtatakip-silim na nang pumasok ang isang pigura sa loob ng silid. He's on his usual attire. His eyes darted to my place. I tried to read his emotions but it's still as empty as this room where we are locked in. Walang paligoy-ligoy itong dumiretso sa lugar ko. He stopped in front of me and scanned my position. Nakaupo ako ngayon at nakahilig sa malamig na pader habang dahan-dahan siyang lumebel sa akin.

"What do you want?", malamig kong tanong sa kanya. He remained stoic, tila tinatantya ang reaksyon ko.

Unti-unti itong lumapit sa akin. He stared at my eyes, and I could almost see my reflection on his. Gusto kong pigilan siya, itulak o hindi kaya sipain ngunit hindi ako magalaw. He locked me between his arms and all I could do is to stare at him. His lips came to the side of my ears that I can even feel his breath in my neck. I stiffened at his move but what he said made my hopes reached the sky.

"I told you. We're partners."