CHAPTER 103: THE ACCIDENT
Kieran sat beside me as we drove through the night. We were headed to a Lycan gathering several hours away. And Kieran had asked me to accompany him. Something about making us feeling like a couple in the eyes of the people. We were followed by two other cars carrying heavily armed guards.
The air between us was filled with tension. And the thought about Kieran’s reminder about my lack of full protection did not leave my mind. I took a glance at him, searching for anything that might help give meaning but his face remained firm. It was the way it had been from the beginning of the journey. Although sometimes, he would stare and smile and I would try to return it before looking away.
The event was like the usual. Exquisite with the finest outfit and wine. I saw the way that they looked at us. Especially the ladies, they would whisper amongst themselves as Kieran was all around me. We needed to make it real that was the plan. And I tried so much to even if I resented sometimes.
By the time the event was over and we got back on the road, it was in absolute darkness. The skies lacked the stars and if not of the headlight, we wouldn’t see the road. The headlights carved a narrow path through the blackness. Then, with a screech of tires, our car swerved. The driver had been listening to an old country song nodding to it slightly I didn’t know if he didn’t see the log ahead of us. All I knew what that we were going to die.
I couldn’t imagine what was happening as it happened so fast but all I could do was scream. The car lurched as the tires lost balance against the road. The car spun and we tumbled. It threw me against the hard leather seat. I felt the pain in my shoulder as the car slammed on the side of the road.
I gasped for breath holding my head as it finally came to a stop. I tried to free myself from the seatbelt. A searing pain passed through my leg I couldn’t hold back as tears rushed out of my eyes. Crying wouldn’t solve anything but it was a sign that I was still alive. I couldn’t say the same for the driver as he didn’t move. My heart thumped watching his motionless body. At that point, I turned to were Kieran was seated but he wasn’t there. A million and one things came to mind. But I couldn’t bare to think that he might be hurt.
I turned to the driver again but he still didn’t move and the feeling resumed. That guilt that clutched in the back of my head. I don’t know how the accident related to me but I knew that it just did. Somehow every bad thing that had occurred was linked to me. I didn’t need a witch to tell me that.
Suddenly, I felt a strong arm pulled me from the window and placed me gently on the ground. It was Kieran.
“Kieran, I’m glad you are okay,” I managed to say.
“Clara, are you okay? Stay with me, Clara,” he said. He applied pressure on my back taking me up.
“Yes I think I’m good but I can’t say the same for the driver. He is not moving,” I managed to say.
“Let me pull him. Oh God, I hope that he is okay. I don’t know what I’ll tell his family if anything happens to him.”
“Well, let’s hope nothing happens to him,” I said.
Kieran went back towards the car, I still heard the gritty voice of the music playing from the stereo. I tried to sit up and watch as Kieran pulled him out of the car.
“He still has a pulse.”
“Oh thank God,” my breath escaped from my lips in relief.
“We need to get him to the hospital. Where are this people?”
“I thought they were just behind us?”NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.
“Yes, but they signaled that they would stop for fuel at the gas station.”
“We could have just waited for them. Now we are lost in this woods and that sign says that it’s a danger zone,” I said rubbing my hands against each other. I had began to feel the cold of the night.
“What sign? You are cold Clara,” he noticed and took off his jacket.
“No Kieran, you need it too,” I refused.
“But you need it more,” he insisted. And finally, I gave in allowing myself the warmth from the jacket and I wasn’t so cold anymore.
“You said there was a sign?”
“Yes, over there,” I pointed towards the woods.
“Oh God,” he gasped.
“What’s wrong? This is not at a good spot. We need to get out of here.”
“Why what’s wrong?”
Just when I thought that it was over, I began to feel even more cold that even the jacket could not keep me warm.
Just then, we heard a growl coming from within the woods and then, cracks from snapping branches and ruffled up dry leaves. Something was coming.
“We need to get out of here.”
“What about him?” I pointed to the driver.
“He is going to be fine. Whatever is coming doesn’t attack someone that is unconscious.”
“What is coming?” I swallowed.
“Let’s find somewhere safe and then I’ll tell you.”
Kieran tried to lift me up. As we moved a bit, we stumbled back just as a figure emerged from the woods. Its eyes glowed and it snarled.
“What’s that?” I asked watching the figure approach us. All I could see were the red glowing eyes. My legs shivered but my lengthy dress covered it so Kieran wouldn’t know how terrified I was as I tried to compose. My eyes had begin to feel hot.
“We are at its territory. The crash might have woken it up.”
“Oh God, I shouldn’t have come,” I muttered.
“Stay here,” he put me down beside the car.
“Where are you going to?” I asked holding on to him.
“I can take it out. Maybe buy us some time before the guards arrive.”
“What about me? What if there are more?”
“I just want to hold it off for as long as I can before the guards would catch up to us.”
I had never been more terrified. My hands shivered as I watched Kieran walk towards the woods. In a bit I would be alone. The driver had been unconscious for so long he might have hit his head hard. This was it, the point where I needed the protection, maybe it was a sign.
My mind and body relaxed as I sighted the headlight from the car that carried the guards. They emerged from their vehicles.
“What happened?”
“We had an accident. I think the driver was over speeding and there was a log.”
“Where is our King?”
I pointed towards the woods, “he said he wanted to hold it off. I don’t know what.”
Some of the guards joined Kieran into the darkness. While some helped the driver into the car. Kieran arrived just as they had gone in. I didn’t know if he had taken down the shadowy figure. But he grabbed me and led me into the vehicle.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
Tears pricked my eyes it was a mixture of fear and a strange sense of gratitude.
I nodded, “My leg,” I choked out, the pain had become a dull and less.
He examined my leg with a soft touch and I couldn’t help but just look at him.
“It’s nothing a healer can’t fix,” he assured me.
But as he spoke I thought about all that had transpired the past days. It dawned on me. He was right. Without the mating bond, I was vulnerable. The attack could have ended very differently if not for Kieran and the guards. I had let my fear cloud my judgment just as Nikkei had warned me against delaying the ceremony out of a suspicion. Seeing firsthand the very danger Kieran had warned me about.
“Kieran,” I said, my voice trembling slightly, “about the ceremony… I think I’m ready.