Claimed By The Mistborne Alpha-Chapter 48: Waiting

We were all assembled in the main central hallway, everyone in solemn masks as we sat fearing our fate. Only faint lights mixed with the glow from the Stargar Stones illuminated our faces. Everything else was shut down, everything brought down to minimal requirements so we couldn’t be found out.

No one spoke a word as we huddled together, after the soldier had rushed to warn them and they got to work on the emergency protocol that they had prepared for this very circumstance.

Avelora stood in the centre of the room, her composure back to her serene self, and her face a mask of calm reassurance. She almost looked ethereal under the lights and I realised she looked exactly like someone who I would like to have as a leader to guide me. If only her sense of morals weren’t so skewed.

A few of the rebels in the chamber, mostly the younger ones, looked like they weren’t ready for this situation. Their faces clearly showed the fear of what might happen. They looked at Avelora with something like desperate faith in her but when their eyes fell on me, I caught something completely different. There was resentment, and suspicion.

The weight of their stares, now completely targeting me, made me shrink back against the wall.

Avelora must have noticed because her face cut towards them in warning. "You all know why she’s here. We’ve already established how integral she is to our plans. So if anyone has any doubts, I recommend silencing them now itself. We don’t have time for quarrels or any kind of clashes within our team. We learn to trust each other."

But it seemed like the doubts had already taken root and I could feel it prickling and spreading around the room as we all waited in the dark.

One of them, a guard, no older than me, with cropped black hair and a deep gash running through his lips, spoke like he couldn’t stop himself any longer. "With all due respect, Avelora, he’s looking for her. If he finds this place, it’ll all be because of her and all the plans we’ve made to stop the carnage would all be for nothing. Do you really think she’s worth that much? Because I don’t, and neither do the rest of us here. She looks way too ordinary to just change the trajectory of the city of Kargahart and the mist. No one wants her here, Avelora."

"I do," a voice rang out from the back of the crowd, and all of us turned to see Valden standing over a raised platform, making sure he was visible to everyone who had wanted me out. "Any added advantage against Korvash is advantage enough. We won’t be able to win this fight against the others at Parthenn without her. I’ve seen the extent of her powers. I’ve seen her test results. Anyone who knows her would tell you the same thing," he explained evenly, trying to keep any emotion out of his voice.

"I do too," another voice rang from the other side of the room and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was Lesra.

"Yup, me too. Anyone who can survive living with a psychopath deserves at least one fan club member. I’m calling dibs. I like being alive, thank you very much."

It was Joren, standing up proudly right next to Lesra with his shit eating grin.

Whispers erupted through the crowd, and it rolled around quickly, soft and doubtful at first, and then louder, loud enough that I hoped the guards above us didn’t hear us.

"Enough," Avelora slammed her palms over the wall, until the sound echoed.

It was surprising how sudden the silence prevailed.

It felt like her voice had enough power to make even the most defiant soldier to lower their head.

Avelora took that moment to step forward, her eyes sweeping across the crowd.

"No one moves or kicks anyone out without my order. If the Alpha is truly out there, then we cannot afford to panic. He will sense it like blood in water."

She gave Valden a pointed look. "Captain, please take Maeve to the inner quarters. Make sure she stays hidden no matter what. Lesra and Joren, you might as well go with her."

Valden nodded immediately and stepped down, beckoning me to him. I waded through the thick expanse of the other Lycans to finally reach him, joined shortly by Lesra and Joren.

We walked away as fast as possible from the stares piercing down our necks. I couldn’t wait to get out of that hallway.

Once we entered the path away from them, Valden relaxed slightly, brushing his hand against mine in quiet reassurance. "Stay close to me," he murmured, his eyes searching mine, making sure I was alright.

Joren obviously noticed immediately. "Wow, that’s real subtle Valden. If the Dark Lord doesn’t find us already, your longing stares will definitely be the death of us."

"Quiet, Joren." Lesra gave him a look that could probably turn stone to ash, and for some reason, he actually decided to obey.

We walked deeper into the cavern, down a long spiral of stairs until the lights got even dimmer and it felt like we were getting swallowed by the Earth.

We could hear Avelora’s voice from above. "All guards in position. Make sure all passageways are sealed. No one enters or exits until further command. If the Alpha gets even within a hundred meters of the entrance, I want to know before he even breathes the same air as us."

We went through another narrow hallway to finally reach a chamber that looked like it hadn’t seen humanity since forever. It was completely empty except for a small table and a rickety chair. They probably built it for emergencies and probably never required its usage until I set foot into this place and made all hell break loose.

"This will have to do," he muttered uneasily, scanning the corners as if Darek was going to jump out from the dark. "You should stay here until Avelora calls us back again."

I hesitated. "Do you think he’s really coming?"

Valden’s eyes turned towards the ceiling. "If he’s not already on his way, he will be soon. Darek doesn’t stop once he’s decided something."

Behind him, Joren leaned casually against the doorway. "But don’t worry, Maeve. You’ve got me. I’ll protect you. Probably."

"Really, Joren?" I shot back, my lips twitching.

He grinned wider. "I said probably. Don’t get too greedy now."

Valden gave him a withering look. "Can you take anything seriously?"

"Sure," Joren said, crossing his arms. "But only when it doesn’t involve getting vaporized by an angry Alpha Commander who’s turned into the Grim Reaper. So... no, not right now."

Lesra groaned. "You are literally the worst motivational speaker alive."

"I try," he said cheerfully.

Valden stepped between us then, the weight of responsibility settling back on his shoulders. "Stay in this room, Maeve. Lock the door if you hear anything and don’t open it for anyone unless it’s me or Avelora."

I nodded. "And you?"

He hesitated for a moment, then his hand traced a line over my arm, just enough to leave a trail of warmth behind. "I’ll be nearby."

When he turned to leave, Joren winked at me before following him out. "Don’t worry, sunshine. If Darek shows up, I’ll distract him with my charming personality."

Lesra called after him, "He’ll kill you in two seconds."

"Two seconds longer than you’d last. I’ll take it."

Their voices faded into the tunnels, and I pressed my palms together to stop them from shaking and whispered to myself, "Please don’t find me."

Somehow, I swore I could smell Darek’s scent in the air.