The Last Hope (AU Book 1 of The Last Series)

Chapter 10

I sat on my bed alone and rubbed my hands together. I had no idea when Giselle would be stopping by and prayed that she would stop by soon so that I could stop this worry and nervousness that filled my brain.

Fernos was standing by the door like usual to make sure that I stayed in my tent like I was told to do. His presence was comforting and made me feel safe while I waited for Silas to come so that we could get to know each other.

Would he tell me what he was hiding? I silently wondered while I pushed my hands closer together and chewed on my bottom lip. Or was I reading into something that didn't happen?

I groaned and laid down while I pressed the palms of my hands to my eyes and rubbed, ignoring the black and blue and other colors that I saw while I did that. Why does this have to be so hard? I silently wondered, wondering when this would get easy for me or if it would ever get easy.

Again, my mind turned to the Siran, and I couldn't help but wonder what she would do in my situation. Would she wait patiently and be the good girl that would follow orders even if she knew that they wouldn't help the groups in the long run? Would she stick up for herself against an angry Alpha, or would she balk at the thought of crossing that line because she knew what could happen if that Alpha became super pissed?

Would she even be in here right now, waiting around while life passed her by, or would she say "fuck you" and do what she wanted to do because she knew that it would help the clans with their quest of defeating a tyrant?

If she could, then why couldn't I?

Someone cleared their throat at the door, and I looked up to see Giselle standing there with red eyes as if she had been crying.

I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong, but I closed it when she shook her head, no, and pressed my lips.

"Can I come in?" she asked, and I nodded while I stayed silent. She cleared her throat and rolled her eyes while she walked in and sat down at the table.

I stayed silent and watched her stuff me, and I shifted ever so slightly because I was getting nervous since she hadn't said a word after she asked to come in.

Giselle cleared her throat and leaned back on her seat. She studied me with her hazel eyes that seemed to glow with wisdom and stuff like that, and I couldn't help but look down because I was nervous and didn't want to see her looking at me like that.

She cleared her throat again and shifted in her seat. "Well?" she asked, and I had a feeling that she raised an eyebrow.

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I looked at her. "Well, what?" I asked, confused.

"What do you think of him?"

I looked down and shrugged. I had no idea if I should tell her how I felt because I was still confused and didn't know if he was an innocent or not.

"You can tell me anything, Caroline," Giselle said softly. "I will not tell a single soul what you tell me. I give you my word, Red Wolf."

I shivered when she called me "Red Wolf," and I prayed that nothing bad could happen because of it. I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. "Please, don't call me that again," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, and my heart pounded so hard in my chest that I thought it would jump out.

Giselle frowned and furrowed her brows. Worry filled her eyes while she studied me, and I could tell that she was confused about why I didn't want her to call me "Red Wolf" when that was my title. "Bu-"

"There could still be ears that don't know," I said, interrupting her. "I know that it is my title, but..." I shrugged and grimaced while I trailed off.

Giselle studied me before she slowly nodded. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she looked away. "Of course," she said. She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. "My apologies, Caroline."

I didn't look at her and shrugged. "It's ok, I guess," I said and cleared my throat. "What did you want to talk to me about?" I asked and looked at her while I changed the subject.

Giselle grew serious and cleared her throat. She sat taller in her seat while she stared at me with an emotion that I couldn't pick up on. "I want to talk to you about Silas."

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't help but wonder if she had by some chance noticed that something was... off with him and that I wasn't the only one. "What do you mean?" I asked, making sure to keep my voice leveled and calm. "I mean, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him..." I paused and trailed off. "Is there?"

Please say yes, I silently begged her. I don't want to seem to be crazy.

Giselle sighed and shook her head. She looked distraught and so sullen, as if she didn't know who to confide in, especially since I didn't say that I knew something. "It's nothing," she said and cleared her throat. "I am just beside myself, is all."

My heart broke, and I couldn't help but stare at her with a lost and defeated look. "Oh," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Ok."

Giselle's eyes grew softer, and she studied me closer than she did in the past. Her eyes became filled with excitement while she leaned forward, and I backed away a bit because I had no idea what she was thinking or what she was planning on doing. "So you feel it, too?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper and quivering.

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head. My heart pounded hard in my chest and skipped a beat, but I didn't know if it was from fear or excitement. "What do you mean?" I asked, deciding to play the dumb card and praying that she would answer.

Giselle leaned back in her seat and cocked her head while she studied me. Her eyes were still bright and filled with relief, and there was a hint of sadness in them as if she had this conversation with someone else before me. "How Silas feels... a bit off?" She chose her words carefully, and I hesitantly nodded.

"Ya," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. "I felt that he was a bit off when I first met him." I cleared my throat again while I looked down and furrowed my brows. "It's as if he is hiding something. He.. wants help, but he doesn't know how to get it."

Giselle needed and stayed silent. She had a thoughtful look in her eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.

I furrowed my brows and cleared my throat, and Giselle looked at me, losing the thoughtful look in her eyes. "So... what do I do?" I asked and furrowed my brows further. "Should... I call him out?"

Giselle shook her head, no, and raised her hand when I opened my mouth to question her. She waited while I closed it and lowered her hand, and placed it back into her lap. "I would wait and play it by ear," she said, and I frowned, not liking that answer.

Giselle chuckled and dipped her chin while she stared at me, amused. "I know that it isn't the answer you like, Caroline, but if you start questioning him now, then there could be consequences."

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head further. "Like?"

"Death," Giselle replied without any hesitation. She smiled sadly and dropped her head further while her eyes became filled with worry about what the future could bring. "There could be death."