Betrayal

Dreamer

Chapter 6

Running through the empty hallway that is endless, I'm using my speed to get to the end of it. But I've been running in the same spot, not moving.

"Someone help me!" I scream.

I heard a doorway creaking near the end of the hall and I stopped running to hide next to a marble statue. Peeking around the corner of the statue, I look to see a door open slightly. I stalk alongside the wall, checking behind me quickly to see if someone is coming. I'm closer to the door now and listen in, I can hear soft humming coming from inside. The tune sounded familiar to me but I couldn't remember where. I moved lightly to look through the crack in the open door and see a woman sitting down, looking out the window.

"Come here, my little wildflower. I've been waiting a while for you." The woman says.

My eyes widen in surprise at the nickname and walk inside quietly. "Momma?"

The woman turns and it's my mother smiling back at me. "It's about time you show up! Come, sit please. We have much to discuss." She pats the spot beside her on the couch.

Next thing I know, I'm beside her hugging her tightly to me. "You're okay! I missed you so much, momma. I can't explain just how much."

"Oh my darling, I missed you too." She leans back and cups my face in her hands. Her face turns blurry from the tears gathering in my eyes. "Don't cry, I'm right here and I've never left you. My soul has always been here, following you and keeping you company. You never have to be afraid, you're more powerful than you think."

"I don't feel so powerful, momma. I've met my mates and ever since, I've been hunted by Uncle. I don't know what to do." I say quietly as my tears overflow.

"Don't you worry now. They'll protect you no matter what may happen. Trust them, wildflower. You can show them a way that will guide them closer to you. But, there is one issue we need to speak of. You do need to be watchful of your mates. I cannot tell you who is betraying you. You will however, make them fall in love with you. It will cause you heartbreak but you'll learn from it and you will get all of your powers once it's over." She says to me,

I frown. "But why would I want to trust them if one of them will betray me? Why would I put myself through that heartbreak?"

She smiles and sets her hands on her lap. "Because it'll be worth it in the end. They will earn your love and it will create the most powerful bond between you five that no one, and I mean no one will get in your way of the throne. Now it is time for you to wake up, little one. Go be with your mates and be the Queen I know you can be." She presses a light kiss to my forehead and she fades from my sight as darkness returns.

I slowly started gaining consciousness and I felt nothing but pain in my head. I sat up slowly and blinked quickly, looking around the room. Confused as to what happened, I got out of bed and opened the door, stumbling a little walking down the hallway. I could hear my men talking as I moved further down, leaning back against the wall I listened in on their conversation.

"I'm telling you, something is going on here and I'm going to find out what the fuck is happening. Our mate is lying in bed unconscious for whatever reason. We can't even figure out what's wrong with her. How the hell has her uncle been finding her that easily?!" Sounds like Aris is a bit worked up from me passing out.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You think someone is betraying our Queen for the man who killed our last rulers? We've known each other for how long and we're now doubting each other? I do find it odd how they keep finding us any time we move to a different location but this is absurd. They had to know our safe houses' locations somehow." Jaxson questioned. As someone sighed, I peeked around the corner, careful to not make a sound. Ragnar stood near the door and Jaxson, Liam, and Aris were sitting in the living area.

"We need to go deeper into hiding if they have found out our safe houses locations. We need to protect her, not just because she's our mate but because she is the one true Queen. Even if our lives are at stake, I'd die taking a bullet for her. Hell, Aris already has. We need to find out more information on her powers, why she passed out after using her fire, and go underground until we have a plan to bring Stefan down." Liam stated while he rubbed his face in the palms of his hands.

"But she won't have her powers until all of us are mated and she needs them if she's going to defeat him. We already know she's trained, but by who? I have no idea but we need to earn her trust and her love if we're going to help her gain her powers." Jaxson says.

Ragnar rolled his eyes at the word love. "Seriously? Love? What does that have to do with anything? She's our mate. My mate. I don't have to love her to fuck her and mark her. The bond is already affecting all of us. We need to just fuck her and get it over with so this shit will be done and we can move on." He crossed his arms with a sneer.

I stalked around the corner straight up to Ragnar, glaring at him. "So fuck me and get it over with huh? Fuck you Ragnar. That is not how this shit works. I don't know how mating works in your world but in mine, you earn that shit." I shoved him out from in front of the door and started to open it but his hand slammed down on it to keep it shut.

"Remove your hand or you will no longer have a hand to pleasure yourself with." I snarled at him with my fangs descended.

He bared his fangs in turn. "No. You're not leaving because you're safe here."

"Since when have I been safe being here with you? Until I met you all, I never had someone following me, trying to kill me because of my birthright. I never had an asshole trying to get into my pants because he thinks he's entitled to what's inside it. Get the fuck out of my way. NOW!" I roared up at him and the door knob melted onto my palm. I looked down in anger and shook my hand free of the melted remnants of the handle. In my anger, I swung my fist towards Ragnar, I went on the attack. My fist connected with his jaw and I kept throwing my punches, each time hitting my mark. I shoved him down onto the chair that was behind him.

I could feel a burning sensation starting in my chest, I could tell it's not like my fire but more as it comes out through my voice. "I am not one to be fucked with Ragnar. You are no longer the hunter but the prey. Get in my way and I will bring you down. Again." He looked at me with simmering anger but adjusted himself to sit correctly in the chair. I turned to the others, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. "I will leave if I need to because this isn't what I signed up for. I will not be treated with disrespect or talked about behind my back, ever." I pointedly looked at Ragnar but he stared at the carpet, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

"I overheard part of the conversation about me blacking out. I actually had a dream about my mother." I licked my lips in nervousness, I linked my fingers together in front of me.

Liam frowned. "What was your dream about?"

"My mother just reminded me of who I am. Nothing important." I shrugged it off.

"Keep looking for information about my powers. I hope you'll find something soon. I'm going for a walk, fill me in later." I kicked the door so it opened and walked out of it, slamming it shut behind me.

I walked away from the porch and into the open air. Remembering everything that's happened in just the last few days alone, nothing added up. From learning about my powers but really knowing nothing about them, mates and what it means having them, what to do to get my powers. Learning that there is a betrayer in our midst thanks to my mother proving me right on that front. I looked up to evaluate my surroundings and realized we're in the middle of nowhere just like our last safehouse, the cabin surrounded by mountains. Now all I saw was desert and an almost nonexistent path from the vehicle my mates used. I hadn't realized in the room I woke up in that we were somewhere else. I stopped to look up at the sky and breathe in deep, letting it out slowly.

The stars were shining brightly in the night sky and it calmed me. I settled my nerves as I glanced around me, inhaling the different scents and hearing the sounds surrounding me. Since I was eight, I hadn't felt safe. Now it was even worse because of Stefan knowing that I was alive. I needed to focus my energy on bringing him down, not fighting constantly with one of my mates all the time. I planned on burning his entire world down to the ground into nothing but ash and I hoped he realized he never should have fucked with a Queen.

I grinned into the darkness. "Let's bring this bastard down."

I stalked back to the house with a new mindset and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end when I reached the porch. I glanced around me but saw nothing and I walked back inside.