Not My Choice

III

Six Years Later

My eyes caught my reflection and I froze. The woman that was staring back at me was a stranger.

My eyes that once had been filled with love and life were now cold and empty of everything. My face that had always been split in a smile, now held a permanent frown. "Julian, Derek is asking for you." My head turns at the voice as I see one of Derek's deadliest fighters staring back at me. Giving him a quick nod, I make my way to his office.

Knocking once, I open the door and step in. Derek didn't say a word as I took a seat in front of his desk. "Julian, I have a guest coming in soon. And I want you to stand beside me during the meeting."

"Yes sir, Alpha Derek." I kept my tone respectful. Though I was boiling with rage under the façade; I knew why he wanted me to attend the meeting. If things didn't go his way, he would command me to slowly take his guest's life. Every face of the people I had been commanded to kill haunted me day and night. "When will the guest be here sir?" Again, I couldn't believe just how dolce I was acting. And that he was actually buying it.

"He will be here later today. That's all you need to know. I'll have Jason or Glen come and get you when I need you."

"Yes sir." I nod once and quickly leave his office. The healer in me still saw the man that had been hurt and broken. But that part of me had been long buried underneath hate and anger towards him. He had taken everything in me and killed it. The sweet innocent girl that I was only six years ago was no longer.

Now, I was closed off, cold and distant from everything and everyone. I had taken more lives than I had saved. And that would do a number on anyone, especially a healer. Walking back to my room, I pause as I glance out the window. One day, I swore that I would find a way to end the forced bond that held me to Derek's whim and I would make my way back to my family; though I didn't know if they would still want me like I was. They wouldn't know this Julian.

Only a few hours passed before the sound of someone knocking on my door pulled me from the world that lied between the worn pages of a well read book in my hands. Sighing softly, I slipped my book mark into the pages and gently closed the book, laying it on the small table. Standing up, I quickly open the door as I faced Jason. Compared to the rest of the men that served Derek, Jason was the kindest.

He flashed me a smile before turning around. Making sure to stay right behind him, I sighed again as I thought about the unlucky soul that I would soon be killing. They all thought that they could reason with Derek, to try and gain favor. But no one did. In the end, everyone who ever faced him was killed. Jason quickly opened the door, motioning for me to enter but made no more to follow me in.

The second my body entered the room, I froze. My eyes snapped up to meet Derek's and then quickly down to the man that was standing tall before him. I watched as Derek slowly forced him to kneel, but amazingly, he remained standing. Derek was growing angrier by the second, while I couldn't help but hope that this man would be my way out.

"Kneel!" Derek's command fluctuated around the room. The man growled loudly as he shook his head no. Here was my chance, I thought as I focused on Derek. My mind narrowed on his heart, thinking of a hand squeezing it hard. When he cried out in pain, I smiled. Derek clawed at his chest as he stumbled from his little platform. His "guest" wasted no time in pouncing on him, ripping his throat out.

While I was upset about the stolen kill, I didn't make a fuss about it. Derek had had many people that would have loved to deliver that killing blow. Slowly, the man turned around as his eyes locked with mine. "Who are you?" He asked as I finally noted that he was injured pretty badly. I didn't speak as I focused on him, sending out waves of healing towards him. With a small smile, I watched as his body quickly mended.

"You're a healer!" The awe in his voice had me shrugging. "There's no time for that now. We have to get out of here." He seemed shocked by how calm and detached my voice sounded, but I paid no attention to that. Thankfully, Derek had showed me many ways of sneaking out of his strong hold, most of them only he and I had known about. Stepping up behind his throne, I press a hidden lever, watching as a portion of the wall slide back.

A glance back at the man had him quickly following me, the wall closing behind us. I chuckled as I thought about how his men would be puzzled about that. Our scents ended in that room and there was only one way in and out that they knew off. The tunnel was dark, but I knew where I was going. It wasn't long before a flicker of light could be seen and I felt my heart rising. I was finally free again.

After we stepped out of the small cave like entrance, I quickly sealed it. A faint touch on my shoulder had me tensing until I realized that it was my companion. Turning to look at him, I saw that he was holding out something for me to take. Lifting my hand a fraction, he dropped a small oddly shaped gem attached to a golden chain. The gem was glowing slightly, its dark blue color fascinating. "If you are ever in need of help, just hold the gem in your hand and whisper "Opus auxilium meum." I will be there in a blink of an eye."

Before I could say anything, he was gone. I stood there in a daze for a bit, before slipping the necklace on and hurrying away. I had a family to reunite with.

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