The Hidden Princess (a werewolf story)

Chapter 10// Betrayal part 1

Emma's POV

I peer out through the small crack in the floor of the meeting hall at the old but familiar castle that I once called home. I distinctly remember the thumps and squeaks that I heard whilst hiding in this tunnel, as my parents were brutally murdered by the man who now sits on my father's throne. The man who I plan to kill.

Determination fills me. I swiftly push the tile out of its place on the floor and jump through the hole I am hiding in so that I am crouching on the floor, surveying the area around me. No guards. I continue my journey through the castle. The doors to the hallway swing shut behind me, and are thankfully soundless. Hopefully I will have that much luck with the rest of my expedition but the chances of it aren't really good.  As quick as possible I sprint through every hallway I can find. I'm surprised that there aren't many guards. However, I suspect that majority of them would be outside the front gates since it is almost impossible to get in any other way. Almost impossible.

I'm about to begin a mini celebration inside my stomach at the amount of intelligence and strategy I am showing to get this far, however, as I turn a corner I quickly spot two guards turning the corner at the end of the coming hallway. I spin mid stride so that I am facing the way I came. My heart beats as fast as a horse's in fear and eccilaration. My mind scans the options of escape in my situation, but with the limited amount of time that I have my life seems to be dangling before my eyes. The footsteps swiftly approach until I can hear them about a moment away, then all of a sudden I am yanked from behind and pulled through a heavy brass door into what I would assume to be a bedroom chamber.

I waste no time at all in getting up and spinning to face my rescuer, who is still unknown. As soon as my eyes focus on his face my shoulders relax.

"Xavier."

He looks at me with concern and fear.

"What are you doing here, Emma?!" he shouts as quietly as possible.

"I don't want to have you doing all the work for me!" I whisper-shout back.

His shoulders slump as he cocks his head to the side and stares at me as though I have so much left to learn. This look is what made me come here. This is the look I have gotten from so many people. The look that makes me feel like I am weak and afraid, just like I was that night under the hall. But I'm not afraid anymore. He just doesn't realise that yet.

"Emma, you've put yourself in so much danger by coming here. I don't know how you got in but you have to go right back the way you came, now. Before anyone sees you."

My eyes widen in a surprised look. I had not expected him to so obviously ask me to leave.

"You want me to just leave it all up to you? No offence Xavier, but unless you have found anything of life-threatening importance, how about you just leave it to me" I hiss at him.

I begin to walk past him towards the door, but he surprises me by jerks his hands in front of me. His fingers wrap around my upper arms and he slowly takes a step closer. I can barely breathe. I want so desperately to close the distance between us whether it just be for a warm embrace or for a passionate kiss. I just want to let him behind my walls. I want to let him make me feel safe. He seems to be feeling the same sort of attraction since I can feel his gaze drifting to my lips. My heart becomes caught somewhere deep in my chest and I am unable to control my body.

"I can't lose you, Emma" he whispers, our lips mere inches apart.

Our chests lightly skim before I slowly pull away.

"Luke said the exact same thing," I think out loud.

I can see something click in him as the concern drains from his face and is slowly replaced for an anger that I can tell he is trying to hide.