**LEILA**


Flashes of my childhood memories.

The woman with a red lipstick that held me by my throat threatening to choke me down.

The man with a sword!


The woman's hand around my neck tightened till the point where I was now gasping for air. I need to breathe, if I don't, I'll be dead any second.

Someone help me, someone save me.


At the point were I thought I would snap to death and the woman was turning to bare her face to me, I woke up heaving like a deer that was panting for the water side and sweating like I had been locked up in this prison for days, that was when I was certain that I was only having a nightmare though it felt real.

I touched my neck that the woman was holding and I winced whilst been confused because they hurt like she had really held me physically. This nightmare had repeated itself too many times that I felt uncomfortable to even think about it. I could no longer sleep properly and shutting my eyes to get a nap became an issue for me.

And for some weird reasons that even I doesn't understand, I had refused to tell Antonio about the dream. Not because I didnt trust him but I felt like I needed to have a secret of my own and I wasn't about to tell him now because he had manhandled me yesterday without reason which was uncalled for.

I think its a mistake I tried trusting the same people that kidnapped me just when I was about to play a powerful role in Alpha Xander's pack. How did I try to trust the father of someone who stabbed me in the back? It all felt absurd but I couldn't stop thinking that maybe it was because of the family bond.

All I had ever wished for was to set eyes on my one and true family and Antonio was a wish come true.

I finally heard heavy footsteps matching towards the direction of the room that I was locked up in ah my brain began running 100 miles a minute.

Who was it? What if it turned out to be Damien who would try to take advantage of my vulnerability and try to sexually harass me?

When the door to the cell opened, the bright light that illuminated the room from the door opening made me shut my eyes immediately as I blinked severally trying to adjust to the light that had now filled the room.

After few seconds of my flashes fluttering, I got used to the light and I peered up to stare at Antonio who just stood and gazed at me with—is that pity or remorse I see in his eyes?

'Leila, listen I know you have every reason to hate me and not trust me but I'm sorry. I just let my emotions over ride my actions, please I promise you it wouldn't happen again." He pleaded and I was about to give in when I thought, giving in now was just making everything too easy for him.

'Yeah, right. Do you know of something else you promised? That I would never be sent back to this cell and voila, I'm here right now so why should I let myself trust you? Who knows if your emotions would over ride your actions next time and make you throw me into a pit with unmarked rouges?" I questioned squinting my eyes and he just stared at me with his mouth agape like he was at a loss for words.

'Leila, please just forgive me this once. If not for anything, for the sake of your powers and the fact that I'm your direct bloodline." He coaxed and that broke me as my eyes dilated.

'You have to promise that you wouldn't act like that again and this time you have to keep the promise." I stated and he nodded almost impatiently.

'Alright, get up. We are having some guests from neughbouring packs." He informed and pulled me up by my hands whisking me away to the main room I stayed in.

'Wash up and doll up for the occasion. You don't even need to doll up, you're beautiful as it is." He whispered and I chuckled while he shot me a bright and wide smile.

I washed up as asked and that was when my eyes caught sight of the blue ball dress with pearls on it, matching heels, a silver necklace and silver earrings that matched with it and a blue sparkly and shiny purse.

I dried my hair and tied it high up with a towel as I rubbed the lotion on the dressing table before putting on the dress and other accessories that came with it.

Staring at myself in the dressing mirror, I smiled in satisfaction, now the only thing left was my hair. I contemplated between packing it high up in a ponytail it letting it fall in loose curls and I agreed that letting it fall would make me look more glamorous and with that, I just applied a lip gloss, applied some powder and I was ready to leave.

'Wow. Blue is most definitely your color." My uncle gasped as I strodded towards them while Amelia's eyes darkened in anger.

'Thank you." I replied and Amelia squeezed on the glass cup she was holding till it shattered into pieces in her hands.

'Amelia are you alright?" I questioned taking hurried steps closer to her but she just glared at me and I decided against the idea of helping her.

'Let's just go." She groaned and walked out while my uncle motioned for me to walk out too.

The venue for the ceremony wasn't far off from where we were staying and we arrived their just in time. I could feel eyes on me and my palm became sweaty but Antonio just leaned in and whispered to me to ease up like he sensed my weariness.

'Hello, Antonio. So good to see you." A man greeted as he walked up as he shook hands with Antonio.

'Good to see you as well, you didn't come along with your son this year?" Antonio asked and the man chuckled introducing his son to us while the guy shook hands with everyone on the table.

But when he got to me, he couldn't let go of my hand and everyone glanced around in surprise when he muttered;

'Mate."