Claimed by the Alpha and the Vampire Prince: Masquerading as a Man-Chapter 181: A Lamb To The Slaughter

Clark POV:

Okay, so this—this moment right here—is what led to my doom.

I finally mustered up the courage to take those tiny steps toward Reed. Yeah, it wasn’t easy, especially with the feeling of impending death hanging over me, but I did it. I didn’t want to make things worse by running or freezing. So, I walked. Slowly. Every step felt like a mountain.

And when I finally reached him? The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. His eyes—those goddamn eyes—were burning into me, and I could feel every single ounce of rage he was holding back. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my hands were shaking. I’m sure he could smell the fear on me. I could practically hear the pounding of my pulse in my ears.

But instead of tearing me apart right there, Reed just... started walking. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Walking toward the exit. No words, no confrontation. Just that eerie calmness, like he was waiting for me to catch up. The nerve of him.

"Are you coming, or are you planning to stand there like a statue?"

Those words were like an order, like a command. He wasn’t asking me, no. He was telling me. I could feel the weight of it, heavy on my chest. His voice... God, it was like a whip, harsh and biting.

For a second, I considered just standing there. I mean, what could happen, right? Just freeze, let him leave, and I could go back to my room and hide from whatever nightmare this was. But the problem was... I knew better. Running away? Not an option anymore. Not with Reed. Not with his wolf half awake and ready to tear me to pieces.

So, I did the only thing I could do—I followed him.

I had no idea where he was taking me, but at this point, it didn’t matter. I had no choice. Every fiber of my being screamed to keep a safe distance, to avoid him, to avoid whatever the hell he wanted from me, but that damn look in his eyes kept me moving.

He didn’t even glance back as I walked behind him, my feet barely moving fast enough to keep up. His strides were long and confident. I felt like a damn shadow trailing him, and it only made my unease grow. Was I about to die today? Was this it?

Maybe that was the point. Maybe Reed was just playing with me, dragging me around for his own amusement, like a toy. But then again, he didn’t need to. He had already made it clear he could destroy me without even trying. So why the hell was he doing this?

He stopped in front of the school doors, and I almost crashed into his back. He didn’t seem to care. He just pushed the doors open with that casual force that made it clear he was in control, that he could break anything in his path if he wanted.

And here I was. Stuck behind him, unable to breathe, wondering where the hell I was going—and, more importantly, why.

********

After the last time I ventured outside the school grounds with Sara, I promised myself I’d never leave again. The town outside, the people, the terrifying things I saw... it was all too much. Too real. Too full of monsters in disguise, making me feel like I was nothing more than prey.

But here I was now, walking outside the school gates. Not by choice, mind you, but because Reed had decided I was going with him. I don’t know what sick game he was playing, but it sure as hell wasn’t one I had any control over.

The sun was high in the sky, casting its warm, golden light over the university grounds, but it felt like a cruel joke. The air was fresh, the birds were chirping, and the students were milling about. Everything looked peaceful, normal even. A far cry from the hell I’d been living inside those walls. I felt like I was walking through some kind of dream—until I remembered Reed was just a few steps ahead of me, leading me somewhere I had no clue about.

People glanced at me as we walked. Some looked with curiosity, others with pity, and a few with interest that made me feel even more exposed than I already was. I couldn’t focus on any of them, though. My mind was spinning, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Was this some kind of test? Was Reed just... playing with me?

I was too distracted by my thoughts to even notice when we reached the gates. But then—then I saw it.

A red sports car. A sleek, shiny thing that looked like it belonged to some rich alpha who only needed to snap his fingers to get whatever he wanted. My eyes went wide as I stared at the car, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest.

"Wait... What?" I mumbled, confused as hell. Was this a joke?

Reed didn’t even acknowledge my surprise. Instead, he casually pulled out the keys from his pocket, spinning them on his finger like it was nothing.

What the hell?

"Get in," he said, his voice low, with that same command in it that sent a chill down my spine.

I blinked, my brain struggling to process the situation. Was this guy some kind of... rich alpha wolf or something? The car was too fancy to be anything but, and Reed didn’t even seem fazed by it. As if it was just part of his life, like it was nothing special.

I stared at him, trying to find some logic in this. My legs felt like they were glued to the spot, but Reed was already walking towards the car, his confidence practically dripping off him with each step. Was I supposed to just... follow him?

The thought of getting into that car with him felt like another step toward my inevitable doom, but I couldn’t just stand there like an idiot, could I? Not when I had no idea where this was leading, and not when Reed clearly wasn’t the type to take "no" for an answer.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to move. My hands felt clammy, my heart was racing, and every instinct in me screamed to turn around and run. But what good would that do? Reed would just catch me, and then I’d be worse off.

So, I did the only thing I could do—I walked toward the car.

I could feel his eyes on me as I approached. The tension was so thick it was like I was walking through mud. I didn’t know if I was supposed to sit in the passenger seat, or the back. I didn’t even know where we were going, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

As I slid into the passenger seat, I glanced over at Reed, who was already behind the wheel, his hands on the steering wheel, completely relaxed, like he was driving a damn Sunday afternoon joyride. The engine purred to life, and before I knew it, we were speeding down the road, leaving the school behind.

I tried to keep calm, tried not to freak out. I knew that my heart was racing, that my breath was coming a little too fast, but I couldn’t help it. Every moment in the car with him felt like a countdown to something I didn’t understand.