HUNTED-Chapter 426: Strange Environment

Keira followed the guy’s hushed instructions and joined the end of a queue where others quietly retrieved their food. As the line gradually moved, she noticed some of the other werewolves wore a coloured band around their wrist. As of yet, she didn’t understand what the band meant, but when she reached the food station, she unquestionably accepted the bowl of muesli.

She followed the others, looking behind her, and noticed someone else with the muesli passed those before her. The woman went to the end, filling up an empty water bottle. There didn’t seem to be any cups or bottles in this food hall to collect and refill from. Only those who carried one could refill their drinks.

Those in front of her accepted either water, orange juice or hot drinks like coffee or tea. When Keira passed them, expecting to be given either drink she heard some of the others in front snicker as her tray remained drink-free. The masked guards behind the counter shooed her on wordlessly.

Carrying her tray away, more confused than ever by this strange treatment, Keira returned to the table, sitting on the bench beside the guy who gave her enough details not to get the guards’ attention.

She observed her surroundings again while bringing the spoon of cereal to her mouth, noting that the two long tables closest to the bedrooms she came from and the one she sat on bore no coloured wristband. Everyone on these tables ate muesli, and only a few had water bottles and an arm around them, guarded like it was sacred.

When she looked behind her, the other tables hadn’t been segregated as much, but those with blue and purple bands sat together, and the others with red and orange did, while a yellow banded people sat by themselves—they were a bigger group.

"Stop looking." The guy beside her whispered.

Keira returned to her meal. "What’s with the wristbands?"

"Your guess is as much mine at this point." He shoved some muesli into his mouth, grimacing at the taste. "Rabbit food for the newbies?" He sighed, then subtly turned his head to Keira again. "I’m Ahren, by the way."

Keira nodded. "Keira."

"Badass," he smirked, drawing Keira’s attention to his lips. Only then did she realise how good-looking Ahren was as he observed her.

With dark blue eyes, almost dark as the deepest seas, dirty blond dishevelled hair, a few strands falling across his brow, tanned skin and strong features, a straight nose and lips full and well-defined and light scar gently slicing through the side of his lip. It only added to his looks. Underneath the scrubs, it was clear he was bulky, and at least 6ft2, he shadowed over her even whilst sitting.

Did she have a thing for scarred, tattooed, and noticeably dangerous men?

Ember snarled at Keira’s thoughts.’You have a mate.’

’And where is he?’ She understood how important mates were; she’d grown up with her parents so sickly in love that she had high standards. She wouldn’t deny others’ looks, though.

’Probably searching for you.’

Ahren quirked a brow. Keira had been shamefully ogling him. Before she could comment or speak with her wolf, a fist slammed against the table. Keira and Ahren snapped out of their little discussion and stared at the woman with the scarred head, who Keira regretfully approached. She glared at them and then looked back at her food.

The pair then looked around them. The guards had started to move closer to them. Why weren’t they allowed to talk? Others in the hall spoke. All except those with wristbands.

Ahren looked back at his food, more like glaring at it with clenched fists, and Keira followed his lead, picking up her spoon of muesli whilst looking out of the corner of her eye as the guards returned to their posts.

"We’re not here to make friends," the scarred woman hissed, glaring at Keira.

"Then what is all this?" Keira asked, finishing off her meal and holding the woman’s fiery gaze.

She didn’t reply, shaking her head and returning her tray to the side. Kiera was about to follow her with her own tray when a crackling sound came from the speakers in the corners of the high ceiling. It echoed across the hall. Everyone was instantly alert, their backs straightening, their focus on the speakers.

"Welcome, newcomers." That wasn’t Carter, nor was it Octavius. Another man spoke to them. "There are a few special guests among us, I am eager to see your actions…"

It was like this was some sort of summer camp, and they were all going to do some activities. It was far too creepy and prison-like for that, though. Keira’s wolf paced in her mind, disliking this captivity. You and me both.

"Those without wristbands, it is your chance to shine and prove your worth. Or fall to your demise." Keira glanced at Ahren, but he didn’t say anything, his eyes hardening as he listened to the commentator. "Go to the golden doors where your fate awaits."

"That’s it?" Keira frowned and watched as everyone at her table stood. Ahren nudged the back of her arm, and she followed. If he hadn’t been helping her, then she might have been in more trouble by now.

’I don’t like this,’ Ember sniffed the air. ’Everyone smells of fear and anticipation.’

Keira inhaled deeply. ’You’re right.’ She had to start using these other senses, they were there and could help.

Keira shuffled her feet alongside Ahren, watching everyone’s expressions go between concern, fear and determination. The last two tables that had those without wristbands were all walking in the same direction towards the opposite end of the hall. They gradually formed a neat line, and Keira ended up walking behind Ahren and in front of the woman, burning with hatred at her.

Honestly, at this point, Keira felt like she’d try to stab her. That hatred radiated off her in waves that anyone could feel from across the room. In the same way, Ahren appeared imposing, and danger emitted from him.

"I don’t understand," Keira began again in a hushed whisper, knowing without speaking too closely to Ahren that he could hear her. "Why won’t anyone talk to me?"

Ahren glanced over his shoulder and then looked forward. He replied just as quietly. "Because they’ll…" A commotion from the other side of the room caused him to trail off and look. Keira followed his gaze, her shoulders tensing at the sound of flesh being pounded into.

A guy of similar age to them was curled up on the ground with five guards surrounding him, beating him up. It wasn’t like the guy couldn’t fight back, but the batons they used were pure silver.

"Not again." Someone ahead of them shook their head and continued walking.

Nobody helped him. Everyone ignored him.

Keira frowned, stopping on the spot and ignoring the others passing her. Some shook their head at her as well. She couldn’t believe everyone was ignoring what was happening right now in front of them; even their wolves came to the forefront of their minds, and the amber was glimmering in their eyes at the violence.

Unable to look away like everyone else, Keira turned in that direction, her nails splitting into claws.

"Woah, woah!" Ahren grabbed her by the arm. "Easy there, badass."

He began leading her away, only to come to a stop when she didn’t budge. Ahren frowned, looking her frame up and down, mildly confused—most likely because he was so big in comparison. Did he not know who she was?

Keira presumed everybody was just trying to survive and not pay attention to the princess. But maybe she was wrong? She didn’t look like the typical Cross.

"Look." Ahren glanced around them. "You can’t help him. Right now, you need to think only of yourself." He looked her up and down again. "Can tell you’re from a pack."

And you’re not? Keira wanted to ask, but he was already leading her away. She honestly wanted to turn around and help the guy. But the beating stopped as Ahren pretty much dragged her towards the double doors. "If we’re only meant to think of ourselves… why are you helping me?"

"That’s a good question," Ahren muttered, then gave her a side glance. "I don’t know."

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Darkness fell around them as they walked through the doors and down an unlit, tight corridor. They were at the back of the line now, and a loud thud behind them, followed by heavy breathing, caused the pair to turn around.

The guy who’d been beaten up was on the ground, the five guards behind him, their frames cast in shadow with the light of the white hall behind them before the doors swung shut, casting them all in the dark.

Another light pooled into the tight corridor from the other end of the crowd. The wall parted, revealing a vast field and, at the end, a forest. Keira went on her tiptoes to try and get a better look.

"You have four hours to find a golden egg." The speaker crackled again, and in front of the crowd, a soldier held up a large golden egg for demonstration. "To those who have returned bandless for the third time, this is your last chance…" His voice darkened, setting the mood for what was about to come.

Ahren and Keira looked at each other and then back to the opening, where others were already bouncing on the spot, stretching their neck or extending their claws.

’Survival of the fittest?’ Ember murmured in Keira’s mind, her claws beginning to elongate through her nails again. ’Don’t get too attached to Ahren. I smell the rogue radiating from him. Be careful.’

’He’s been helpful-’

’Could be a tactic to lower your guard. Be SMART, Keira. We don’t know what to expect.’

’We should look for an escape...’

A countdown began from 5. The number appeared on the walls. Keira’s heart skyrocketed. She didn’t know what to expect. It was so surreal!

"What are you waiting for… Let the games begin!" The commentator roared, silencing the pair as the first people in the crowd pushed each other aside, and others turned to the person beside them, claws sinking into their throat, blood spurting against the white walls.