Chapter 17
Felicity POV.
We took advantage of this to run away. My heart was pounding in my chest. Ava put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You did the right thing," she said. "You also!" I congratulated her on her bravery.
Despite my fear, I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that we had stood up for ourselves.
As we walked, I couldn't help but think about what the alpha's men were planning. What could they want from this small, peaceful village? Just a "Breeder"?
"I don't like this," Ava said, echoing my thoughts.
"I agree. We need to be careful," I replied. "We need to figure out what's going on and how we can protect ourselves and the villagers."
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my shoulder, making me jump.
"Sorry to startle you, ladies," said a man, "but I overheard what you were talking about. I might be able to help."
He introduced himself as Elias, a local farmer who had some information about the alpha's plans. He had overheard some of the men talking at the tavern the night before.
"The alpha has big plans for this village," he said, his voice hushed. "He wants to turn it into one of his main outposts for his army. And he's not above using force to get what he wants."
Ava and I exchanged a worried look. This was worse than we had imagined.
"We need to do something," I said firmly, my mind racing with ideas.
Elias nodded. "I have a few friends who feel the same way. Follow me."
We followed Elias to a secluded spot outside the village, where a group of people were waiting for us. They were villagers who had heard about the alpha's plans and wanted to do something to stop him. "This isn't just about us," one of them said, her voice fierce. "It's about protecting our village and our way of life."
Ava and I shared a look, knowing that we had to help these villagers in any way possible.
Together, we hatch a plan to disrupt the alpha's men and buy the villagers some time to prepare for a potential attack.
It was risky, but we knew it was the right thing to do.
As we made our way back to our cabin, Ava turned to me. "This is going to be a long and difficult journey," she said.
I nodded in agreement. "But we're in it together," I replied.
But as we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. And I knew that our presence in this small village would not go unnoticed for long.
***
"I'm so excited about this weekend! I'm finally going to celebrate in the village, there will be a party around the fire " Ava prattled on as we walked down the crowded street of the Village. "Aren't you happy?"
As much as I wanted to say yes, I was struggling to keep my composure. Every step felt like a struggle, and a wave of nausea hit me hard.
"Hey, Emily, are you okay?" Ava asked, turning to me with a concerned expression.
I tried to put on a brave face, but the queasiness was overpowering. "I'm feeling a bit dizzy. It must be the heat."
Ava nodded sympathetically, but I could tell she was worried. We continued walking, but the nausea only intensified. I had to stop in my tracks to try and gather myself.
"What's going on? Are you sure you're okay?" Ava asked, her hand gripping my arm.
I could feel bile rising in my throat, and I doubled over in pain. I couldn't hold it back any longer.
Ava was immediately at my side, rubbing my back and trying to soothe me. "What's wrong? Does it hurt?"
I couldn't even bring myself to speak, the embarrassment and shame were too overwhelming. But the truth was, I had a medical condition, one that was unpredictable and difficult to control. Eventually, I managed to pull myself straight, "I'm fine, really. Just a sudden spell of sickness," I managed to say through gritted teeth.
Ava looked at me skeptically. "Are you sure? You don't look too good."
"I'm sure. I just need a minute," I replied, trying to calm my racing heart.
But then the nausea hit again, and I had to quickly pivot away from Ava to avoid being sick.
"Oh my god, what's wrong? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?" Ava asked, her voice filled with concern.
I took a deep breath, feeling the embarrassment rise hot in my cheeks. "No, no hospital. It's just...I have a medical condition."
Ava looked at me, her eyes wide. "What kind of condition? Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I didn't want you to worry or treat me any differently," I lied, feeling guilty.
Ava's expression softened, and she placed a comforting hand on my back. "I understand, but please don't hide it from me. I'm here for you, no matter what."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, grateful for Ava's understanding. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Ava smiled at me, and we continued walking down the village street. "We'll figure it out together. You don't have to go through this alone."
But deep inside, I knew the truth. I couldn't let Ava or anyone else know about my condition, not yet. Not until I had figured out what I was going to do.
I also knew that I couldn't keep hiding it forever. I needed to trust Ava, and slowly, I would build the courage to open up to her completely.
For now, I just smiled back at her and held her hand, grateful for her presence by my side.
As we walked down the street, Ava suddenly stopped in front of a small shop. "Oh, look! They have the most beautiful necklaces!" she exclaimed, pulling me towards the window.
"We don't even have enough money to eat and do you want jewellery? Our odd jobs don't pay enough!" I told him in a weary tone.
To survive in the village, we did odd jobs for the villagers, such as field work, cleaning, and either received money or were paid with food.
"But I can still watch it, can't I?" She said with a pout.
I tried to focus on the jewelry, but my mind was elsewhere.
As Ava was examining the necklaces, a sudden commotion down the street caught our attention. A group of people were shouting and waving their arms wildly.
"What's going on over there?" I asked Ava, my curiosity piqued.
"I'm not sure. But let's go check it out!" she replied, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the commotion.
As we got closer, we could see that it was a group of villagers protesting against a new law that the alpha was trying to impose. The law would take away their land and homes, and they were not willing to accept it. It was Elias and his allies. Me, always the advocate for justice, immediately stepped forward to join in the protest. "This is not right! We need to stand up for what is rightfully ours!" I exclaimed, lifting up a handmade protest sign.
Ava hesitated, "Emily, are you sure about this? It's not safe to show our faces like this in broad daylight."
But I was determined, "We have already agreed to help Elias and Ava. Let's help him at once."
After a moment of consideration, Ava nodded, "Alright, but we need to stay together."
She followed me, swept up in the passion of the moment. People were shouting, holding up signs and chanting, their voices united in a common cause.
I felt a sense of pride about standing up for what we believed in.
As we continued to protest, Ava leaned in close to me, "This feels a bit dangerous. What if the alpha finds out?"
I reassured her, "We'll be okay. We're just two girls standing up for what's right. We're not doing anything wrong."
Suddenly, something caught my eye. A tall, dark figure lurking on the edge of the crowd, watching us with a calculating look. I couldn't see his face, but something about him made me uneasy.
"Ava, look over there," I whispered to her, pointing towards the man.
She followed my gaze and frowned. "Who is that?"
"I don't know, but I don't think he's here to support us," I replied, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "We should be careful."
Just then, the man disappeared into the crowd, and the protest continued.
As the protest died down and the crowds began to disperse, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in me.
I knew that the man I had seen was up to no good, and I had a gut feeling that we hadn't seen the last of him. My mind raced with questions and scenarios, and I knew I couldn't rest until I found out more about him. Little did I know, it was only the beginning of a twisted plan for me.