36| If There Was Betrayal

DEKLAN MARIO

“This was your big, mind-blowing plan?” I turned to look at Sammy with a tired sigh.

She had gone on ranting about her big plan that'd gain Cedar's freedom, save the lives of the twin Alphas and stop the war between both packs. And for a while, I almost told her to shut up if she wouldn't be specific about it.

Now we stood before a gigantic tree. Its trunk was so wide it could make the largest rock in history look small. The bark was rough and dark, stretching up higher than my eyes could follow. I couldn’t help but think that the tree would make a perfect shelter during a long winter, if someone was brave enough to fight off wild wolves.

But what caught my eyes even more was what stood ten feet away from that tree. A dungeon. Its opening was sealed shut with iron bars.

“It is, Deklan.” She finally responded to my question, scrunching up her face as if she didn't believe her own words.

“Digging up some mysterious information hidden in a rat’s hole?” I asked again as we went closer to the dungeon.

“The only other alternative is to march to the fields, fight Dominus and defeat Oakwood when they rebel. You and I know that's an impossible mission as easy as it may sound. I don't think I can be a traitor to my clan.”

“I thought we were going to his house to maybe sweep out anything dirty that we can use to blackmail him. Maybe trade freedom for information. Besides, there were a few guards there and we could've easily sneaked in and out. I know you have experience handling cameras.” I said, squinting into the dark entrance.

“We have tried that before. This will work. There are thousands of weapons, armors and poisonous flowers down there.” Going down on both knees, she starts pulling at the bar that sealed the tunnel.

I scanned the area, feeling uneasy. Dominus was clever. If what Sammy said was true, why would he hide weapons here of all places? Why not in the lands he got from the council elders in Crystal Moon? Or even in the old hunting grounds of Oakwood’s former alpha— the same ones I had overheard him bargain about countless times while following him?

I don't trust Sammy Porter, but I have no other choice and that seemed to be the only way to get back to Cedar before he tears her apart. She only had to stall until we came back and we were already running late.

“Knowing where his armory is doesn’t mean we’ll have enough evidence to take him down,” I shouted over the storm as thunder clapped above us.

“You’re right,” Sammy admitted, grunting as she kept tugging at the iron bar. “But it’s not just weapons down there. The documents, records of every trade, every deal with the humans…they’re all in there. He never keeps things like that in his house. Not even Cedar’s contract is there. This is where he buries such things.”

Her words made my blood chill, even though the wind might have contributed. I crouched down, grabbing the iron bar myself. With one hard pull, I yanked it free.

“Wow, that was quick, easy-peasy…” she said with another crooked smile. Her pale skin flashed brighter than her teeth as lightning lit up her face.

I frowned, peering into the tunnel. “How do you know all this? And why are you so sure that showing them these papers will stop him?”

Sammy smirked. “You forget, Deklan. I’m always in his head. Not every elder is on his side, especially Oakwood’s. He dethroned their true alpha, so they serve him only because they must. If they see the truth, if we expose him, they’ll turn against him. Without them, his wolf army won’t follow his orders.”

I can't make sense of what she was saying, but she seemed to be very certain about her words. I don't know anything about pack politics and I don't wish to ever be put in a situation where I would be forced to learn.

“I hate this idea of yours.” I muttered, eyeing the dark hole warily. “He could've hidden his thoughts.”

Peeking in, I could see the steel steps that led downwards to whatever was waiting underground.

“He can't shield his thoughts from me. And he doesn't even know that. That's how I knew his plan to claim Crystal Moon today even when he didn't mention it. In fact, I believe it was a last-minute decision.” She hissed, futilely patting her hair as if she was soothing a restless child.

“I don't have any other choice. Let's do this before it's too late to save Cedar.”

With a shrug, she stopped whatever she was trying to achieve by flipping and patting her hair and climbed into the open entrance, nodding at me to follow.

I was not afraid. Not scared of whatever waited in there, but I trusted my instincts and knew I was making a huge mistake the instant I stepped into the dungeon, behind her. It was eerily dark inside, and the rain spattering against my skin made it seem more ominous.

“How do we find anything in this pitch— Damnit!” I cursed under my breath when I missed a step and almost crashed into her.

The chilling wind and the sound of the rain started fading, I perceived an odd scent that wasn't that of the rusty muddy dungeon, Sammy or myself. I halted, feeling swallowed by the oval stairs that led to nowhere.

“If I was unsullied, my hair would have glowed in the dark.” She said with an almost playful voice.

The skeptical laugh that followed traveled past me to the darkness. One can never know everything her kind was capable of, our abilities differ, and only a few people get to discover them and make good use of them. Some, like Dominus, use theirs for their selfish gains. While most of us die before understanding them.

My spiraling thoughts faltered along with Sammy's footsteps the same time I perceived another scent, like that of a familiar plant. Then I heard the loud creak of rusted gates, making the iron stairs tremble beneath my feet.

“What was that?” Sammy's voice echoed through the rumbling noise.

“Fuck it!” I ran towards the opening again to find it sealed by stronger gates. “It's a trap!”

“This can't be!”

I thrust my hand forward, trying my teleportation ability, but instead of vanishing, my knees buckled. The scent I perceived were sedatives! None of us could exercise our strengths!

“We are fucked!”