The air in the dungeon was cold and damp. The walls dripped with moisture, and the flicker of a single torch threw weak light against the rough stones. Rina sat on the hard floor, her knees drawn to her chest. Her wrists still ached from where Rowland’s men had dragged her back.
The sound of quick footsteps echoed down the stairs. Rina’s head lifted.“Rina!” Elara’s voice trembled as she came into view, her face pale in the dim light. She rushed forward, kneeling beside her friend.“Elara…” Rina’s voice was hoarse. She gripped her friend’s hand tightly. “I have to tell you something. You have to listen.”“I’m listening,” Elara said, her eyes wide with worry.Rina leaned closer, lowering her voice so no guard could hear. “It was Maggie. She arranged it. She sent those men to take me into the woods and leave me there.”Elara froze, her mouth parting in shock. “Maggie?”“Yes,” Rina whispered fiercely. “She wanted me gone. SThe dungeon was cold. The damp air clung to Rina’s skin. She sat against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees.The sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor. She lifted her head slowly.The door swung open. Rowland stepped inside, tall and tense, his eyes sharp like a blade.“Get up,” he ordered.Rina pushed herself off the floor. Her legs trembled from weakness, but she stood.Rowland stopped a few feet from her, his gaze fixed. “What were you doing in the woods?”“I already told you,” Rina said softly. “Maggie sent men to get rid of me. They tied me to a tree. They left me there. I freed myself and came back.”His mouth twisted. “That’s your story?”“It’s the truth,” she said.Rowland took a slow step closer. “Maggie is not capable of such a thing.”Rina’s voice shook. “She is. You don’t know what she’s capable of.”“I know her better than you,” he said, his tone sharp. “Y
The dungeon smelled of damp stone and rust. Rina lay on the cold ground, her body weak. Two days had passed since they locked her in. She had only been fed once.Her lips were dry. Her stomach hurt. Her hands trembled when she tried to sit up.Mel’s voice came from inside her mind. “You must hold on. We still have to find Neri.”Rina’s head rested against the wall. “I can barely move, Mel.”“You must,” Mel said firmly. “We cannot let Elara be alone. We cannot leave that girl in the woods.”Rina shut her eyes. “I want to get out. I need to protect Elara. And get Neri…”She was still talking to her wolf when the sound of footsteps came from the hall.The steps were slow, almost lazy.Rina lifted her head.Maggie appeared at the bars, her face calm, her eyes sharp.“Well,” Maggie said, folding her arms. “You’re alive. I didn’t expect that.”Rina stared at her.“You’re a survivor,
Kendrick shifted into his wolf form as soon as he was deep enough in the woods. His large paws hit the ground with steady force. The wind rushed past his fur. He ran without slowing, his muscles stretching with each stride.He ran for a long time, following no fixed path. The forest floor was damp from the early dew, and fallen leaves crunched softly under his weight. His mind was loud with thoughts he wanted to silence.Then a faint sound reached his ears—two voices.He slowed, lowering his body until his belly brushed the earth. His ears twitched, catching the direction of the sound. He crept closer, weaving between the trees until the voices grew clear.Two warriors stood in a small clearing. They had no idea he was there. Kendrick moved behind a thick tree trunk and stayed still.“…Maggie must really hate that girl,” the first warrior said. His voice was deep and rough. “Even after Kendrick was gone, she still paid us to get rid of he
There was sure to be drama at the Sauna pack the next day. The alpha called for everyone to assemble and witness his judgement on what had gone on between his daughter and Mara. Werewolves gathered, their voices low, curious about the commotion. The words were already going around. Leah beat up Mara at her house. Mara dared fight the alpha's daughter. That's the height of insolence and should meet with a fitting punishment.Leah stood in the crowd under the watchful eye of two guards. Her hair was loose and messy, her face pale from a night with little sleep. She kept her eyes forward, but her heart was pounding.On the raised platform, Alpha Glint appeared in his dark robe, his face stern and cold. He didn’t look at Leah. He didn’t have to. His voice, when it rang out, was enough to make her flinch.“Today,” Alpha Glint began, “we address what happened last night. My daughter, Leah, left her room in defiance of my orders. She
Every step made Leah's heart beat faster, not just from the fear of being caught but from the burning anger building inside her chest. She didn’t care that she was breaking her father’s orders. She didn’t care that her confinement could get worse. All she could think about was Mara and the sight Lora had painted with her words — Mara with Kendrick.Her jaw clenched as she reached the low wooden gate of Mara’s small house. The faint glow of a lamp shone from one of the windows. Without hesitation, Leah stomped forward and banged on the door with the side of her fist.The knock was loud enough to make the lamp inside flicker slightly.A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Mara in a simple nightdress, her hair loose over her shoulders. Her brows drew together instantly.“Leah?” Mara’s voice was flat with surprise. “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night—”“Don’t act like you care,” Leah snapped, stepping f
Confinement didn't feel good for Leah. Half the time, she was mad at everyone who came into the room to see her. Her father had not come to see her. There was nothing her father was going to say to make her feel better. She was furious and she thought his verdict was unfair to her. She sat on the edge of her bed, hands clenched together, staring at the wooden floor. The closed window let in no sound, and the silence made her thoughts louder. Every hour she had been locked here felt longer than the one before.Her punishment had been clear—stay in her room, no leaving, no speaking to anyone unless called. But she wasn't being called. “I can't believe Kendrick let my father do this to me. He reported me to my father.”The guards were posted at her door and even when she got frustrated and slammed her fists on the door, she met with no response.she wasn't even allowed to go down and have breakfast or dinner in the hall. Leah’s j