Chapter 2

Elvira

The footsteps continued, then I heard voices, mocking and familiar. They held a torch light, and I was able to make out of their shadows first—two figures standing tall and confident. Then they step in, the light illuminating the environment. I was in the dungeon leading to the forest. Their golden eyes glint with amusement as they look down at me, shackled and broken at their feet.

“E-l-v-i-r-a,” Beta Elijah says, stepping closer, his boots stopping just inches from my trembling hands. "You’re a mess, Elvira."

I flinch when he crouches, his fingers brushing a strand of damp hair from my face. His touch is light, almost gentle, but it makes my skin crawl. I don’t want them near me.

I force down my revulsion, swallowing back the bile rising in my throat.

“Beta Elijah… Beta Eric… please…”

Eric snorts. "Please?" He tilts his head, feigning curiosity. "Please what? You think we’ll let you go?"

I lift my gaze to him, just to see him smiling. I hated the look on his face. But I can’t fight them, I can’t even stand. I press my palms against the dirt, trying to sit up. My body screams in protest, but I have to try. I have to get out of here. Eric moves faster before I could move, his boot slamming into my ribs.

A sharp, agonizing crack echoes through the small space. Pain explodes in my chest. I gasp, my body crumpling back to the floor as a wheezing sob forces its way out of my throat.

Elijah sighs dramatically. “You never learn, do you?”

"Stupid girl," Eric mutters, crouching beside me. His fingers wrap around my jaw, forcing me to look at him. His grip is bruising, sharp nails digging into my skin. His touch disgusts me, but I don’t pull away. I dare not to.

"You should’ve just died with Mother," he whispers.

His words hit harder than it used to. I should’ve been used to this by now. But I’m not, how could I ? Eric releases my face with a shove, and my head slams against the stone floor. My vision blurs, hot tears slipping down my cheeks as I struggle to breathe through the pain.

"Why?" My voice trembles, barely audible . "Why are you doing this to me ?"

Eric chuckles. Elijah kneels beside him, eyes gleaming with pure hatred.

"You want to see Alpha Deric so badly?" Elijah asks. "You want to tell him that you're his mate not Elyra?"

I nod desperately, forcing myself up on trembling arms.

"He has to know…he deserves to know the truth."

They exchange a look. Then Eric smirks.

"Fine," he says smoothly. "We’ll give you a chance."

My breath catches. Eric stands, grabbing the keys from his belt. He kneels beside my shackles, unlocks them. The moment the chains fall away, my body sags forward. I was too weak to move, my limbs stiff, my muscles screaming.

Eric’s hand grips my chin again, yanking my face toward his.

"You can leave," he murmurs. "But there's a catch."

I stare at him, my heart pounding.

"You have to beat us to the tunnel," Elijah says.

My stomach drops. The tunnel, It’s the only exit from the dungeons that leads into the woods, but it’s not far. But I can barely stand.

A bitter smile tugs at Elijah’s lips. “If you make it, you’re free. You can go crawling to Alpha Deric and tell him whatever you want.”

I know they’re mocking me. I know I can’t outrun them. But this is my only chance. I force myself to move. My hands shake as I push off the ground, my legs barely holding my weight. Everything hurts, but I have to try.

I run. Or at least, I try to. I make it two steps before pain erupts in my knee. A sickening crack echoes through the chamber. I don’t understand at first, until I see it. An arrow. A long, wicked arrow buried deep in my knee. I choke on a scream. My leg buckles, blood seeps through it. My body crashes to the floor, dust rising around me as agony floods my senses.

Laughter echoes behind me, low, amused, mocking. My head jerks up, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Eric’s still holding the bow, his smirk widening. Elijah steps closer, leaning down. His voice is soft, almost gentle.

"You never had the chance, Elvira."

Tears streamed down my face. “Please,” I sob. “Please… don’t do this.”

Beta Elijah hums. "Still begging? Oh, how I hate when this bitch does this!”

He presses a hand against my shoulder, just enough to make my skin crawl. Eric sighs, stepping over me like I’m nothing. He stands at the entrance to the tunnel, tilting his head.

“You didn’t even make it halfway.”

Beta Elijah clicks his tongue. “Guess we won.” He replied, as if knew I wouldn’t make it.

I can’t move. I could barely move from here, I’m weak, I was told I could never shift and this confirms it. Eric lifts his bow again. The second arrow pierces my shoulder. I felt pain. The third arrow hit my side, blood everywhere. I gasp, my vision spinning, darkness creeping in.

I don’t want to die like this. At least not here, at least not by their hands. I try to crawl forward, but my body gives out. Maybe… maybe it’s better this way. At least… at least I won’t have to see their faces anymore.

My body collapses. Hands grip me, rough and cold. I’m lifted like dead weight, my limbs too weak to resist. Then, I felt something rushing and freezing. The shock steals my last breath as the water pulls me under. My body sinks, the water stealing my last breath. This is how it ends.