CHAPTER 2

Armida's POV

The Beta didn't loosen his grip on my wrist even once as he led me deeper into Black Moon territory. His pace was steady, forcing me to match every long stride despite the soreness in my feet. Twigs and sharp stones had left countless tiny cuts on my soles during my sleepwalking, and every step sent a dull ache shooting up my legs. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from complaining. Judging by the expression on Beta's face, he wouldn't care whether I was in pain or not.

The morning sun had risen fully now, bathing the vast pack grounds in a golden glow, and despite the fear gnawing relentlessly at my chest, I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering.

Black Moon was unlike anything I had ever seen. The stories I had heard growing up hadn't been exaggerated.

The pack stretched as far as my eyes could see, its buildings constructed from dark stone that gave the entire settlement an imposing, almost fortress-like appearance. Wide paths connected every section of the territory, and wolves moved with remarkable purpose along them. Some carried crates filled with supplies while others sharpened weapons outside the training grounds. A group of young warriors sparred beneath the watchful eyes of older Enforcers, every strike deliberate, every movement disciplined.

No one laughed or stood idly chatting.    No children ran recklessly between the buildings as they often did back home.

Everything operated with quiet precision, as though every member of Black Moon understood exactly where they were supposed to be and what they were expected to do. 

It was strangely intimidating, even the silence felt disciplined.

As we walked, curious gazes followed us from every direction.Pack members paused just long enough to look at me before lowering their heads respectfully toward the Beta as he passed. No one questioned why he was escorting a frightened stranger through the centre of the territory, no one dared. Whispers drifted quietly through the air after we had walked past.

"Who's she?"

"Another rogue?"

"I've never seen her before."

"She's too small to be a warrior."

I lowered my head, pretending not to hear them.

Being stared at wasn't unfamiliar. I had endured enough whispers growing up to recognise the curiosity hidden behind lowered voices.

The wolfless girl or the one without a wolf and honestly some things never changed.

The Beta remained completely unfazed by the attention surrounding us. His expression never shifted, nor did his stride slow. The wolves we passed instinctively stepped aside long before we reached them, creating a clear path without being asked. 

Respect or fear, Perhaps both.

Something told me he inspired plenty of each.

I stole another glance at him. Up close, he looked even more intimidating than he had in the forest. The scar cutting through his eyebrow stood out against his tanned skin, while countless older scars disappeared beneath the waistband of his black trousers. His posture remained perfectly straight, and although he hadn't spoken since leaving the forest, there was an unmistakable authority surrounding him.

He wasn't simply obeyed because he was the Beta. People obeyed him because they wanted to avoid disappointing him, Or perhaps because they feared the consequences if they did.

Without warning, he turned away from the main path. My brows drew together.

The lively sounds of the pack gradually faded behind us as we entered a quieter section of the territory. The stone buildings became fewer, replaced by high walls that stretched toward the sky. Even the air seemed colder here.

An uneasy feeling settled heavily inside my stomach.

"Where are we going?" I asked carefully.

No answer.

He didn't even glance in my direction. I swallowed and continued walking.

Perhaps a minute later, the enormous building came into view and the moment I saw it, my footsteps faltered. It didn't resemble any prison I had ever imagined. It resembled a fortress built to withstand a war.

Towering grey walls surrounded the structure, while narrow windows sat far too high for anyone to reach. Armed guards stood outside the entrance without moving, their expressions unreadable as their eyes followed every movement around them.

The enormous steel doors immediately caught my attention.

Thick strips of silver had been forged directly into the metal, glinting beneath the morning sunlight like veins running through stone.

A chill ran through me.

Silver.

Every werewolf knew what silver meant. It was known to weaken wolves, prevent healing and made shifting almost impossible. No werewolf imprisoned behind those doors would possess the strength to escape.

My eyes drifted lower.

Mounted neatly beside the entrance was a sleek fingerprint scanner.

I blinked.

A fingerprint scanner?

For a prison?

Black Moon truly left nothing to chance.

"A prison..." I murmured almost unconsciously. The words slipped through my lips before I had the chance to stop them.

Confusion quickly replaced my fear.

But...

He had said he was taking me to the Alpha. Hadn't he?

The guards immediately straightened when they noticed us approaching.  "Beta," they greeted in perfect unison before stepping aside without hesitation.

One of them pressed a button mounted beside the enormous doors and a deep mechanical groan echoed around us.

Slowly...

The reinforced doors began sliding apart.

A wave of icy air spilled from the darkness beyond, brushing against my skin like invisible fingers. The warmth of the morning disappeared instantly. I stared into the corridor ahead. It was dark, silent and cold.

It felt less like entering a prison...

...and more like willingly walking into the mouth of a monster.

The Beta crossed the threshold without hesitation, and after only a moment's pause, I forced my reluctant feet to follow.

The heavy doors rumbled shut behind us. The sound echoing through the corridor like the final nail sealing a coffin. Instinctively, I looked over my shoulder.

The entrance had already disappeared behind solid steel and for the first time since waking in the forest, the reality of my situation settled over me with crushing force.

I was a prisoner.

The corridor stretched endlessly before us, illuminated by dim lights fixed high along the stone walls. The further we walked, the colder the air became. Moisture clung to the ancient stones, and somewhere in the distance, water dripped steadily against the floor, the slow rhythm echoing through the otherwise silent hallway.

Every footstep the Beta took bounced off the walls, each measured stride reminding me there was no escape.

At the end of the corridor stood another enormous steel door.

Just like the first, thick strips of silver had been forged into its surface.

The Beta released my wrist long enough to press his thumb against the fingerprint scanner mounted beside it.

A sharp electronic beep cut through the silence and a second later, a mechanical click echoed from somewhere inside the wall. The locks disengaging as the doors slowly swung inward and the moment they opened, an even colder gust of air rushed toward us.

I shivered.

This part of the prison felt completely different.

Rows upon rows of reinforced cells stretched into the distance, disappearing around a bend too far away for me to see. Every door was constructed from thick steel bars intertwined with silver, making them impossible for any ordinary werewolf to break.

The silence here felt unnatural. Not peaceful, it felt hopeless.

As though every ounce of hope had been swallowed by these walls long ago.

I swallowed hard before gathering the courage to speak.

"I thought..." My voice sounded much smaller than I intended. "I thought you were taking me to your Alpha."

The Beta continued walking.

He didn't acknowledge my question.

I hurried after him.

"Please..." I tried again. "I haven't done anything."

Still nothing.

He walked as though I hadn't spoken at all.

Frustration slowly replaced my fear.

"I don't even know why I'm—"

He stopped so abruptly that I nearly walked into him.

Slowly, he turned.

Those cold grey eyes settled on mine without the slightest hint of emotion.

"If you value your ability to speak," he said quietly, "I suggest you stop talking."

His voice never rose. The calmness with which he delivered the warning frightened me far more than anger ever could.

"I wasn't asking for conversation," he continued evenly. "I was escorting a prisoner."

A lump formed painfully in my throat.

Prisoner.

"I..." I began weakly. His expression hardened almost imperceptibly.

"The Alpha will decide whether you're innocent."

A brief pause followed.

"Until then, you are nothing more than a potential threat to Black Moon."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and continued walking.

This time...

I didn't ask another question.

The further we ventured into the prison, the more occupied the cells became.

Some prisoners sat silently against the walls, staring blankly into space with empty eyes that no longer held hope.

Others paced relentlessly behind their bars like caged animals.

One older wolf gripped the silver bars with trembling hands before quickly letting go, his skin hissing where it had made contact. No one called for help, no one begged for freedom.

It was as though every soul imprisoned here had already accepted their fate.

A strange heaviness settled inside my chest.

Could this become my future?

Would I spend months...

Years...

Trapped behind these walls?

The thought made it difficult to breathe.

The Beta finally stopped outside an empty cell.

He unlocked the heavy door with a small metal key attached to his belt before stepping aside.

"Inside."

I stared at the room.

Calling it a room felt generous.

It was little more than four damp stone walls.

A thin mattress rested on the floor beneath a narrow blanket that looked almost as old as the prison itself. A rusted bucket occupied one corner, while a small drain had been built into the centre of the floor.

Nothing else

No window, sunlight or any signs of comfort.

Only silence.

"I..." I hesitated.

"I've never—"

His eyes lifted to meet mine.

"I won't repeat myself."

The quiet authority in his voice erased the last of my courage.

Slowly, I stepped inside.

The instant both feet crossed the threshold, the heavy door slammed shut behind me. Metal crashed against metal with a deafening clang that echoed throughout the corridor.

A second later...

Click, the lock was engaged.

The sound seemed impossibly loud.

I stared at the door.

Then at the silver bars.

Then back at the empty cell surrounding me.

My legs suddenly felt too weak to support my weight. I sank slowly onto the worn mattress, wrapping my arms around myself as the silence pressed heavily against my chest.

This wasn't another sleepwalking episode, this wasn't a nightmare. This was real. Somewhere beyond these walls, life in Blue Crescent was continuing without me.

Home suddenly felt farther away than ever.

A sharp ache settled inside my chest.

I closed my eyes.

No.

Thinking about home now would only make this harder.

I had to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't help me escape nor would it convince Black Moon I was innocent. Panicking wouldn't change anything.

A shaky breath escaped my lips.

I rested my forehead against my knees.

The silence stretched endlessly around me until exhaustion slowly claimed me.

...

I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep when the sound of approaching footsteps stirred me awake.

For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was. Then the cold stone walls came into focus.

Reality returned all at once.

I rubbed my arms, trying unsuccessfully to chase away the chill that had settled deep inside my bones.

Someone stopped outside my cell.

I looked up.

A young woman stood quietly on the other side of the bars. She looked only a few years older than me, dressed in simple black clothing embroidered with the Black Moon crest. Dark hair had been tied neatly behind her head, and although her expression remained carefully neutral, her warm brown eyes carried a softness I hadn't expected to find inside a place like this.

She glanced once over each shoulder before kneeling beside the small opening beneath the cell door.

Without saying a word, she slid a wooden tray toward me. It had a piece of dry bread, a bowl of thin vegetable broth and a jug of water.

It wasn't much.

But after everything that had happened...

It looked like a feast.

I looked back at her.

"What's your name?" I asked quietly.

She hesitated.

Almost as though answering would get her into trouble.

Finally, she spoke.

"Olivia."

The name was barely louder than a whisper.

"I'm Armida."

She gave the faintest nod.

"You should eat." There was urgency in her voice now.

"You'll need your strength."

A knot tightened painfully in my stomach.

"For what?"

Edna's eyes flickered toward the corridor behind her. For the first time since she'd arrived...

Fear crossed her face.

She stood quickly.

"I shouldn't be talking to anyone here, it is forbidden.”

"Wait."

She stopped.

"The Alpha..." she whispered without turning around.

“He is very mean to prisoners”

Before I could ask another question, she hurried away, her footsteps disappearing into the endless silence of the prison.

I looked down at the untouched tray before me and For some reason...

The bread no longer seemed quite so appetising.

What exactly was waiting for me?