chapter 8

ISADORA POV

The dungeon's cold and damp atmosphere wrapped around us like a suffocating embrace as Alpha Jack's men led Lisa and me down a set of stone steps. The torchlight flickered on the rough-hewn walls, casting eerie shadows that danced around us.

"Welcome to your temporary abode!" one of the men sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.

I exchanged a glance with Lisa, a mixture of frustration and unease bubbling within me. "Temporary or not, we don't belong here," I retorted, my voice laced with defiance.

Another man chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Oh, the Luna of Aeloria speaks," he taunted. "How poetic. Pity the Alpha's mate isn't here to witness your grand entrance."

Lisa's grip on my arm tightened, her fingers digging into my skin. I could sense her frustration and anger, mirroring my own. We were captives in a game we never signed up for, and the jeers of Alpha Jack's men only fueled our determination to escape this predicament.

"We won't be here for long," Lisa shot back, her voice unwavering. "And I suggest you enjoy your laughter while you can."

The men shared amused glances, clearly finding our defiance entertaining. "Oh, we'll enjoy it," one of them said with a sinister grin. "But for now, the bars of this cell will keep you company."

The heavy iron door clanged shut behind us, the sound echoing like a finality that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Lisa sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "Well, this isn't exactly the accommodation I had in mind."

I managed a small, rueful smile, despite our dire circumstances. "At least the company is questionable."

Lisa chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of bitterness. "Questionable might be an understatement."

As Lisa and I sat in the dimly lit cell, our thoughts heavy with the weight of our predicament, she turned to me with a thoughtful expression. "Isadora, I have to ask. Will you consider aligning with Alpha Jack to save yourself and the baby?"

I met her gaze, understanding the gravity of her question. Aligning with Alpha Jack could potentially offer us a way out of this situation, but at what cost? The idea of betraying Eamon and our pack tugged at my heart—a choice that went against everything I believed in.

"No," I said firmly, my voice tinged with determination. "I won't betray my mate or our pack. No matter the circumstances, even though Eamon is a bastard, my loyalty lies with him and our people."

Lisa nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I had a feeling you'd say that. I guess tomorrow by sunrise would determine our fate."

Before I could respond, the air seemed to shift, a sense of anticipation filling the small cell. The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor outside, growing closer with each passing second. Lisa and I exchanged puzzled glances, both of us taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

The heavy iron door creaked open, revealing a figure silhouetted against the torchlight. My heart leaped in my chest as Luka, one of my loyal pack warriors, and Eamon's men stepped into view, his expression a mix of determination and relief. "Isadora," he said, his voice a whisper carrying a note of urgency. "We're here to get you out."

Shock and disbelief washed over me as I stared at him, like he was a ghost. How had he and the others known I was here? They even managed to infiltrate Alpha Jack's territory; to the best of my experience, even a fly couldn't get in undetected, and even more, they found their way to us. The realization that our pack hadn't abandoned us filled me with a surge of hope.

"Luka," I breathed, my voice a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. "How did you...?"

"My Luna, We came for you," Luka replied, his eyes locked onto mine with unwavering determination. "Eamon sent us to bring you back."

Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of relief and joy flooding through me.

Lukas offered us a reassuring smile. "We need to move quickly. Alpha Jack's men will realize you're missing soon."

As we stealthily made our way through the dark and winding passages of the packhouse, the weight of tension hung heavily in the air. Every step felt like a silent prayer for our freedom, a desperate hope that we could slip away unnoticed. But just as we were on the brink of escaping, a sudden shout pierced the stillness.

"INTRUDERS!"

"Alert! They're escaping!"

Our pace quickened, and the urgency of the situation intensified. We pushed ourselves harder, the adrenaline coursing through our veins. The howls of Alpha Jack's pack members joined the cacophony, a chilling reminder that danger was close on our heels.

As we neared the edge of the territory, a triumphant shout echoed behind us. "There they are! Don't let them escape!"

"Keep moving!" I shouted to the others, my voice tinged with urgency.

We pushed forward, our footsteps echoing in the night as we sprinted forward. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, and every fiber of my being focused on reaching safety.

But then, as if fate itself had turned against us, a blinding wall of flames erupted behind us, intercepting Alpha Jack's men from us and trapping Luka and a few of my pack guards on the other side. The flames danced and roared, creating a barrier that seemed impossible for anyone to overcome.

"No," Lisa whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and desperation.

Panic clawed at my chest as I realized that our escape had been thwarted. Our hopes were dashed, and the suffocating realization of being trapped settled over me like a heavy shroud.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him. Luka, our brave and loyal pack member, was captured by Alpha Jack. He stood there, his expression a mixture of defiance and resignation. The flames of a flamethrower pointed at him.

"Isadora," he cried out, his voice carrying a weight of finality.

Time seemed to slow as I watched in horror, powerless to intervene. The flamethrower roared to life, and the flames consumed Lukas, engulfing him in a fiery inferno. The smell of burning flesh filled the air—a sickening and haunting scent that seared into my senses.

"No!" I screamed, the sound torn from my throat, a raw and primal cry of anguish.

Tears blurred my vision as I watched my pack member burn. The pain in my chest was suffocating, a physical ache that matched the torment in my heart. I could do nothing but stand there, paralyzed by the horror unfolding before me.

And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The flames subsided, leaving nothing behind but a charred and ashen remnant of what had once been Luka. He was gone, consumed by the fire, a sacrifice to Alpha Jack's cruelty.

I stumbled back, my knees giving way as a mixture of grief, anger, and disbelief crashed over me. The world seemed to blur around me as I collapsed to the ground, my sobs echoing in the night.

Lisa was beside me, her own tears mingling with mine. Our escape had turned into a nightmare, a tragedy that would forever haunt our memories.

"We have to keep moving, Isadora," she said softly, her voice carrying a mixture of sadness and determination. "Luka wouldn't want us to give up."

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. She was right. Luka had always been the embodiment of strength and resilience, and we owed it to his memory to keep moving, but then the world around me faded into darkness as the weight of grief and trauma bore down upon me. Luka's sacrifice, the searing pain of watching him burn—it was all too much to bear. My consciousness unraveled like a fragile thread, and I sank into the depths of unconsciousness.

Time became a nebulous concept, lost in the void of my mind. I was adrift, lost in a sea of nightmares and memories that clawed at the edges of my subconscious. The faces of my pack, their voices, and their laughter all mingled with the haunting image of Lukas consumed by flames.