Chapter 7: The Visitor

Waverly immediately sat up in her bed, unsure of what she had just heard. Free? There was no way.

The Crimson Wolf kept his watch on her, his distinct blue and black eyes examining her as if he was trying to read her thoughts. Waverly hesitated before stretching her arm out to touch the box. She ran her fingers along the carved indentations, admiring the beautiful lined artwork that decorated its exterior.

What could he possibly mean by 'free'? Why would he bring her here, lock her in a room and then bring her a stunning pile of jewels, to just let her go? Did he feel guilty? Apologetic? No, he was the Crimson Wolf, he didn't feel any of those things. This had to be some sort of test. But yet, when she looked at him, she saw the disposition of a child while he continued to view the box.

Waverly shut the lid and pushed the container back towards him. "Thank you," she stated intently. "But I can't accept it."

The Crimson Wolf's eyes widened as he stared at her. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You have been silent since the day we met and when I arrived, you locked me in this…" Waverly looked around the empty room. "This dreary room for three days with no explanation and no one to talk to like I was a prisoner, sent to live my days out in a cell until my moment on death row arrived."

His face scrunched into discontent mixed with a hint of anger. "You had the servants. They brought you food, I provided you a bed."

"And you think that's what it takes?" Waverly was taken aback by his comment. How could he be so…harsh? "Every year you have your sacrifices, forcing packs to give one of their own to satisfy your own sick and twisted desires so you can find your mate."

The Crimson Wolf's strong jaw clenched and he spoke through half closed lips. "You don't know me."

"You're right, I don't. And you obviously don't know me if you think I'm going to sit here and play your stupid and pathetic games."

The Crimson Wolf shot up; his anger now openly visible. "What games?! What part of 'you're free' don't you understand?! Are you that daft?!"

Waverly stood up in a huff, utterly stunned by his accusations. "Daft?! How can you be so disgustingly arrogant?!"

The Crimson Wolf bent down and snatched the box off of the bed. "Fine, if you don't want it or your freedom, then that's your choice. But don't you dare ask my people if you can leave ever again if you won't take the opportunity when it's presented to you."

Waverly and the Crimson Wolf stared at each other, both too stubborn to give in to the other, each person's emotions running high. So, they did tell him about her requests. What else did he know? Waverly sighed and sat back down on the bed. After a minute, the Crimson Wolf's face unstiffened and he left the platform with the box in hand.

"Look," he started as he headed towards the table. "I'll leave it here. If you change your mind…we can talk it over at another time."

He set the box down on the top next to his note from the previous day and then walked to the door, pulling the key out of his pocket. Waverly studied his movements. His walk was confident and robust and he pushed back his combed bronze hair with his free hand. She couldn't deny his appearance, and the part of her that wanted to believe his word spoke out.

"What's your name?"

The Crimson Wolf paused with his hand on the doorknob. He turned his head in her direction and a small smile donned on his face.

"Sawyer."

And then, he left, with the lock clicking as he went.

Waverly fell back onto her bed. Sawyer. That was not what she was expecting at all. The more she remained in Trinity Mountains, the more questions she had and surprises she met. As she laid still, contemplating everything that had happened in the recent days, she drifted into a well-deserved sleep.

This time, she envisioned the shadowed man in her dreams. He was crouched down with what seemed to be his back facing her. His solid frame was now a light grey, almost like it was transparent, and she watched as his hands fiddled with something in front of him.

The two wolves that had shown themselves previously were not visible; however, another figure appeared beside him, absolutely black. This silhouette walked slowly towards the other man. Waverly tried to yell out to caution her mysterious companion, but neither of them paid any attention to her. The second figure inched closer and closer. Waverly continued to scream, only no one listened and the man raised his arm until—

She was startled awake, the comforter tied around her legs. Waverly opened her eyes and searched around the room, trying to orient herself. When she sat up, she locked eyes with a man, who sat opposite of her, in a chair that had never been there before.

"So, you're awake," he said. "It's about time." He glanced down at the watch sitting on his wrist. "It's…4pm. But I suppose, what else are you to do when you're in this place?" He took a look around the room and grimaced. "Man, Sawyer really needs to do something in here. It's so…dull."

Waverly remained stationary in her bed. His expression and tone reminded her of Finn – overconfident and straight to the point - only somehow, he seemed more aware of himself and his impact. He sat up in the chair and spread his legs open, his running shoes hitting the floor in the process. Her senses started raising the alarm. She could feel her fight or flight response itching to kick in, except she suppressed the urge and addressed the man with caution.

"Who are you?"

His eyes squinted when he chuckled, showcasing the small gap that fit between his two front teeth. "I suppose we haven't formally met yet, have we? I'm Christopher, but most people call me Chris. Christopher is way too…pretentious for my liking."

"How'd you get in here?" she probed, still trying to decipher his intentions.

Christopher reached into his pocket and pulled out a key similar to the one Sawyer had used only hours ago.

"How did you—"

"I told Sawyer I wanted to bring you some new furniture. Oh! That reminds me." He bent down and extended a hand into the bag that was on the floor beside him. Waverly glared at his arm, which was covered in numerous tattoos, forming a sleeve, with the Crimson Shadow sigil placed in the centre.

He pulled out a sketch pad and then a pack of pencils. "I heard you like drawing and since Sawyer's been so busy with the Lunar Eclipse coming up next month, I thought I'd bring you by some entertainment." He stretched out his hand, showing a tattoo of a wolf, with its tail wrapping around each of his fingers.

Waverly slowly met him in the middle and took the book and pencils. "Thanks…" she said curiously. Even though she was weary of the man in front of her, it had felt like forever since she had scratched the surface of a new sheet of paper.

"You're welcome."

Waverly flipped open the sketch pad, letting the pages fall while she flipped through. She then shut it and looked up at Christopher, who now sat with his legs crossed and poised in the chair, staring straight back at her with a smile.

"Why are you really here?" she asked, peering at him from under her eyelashes.

Christopher smirked and raised his hands in the air. "Look, I mean no harm, seriously." He took one of his hands and pushed it through his curly hair. "But there is something I needed to tell you and if Sawyer knew the real reason I was here, he'd have my head."

Waverly scrutinized him, the feeling in her body growing. "What do you mean?"

Christopher sighed, taking a moment before speaking. "I don't know where to start…to most packs, the Lunar Eclipse is a special event, a time for celebration and feasts. And don't get me wrong, for our pack, it is too. Only this year…it's…I don't know how to put this…"

Waverly waited patiently, listening intently to the man across from her. This was the most she had spoken to and received answers from another person and she wasn't going to take it for granted.

Christopher suddenly sat up straight and focused, his voice steady and low. "Ten years ago, Sawyer broke an ancient law called The Pausanias Law. In return, a wizard cast a curse on him, stating that if he didn't find his mate within the next 10 years by the time of the final Lunar Eclipse, he would face death, and our pack would be destroyed."

Waverly felt as if the wind was knocked out of her. These were the answers she was searching for since she arrived. "That's why he has the annual Sacrifice. To find his mate."

Christopher nodded. Waverly took a deep breath. Everything had suddenly made sense. But if she was there as a sacrifice, why did he not want to try? Didn't he want to break the curse? As an Alpha, he should want to save his pack, if not himself.

Waverly glanced out the window and saw the people down below. The sound of muffled laughter from outside bounced off the walls. She turned at looked at Christopher, with a sense of determination. "Okay then, let's test the bond."

Christopher took a breath and let it out slowly. "We can't," he said, solemnly. "That's why I came to warn you. If you remain here, you'll die too."