Chapter 6

Aria's POV

Caleb changed my bandages himself. Then he carried me down to the silver-lined cell in the basement, the one used to isolate feral wolves.

The walls were coated in high-purity silver dust, pressing down on what little wolf energy I had left.

“I know this isn’t comfortable, but Rowan’s diagnosis means you have to stay here for a few days to calm the public down.”

Caleb tucked a soft cashmere blanket around me and placed a container with a prime steak next to the bed. “Don’t be afraid. It will all be over in a few days. I’ll be back to see you later.”

He gently stroked my cheek. He even leaned down and pressed a long, loving kiss to my forehead.

I closed my eyes, too tired to even struggle.

The second the lock clicked shut, my eyes snapped open. I leaned over the side of the bed and dry-heaved.

Suddenly, I heard hushed voices outside the cell door.

It was Caleb and Rowan.

“You think locking her up with a fake diagnosis is a good idea? She’ll hate you for this,” Caleb’s voice was tense. “She has a silver injury. The silver in that room will be agony for her.”

“Would you rather the pack demand her exile? Are you feeling sorry for her now?” Rowan shot back coldly. “Besides, Chloe’s coming-of-age ceremony is in two days. The day we announce our bonding. Locking Aria up is the only way to guarantee the ceremony goes off without a hitch. She’s too stubborn. If she’s out, she’ll expose Chloe.”

“I’ll make it up to her,” Caleb said after a deep breath. “As soon as the ceremony is over, I’ll get her out.”

Their footsteps faded away.

The cell was dead silent.

I lay on the cold floor, feeling like my insides were being twisted into knots.

Of course.

All this pain, all this calculated affection… it was all to make sure Chloe’s perfect ceremony wasn’t ruined.

“Cough… cough, cough!”

I coughed up a mouthful of blood. The bright red splattered across the pure white blanket, a shocking stain.

…

I don’t know how I survived that afternoon.

When night fell and the basement was plunged into darkness, a soft hiss came from the air vent.

A faint, sweet-smelling gas began to fill the cell.

Wolfsbane Sedative.

To a healthy wolf, it would just put them to sleep.

But for me—weak from the termination, suffering from a severe silver wound—my organs couldn’t handle the poison.

“Cough, cough!” My throat felt like it was on fire. A tearing pain ripped through my lungs.

To make sure I stayed quiet tonight, to make sure I didn’t cause a scene, they didn’t even care if it killed me.

The feeling of suffocation grew stronger. My vision swam with black spots. The poison was draining the last of my strength.

Just as I thought I was going to die in this hellhole…

BEEP!

The sound of a keycard swiping.

The heavy cell door was thrown open. A figure rushed in, slammed the gas valve shut, and dragged me out of the room.

“Luna! Wake up!”

I gasped for the fresh air in the hallway, my vision slowly clearing.

It was Tessa, the maid.

Her face was streaked with tears. She was clutching a black backpack.

“Go! Everyone is at the bonfire gathering tonight. The guards are distracted. Go, now!”

She shoved the backpack into my arms, tears streaming down her face.

“Here’s the ticket you bought. And some cash and medicine. The bus leaves tomorrow morning. Take the underground tunnel and get out of here. And never, ever come back!”

I looked at the heavy bag in my hands, my eyes burning.

“Tessa…”

“Go!” she sobbed, giving me a hard push. “They don’t care if you live or die! They don’t deserve you!”

I bit my lip. I slung the backpack over my good shoulder. Without looking back, I stepped into the dark tunnel.

Wind howled in from the exit, drying the cold sweat on my face.

It blew out the last spark of warmth I had for the Silverpaw pack.

I wouldn’t cry for them again. Not one more tear.

Aria clutched her bag in the darkness and fled the pack lands.

Caleb. Rowan.

You will never see me again.