CHAPTER 3

The horn was still going off when I slipped off.  

In the garden, there were sounds. Boots tripped over the rocks. Someone yelled for the gates to be thrown open wide. Someone yelled for the warriors to line up. The whole pack was moving like one big, scared animal.  

I didn't go to the yard.  

I went down a small side path that smelt like dust and old grain. The rough wall touched my shoulder. I kept my feet still and my head down. No one called my name. It wasn't time for a helper when the feared Alpha of Blackridge rode in.  

As usual, the door to the storage room was stuck. I pushed it open with my hip and went inside. I heard the door close behind me. There was darkness all around me. Cool air. The smell of dried herbs, flour bags, and wood that had never been outside in the sun.  

I leaned against the door with my back and breathed quickly.  

My hands were still shaking from being in the hall. From the bowl on the floor. Because of Ronan's smile. The pack did nothing and just stood there. Little lights started to dance behind my eyes as I rubbed them with my hands.  

After that, I let go of my hands and whispered into the nite.Are you there?  

Keep quiet.  

I went through the door and sat down on the cold stone floor. My dress slid down. I held my knees close to my chest.  

"I felt you," I told her. The quiet room made my voice sound funny. "Today." When they said his name. Once more when Ronan told me to kneel. "You moved."  

Nothing.  

I put my knees up to my head. "I know you're in the pen." I understand. Years. However, you kept going.It wasn't my fault.  

Something farther in the room made a soft scrape sound. It could be just a mouse. Or the house's settlement. I did raise my head, though.  

I whispered, "Tell me." "Please."  

It was empty in the dark.  

Like I used to, I closed my eyes and tried to get inside. Things broke down before it got dark. Before the silver, before the yelling, and before the rest of the silence. She used to feel like a second beating next to me. Warm. Strong. Get ready.  

There was only a cold wall left now.  

I told her, "I'm tired." It's getting old to act like the floor is where I belong. I had to eat from a bowl today because of him. Like a dog. There were lots of eyes watching. A few of them smiled.  

It hurt to swallow. I took it in.  

"You didn't like how people looked at us that way." You used to growl at them until they stopped. Do you remember?"  

Behind my ribs, I felt a little warmth. Not much. Not much. But it's true.  

I didn't move.  

I took a deep breath and said, "There." "That's you."  

Even though the warmth was gone, a mark was left, like a finger pulling through cold water.  

I knelt down and put both hands on my heart. "I'm not sure what to do." I did everything at first. My fingers hurt from scratching the lock. I begged. I stopped having food. There was no action. That's why I kept quiet. "I figured if I got small enough the lock might loosen itself."  

My voice stopped. I didn't like the sound of that. Still, I went on.  

"It didn't."  

Outside, there was another horn. This time it's closer. The sound got through the door and touched my skin. My heart rate went up.  

I told him, "That's him." "Kael Draven. The one we all fear. He is scared, Ronan. It's clear in his eyes. "He's mean because he's scared."  

I felt the warmth again. Stronger. The sound of something slowly rolling over while it sleeps.  

I took a deep breath. "You know the name." You know what I mean.  

Words didn't work. There was only that low, tense feeling. The same one as the extra room.  

My face hit the stone floor as I bowed my head. It helped that it was cold. "I thought you might want to come out." Wait a minute. When he hit the bowl. "You were crazy."  

I could feel a low growl in my head. Not noisy. Not sure. More like the thought of a growl. It was hers, though.  

My eyes were filled with tears. They are still there.  

A soft voice said, "I miss you." I miss being able to run until my lungs hurt. I miss how the forest smells at nite. I miss not being scared of all loud noises. You were brave. I was just the girl who came after.  

The growl stopped. There was a change in how you felt. Sad and heavy. It was going to be an apology.  

I laughed half-heartedly. "Don't feel bad about it." You are the one in the cage. "I gave them permission to build it."  

There was no sound. I paid attention to my breathing. To the shouts outside in the distance. to the sound of people running above and slamming their feet on the floor.  

Then, something very softly pressed against the inside of my head. No sound. Not yet. Just press down. Like putting your nose against a closed door.  

I stood up straight.  

I told her, "I'm here." I'm here.  

The pressure was building. I saw a picture that moved too quickly for me to hold on to it. Trees that are dark. Silvery light. A chain that was tight around something shiny. After that, it was gone.  

I took a deep breath. I put my hands on my head.  

"What was that?"  

It happened again, but this time it was even worse. One more flash. I saw hands this time, my dad's hands, holding a thin silver ring. The scared sound in my mom's voice. Ronan's younger face could be seen in the dark.  

They were gone like a light that has been put out.  

I was shaking. Even though it was cold in the room, I was sweating along my back.  

I took a deep breath and said, "That was the night." "Tell me about the nite they were killed."  

The wolf didn't say anything back. She pushed again, but this time she looked like she couldn't do it.  

I got to the far wall by getting down on my hands and knees. A lot of bags of maize were there. I slid down and pressed my shoulder against them until I was hidden in the small space between the wall and the bags. My hiding place inside my hidden place.  

I told the dark, "I don't get it." "Why now?" Why do they call him that? When Ronan hurts me in front of everyone? Why?  

There was a new feeling. This time there is no heat. Very hungry. Quick and sudden. It was like she could smell something and wanted to follow it.  

It was making my skin itch.  

I spoke slowly and said, "Kael." "That's him."You feel something about him.  

The hunger was fierce. After that, it turned into a steady, low throb. Hold on.  

The outside noise changed. The yells turned into a different kind of roar as many voices rose at once. What a pack says when it meets a strong one.  

Closed my knees around you. He was now being taken into the garden. Ronan is going to smile and act like he's not scared. They will look down with their eyes closed. I'll stay here until someone remembers that the servant's job is to clean something or serve drinks.  

The throb inside me got stronger.  

I put my fist to my mouth. "Stop." Please. Keep on pushing, someone will see. Ronan will spot it.” He'll think of some new way to hurt us."  

For a moment the feeling passed away.  

Then it returned, stubborn and sure.  

I shut my eyes. “If you wake up all the way, I can’t keep you safe.” I can hardly defend myself.”  

One clear image bloomed in my mind. Not this time a memory. Something new. In the dark, a pair of cold and bright silver eyes looked right at me.  

I jerked so hard that the wall hit my head.  

The picture went away, but the feeling it gave me stayed with me. Getting noticed. An interest. Not fear, though.  

My heart beat fast against my ribs.  

"Can you show me who they are?" I spoke in a whisper.  

No answer. There was only that steady thud, which was stronger than it had been in years.  

Walked by the pantry door with heavy steps. Several pairs. Next was Ronan's voice, which was too loud and bright.  

"Elite Draven. Thanks for joining our pack. "We are grateful."  

There was another answer. Deep. Peaceful. It was so cold that the air through the wood was frozen.  

"Let's see."  

That one word hit me right in the chest through the door.  

I became a wolf again.  

This time it wasn't a little push. A wild full push against the lock. I felt pain behind my eyes. I had to really bite my tongue not to cry. I could only see white around the edges. Deep down, I felt like my bones were going to break.  

After that, the pressure went back down. It looked like the lock had just barely worked.  

I fell to the side into the grain sacks as I was panting. Blood and metal tasted good on my tongue. I was shaking all over.  

The sounds moved away from the building and toward the main hall.  

I could no longer quiet the wolf inside me.  

She was gone.  

She paid close attention to Kael Draven's steps as if they were her own.