His laugh stayed in my head even as I ran, I still couldn't comprehend what that was all about. He was like a mad man, maybe that's why he was locked up.
I forced myself to keep moving, my legs felt and I didn't know where I was going anymore. Branches slapped my face and rocks cut my feet and night blurred into an endless cat and mouse game.
It all came to an end Ehem I hit something warm and solid, a body . stumbled back, gasping, and the figure in front of me stepped into the moonlight like he had been waiting, my eyes widened as I swallow the gasp that threatened to escape.
" Se—Sean," I stumbled backwards trembling.
His eyes were cold, and his mouth was set like he'd already decided what I deserved. "found you little omega," he said, voice low. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, my words were stuck in my throat. He moved swinging his arm landing one blow to my head. Pain exploded across my face and skull as the world tilted sideways. I hit the ground, tasting dirt and blood, my ears ringing so loud I couldn't hear my own sob.
Everything started to turn hazy, I tried to crawl away but my arms wouldn't work right. The pain, I couldn't carry any of it anymore and my body failed me. Darkness started to roll in and in that moment all I wished for was to die that very moment.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was coldness
Not the cold of night air, but of metal close to skin, and a sharp sizzling sting. My eyes fluttered open and the light above was dim and yellow, like old torches. I tried to sit up but jolt of pain ran through my head, and I hissed under my breath.That's when I saw them, bars, silver bars all around me, I was in a cage.
My breath caught and panic rose fast, choking me harder than Sean's hand had. I scrambled back until my spine hit the cage wall and it stung. The silver was thick, built to burn and weaken wolves.
Outside the cage, two guards stood with spears, their eyes hard, their bodies relaxed like they weren't guarding a person, just waiting for an animal to stop moving.
I was no stranger to this place, I was in the dungeon multiple times. The air smelled damp and stale, like stone that never saw sun. I swallowed, my throat still very dry. "Why am I here," I croaked.
One of the guards laughed. "She's finally awake. We thought you'd be dead by now after last night."
Last night ? Did that mean I had been out for hours and why didn't I die, I would have been better off dead than have to face Sean. Voices echoed from farther down the hall, and I leaned a little closer to the bars, listening because it was all I could do and maybe I'd know what was going to happen to me.
"…Alpha Draven is back."
The words cut through me, another voice replied, tense. "He almost killed his brother. Slit Lucian's throat like it was nothing." A third voice, quieter, afraid. "He reclaimed Duskwood. And now he'll be going pack to pack, dealing with anyone involved in his disappearance." My hands tightened around the bars without thinking, and the silver bars burnt into my palms.
Draven? why was he the talk at the moment.
His name meant something even in Silver Fang. A story parents used when pups acted brave, the dark Alpha who betrayed his people, the Alpha who vanished years ago like the forest swallowed him. I blinked hard, trying to clear the haze in my head.
Then it came back to me, the cave and the chained man. I felt my blood drain from my face,no it couldn't be, it couldn't be him I tried to talk myself out of my thoughts. Footsteps came toward my cell, lighter than guards, confident, like someone enjoying the sound they made.
Then the dungeon door opened and Laura stepped in. Even here she looked perfect. Her hair neat, dress clean, cheeks warm with blush .She looked at me through the silver bars and smiled like she was admiring a dress in a shop.
"Did you like my little gift," she said softly. I furrowed my brows "what do you mean? ," I whispered. She tilted her head. "You're welcome," she continued, like we were having a normal conversation. "I didn't think you had a percentage of instinct in you. You almost got away and everything I did to get you here would have gone to waste."
My hands started shaking. "You…you did this?" I said, now everything made sense, she must have disguised her as me and….. "You… it was you , you attacked the Alpha." Laura's smile sharpened. "Of course I did. Took you that long to figure out."
Her words landed like a slap.
She stepped closer, her eyes bright. "I mean, it's already a privilege for you to look exactly like me," she said. "That doesn't mean you get to have something I can't." My stomach dropped as bile slid into place, ugly and clear, this was all about Sean and the Moon Match.The rage in her face when she got a regular mate.
" You can have him if you want him, please just get me out of here."
She laughed like I had just cracked some joke, she leaned closer to the bars and lowered her voice. "It's sad," she murmured, "this is the last time I get to play dress up as you." I stared at her, as a lump formed in my throat. "Why," I choked out. "I'm your sister." Laura laughed quietly. "No," she said. "You're a mistake that looks like me, enjoy that while you can." With that she turned on her heel and walked out like she hadn't just confessed to ruining my life.
The dungeon door shut, I sat there, numb, trying to breathe around the fear, trying to think of a way out, but my mind kept sliding off the walls like there was nothing to grab. And a while later keys rattled and guards came to my cage.
"Get up," one of them barked. I backed away. "No," I whispered. "Please." But they had no mercy , the cage door opened with a screech as silver burned the air.
Hands grabbed my arms and yanked me out. I stumbled, weak, my head still pounding. They dragged me down the corridor, up stairs, through halls until I heard voices and the light. We were at the execution grounds. They dragged and shoved me onto the platform.
Wolves filled the area, regulars and warriors, elders standing in a row like judges, and at the front sat the Alpha and Luna of Silver Fang, faces set hard for the pack to see, sean stood beside them, with his beta and My father stood to the side. Laura stood near him looking calm, almost pleased, like this was an event she'd planned and couldn't wait to finish.
Rope was tied around my wrists, I swallowed hard, looking out over the crowd, searching for one face that might soften, one person who might believe me.
"Please," I said, voice shaking. "I didn't do it."
A pack elder stepped forward. "Kyra Hale," he announced, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You have been found guilty of attempting to murder your Alpha." Murmurs rippled through the crowd. "To set an example," the elder continued, "you will be executed."
My knees went weak, I turned my head toward my father. "Father ," I whispered. "Please. Look at me. You know I wouldn't." He just turned away and didn't even look at me. Not even for a second, it felt worse than the rope on my wrists.
I turned toward the Luna, desperate. "You said the Moon chooses for reasons," I pleaded. "Please. I was with Sage. I never left the omega quarter." The Luna's face tightened, but she stayed silent. Sean's eyes stayed cold, Laura's lips curved in a small smile. The guards moved behind me, getting ready.
I shut my eyes because I couldn't hold the stares anymore, and I tried to speak to the only thing left that might hear me.
"Moon Goddess, please if I die let me reunite with my mother, "l said a little prayer. a guard walked towards me with a sword in his hand. I bowed my head and finished my last prayer as tears rolled down my face. Before he could swing it, a sound cut through the lair. It was a growl
I kept my head low but from the side of my eyes I could see a man walking forward.My breath caught, because even from here I knew that shape, that presence, that feeling crawling up my spine.
Gasps spread through the pack like fire. I heard the name whispered, then said louder.
"Alpha Draven?"