Elijah... How did he know I was trapped in that room? And why was he helping me? Questions flooded my mind, but I couldn't voice a single one. He was one of them-a wolf, capable of anything. Yet, his actions didn't align with the cold, ruthless demeanor of his kind. As he carried me silently into the kitchen, I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, a stark contrast to the icy grip of fear in my chest.
Madam Anna was already awake, scrubbing the counters with a tired rhythm. When she looked up and saw Elijah carrying me, her eyes widened in shock. Her hands froze mid-scrub, the brush clattering to the floor.
"Sir," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. He carefully placed me on a chair, his golden eyes flickering with a strange emotion I couldn't decipher.
"Clean her up," he ordered Madam Anna, his tone curt. He turned to me, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Try staying out of trouble, little raven."
I furrowed my brows, staring after him as he walked away. Little raven? What was that supposed to mean? And was he helping me, or was this some twisted game he was playing?
Anna rushed to my side, her face etched with worry. "Oh no, you poor thing! What happened? What did he do to you?"
I shook my head, the sharp throbbing pain in my feet finally hitting me. "It wasn't him," I managed to say. "Some girl named Emma and her little gang did this."
Anna's face darkened as she fetched a bucket of warm water and sprinkled in a pinch of salt. "Emma, that vile creature... How could she go this far?"
I winced as the warm, salty water touched the cuts on my feet. "Some humans can be just as cruel as the monsters around us," I said with a bitter laugh. "Sometimes worse."
Anna looked up at me with a sad smile as she wrapped a clean, white cloth around my bleeding feet. "You must be exhausted. You should rest now."
I shook my head firmly. "They'd bury me alive if they found me resting."
Anna smirked, standing up. "I won't tell if you don't," she teased, echoing the words I had said to her earlier.
I managed a tired smile. "I see what you did there."
"Come on, let me show you your bed," she said gently, helping me up.
We walked slowly down the corridor, my steps uneven and limping. Anna led me to a door that opened into a large underground room filled with rows of single beds-almost twenty of them. It looked like a dormitory, but there was an eerie silence that reminded me this wasn't a school; it was a prison. She pointed out the showers, a small tiled room with multiple showerheads lined up. It felt strangely like boarding school, except here the fear was real and ever-present.
She handed me a long, plain sleeping gown that looked like something out of the 1980s. "It's not much, but it's clean," she said kindly.
I took the gown, grateful for even this small comfort. "Thank you," I whispered, lying down on the narrow bed. It felt harder than the floor, but at least it was a place to rest.
Anna tucked the blanket around me like a mother would. "I'll make sure Emma doesn't come down here for a while. Try to get some rest, dear," she said, closing the door softly behind her.
I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling me under like a dark tide. I wanted to believe I was safe, but deep down, I knew better. If Emma came back, I'd be ready. She didn't scare me-not like the wolves did. I'd already faced real monsters. She was just another bitter girl with a twisted sense of power.
I drifted off, but it wasn't long before I was sweating, my breath coming in short gasps. I jolted awake to find Lily sitting beside me, her face pale and worried.
"You were having a nightmare," she said softly, brushing a damp strand of hair away from my face.
I nodded, staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah. It's the same one I've had for weeks now. I keep seeing my friends... They're dying. And Armani... she's being ripped apart." My voice broke, the haunting images flashing before my eyes once more.
Lily's eyes filled with tears. "Are you okay? I was so worried when Emma took you away. I'm sorry I didn't do anything-I just froze."
I forced a smile. "It's okay, Lily. There was nothing you could've done. If you'd tried to help, they would've hurt you too. Then I'd have felt even worse."
"She's such a bitch," Lily spat, her hands clenched into fists. "I don't know what her problem is. We shouldn't be hurting each other like this."
"Some people become monsters too, Lily," I said, sighing. "What were you doing here, anyway?"
She gave me a small, sheepish smile. "I came to change into something darker. I always stain the lighter clothes on cooking duty, but I like it better when I'm on kitchen duty. It means I don't have to see them as much."
I chuckled. "I get it. Thanks for waking me up."
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, wincing as my bandaged feet hit the floor. "I should get back to work before they come looking for me."
Lily and I walked back together, though I was mostly limping. My feet throbbed with every step, but it was nothing compared to the pain I'd endured before. Lily shot me sympathetic glances, but I gave her a reassuring nod.
Anna was waiting for us in the kitchen. She smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. "How are you feeling now?"
"Refreshed," I lied with a grin, though I could've easily slept for another day. I helped her prepare lunch, cutting vegetables and stirring pots despite the burning in my feet.
She handed me a tray with a plate of food. "This is for the Alpha. He specifically requested you bring it to him," she said, her voice tight with worry. "Go with Lily, just in case. You're already hurt... I'm hoping he'll let you off easily."
I nodded, my heart racing. I glanced at Lily, who looked just as nervous. "We'll be alright," I said, more to convince myself than her.
"I hate this," Lily muttered as we made our way to the Alpha's floor. "My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest. You'd think after three years, I'd be used to this."
I looked at her, surprised. "Three years? You've survived all this time? That's incredible, Lily. You should be proud."
She laughed softly. "Maybe. But I'm still angry at myself. I should've figured out a way to escape, but I've been too afraid."
"That fear probably kept you alive," I said gently.
We reached the Alpha's office. The two large oak doors loomed before us, and Lily knocked softly. His cold, detached voice called us in. We stepped inside, keeping our heads bowed. I placed the tray on his desk, feeling his gaze pierce through me like a knife.
"Who did that to you?" he asked, his voice flat but dangerous.
I hesitated, unsure if telling the truth would make things worse. I swallowed hard and decided to lie. "No one... I stepped on some glass."
His eyes flashed with fury, and his tone dropped to a low, threatening growl. "Do not ever lie to me, human."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was as if he could see right through me. "It was Emma," I admitted quietly. "And two other men. I don't know their names."
He turned his gaze to Lily. "Speak."
"Adam and Jonas," she said quickly. "They're brothers."
"Leave," he ordered. We didn't hesitate, practically sprinting out of his office.
As we entered the kitchen, the atmosphere was tense. Everyone was crowded by the windows, staring outside with horror. Anna's face was ashen, and when she saw us, she gestured for us to look. My blood ran cold.
Outside, on the front lawn, three wooden spikes stood tall, each topped with a severed head-Emma, Adam, and Jonas. Blood dripped down, staining the grass.
A tear slid down my cheek. Nobody deserved this-not even Emma. She was just a bitter, angry girl, but she was human. She didn't deserve to be killed like this.
He had done this.