Chapitre 22

A sense of relief coursed through my veins. She had confessed. Luke would get justice.

"Murder is punishable by death. What do you have to say in your defense?" Alpha asked Udyr, beginning to descend the stairs to Luna Laila.

"That's enough," Astor whispered and suddenly he threw me over his shoulder.

"No!" I yelled, punching his back. I might as well have punched a rock because it had no effect. "Let me! I have to see this!"

"I know a traitor among your ranks..."

Her voice trailed off in the distance, but Astor froze when he heard the words.

"Oh yes?" asked Alpha Udyr skeptically. "It will not reduce your sentence if you send someone else to the grave."

"Oh no? Even if that traitor wants to take over your pack?" she replied.

Uproarious laughter rang out through the room. Alpha Udyr didn't seem to take her threat very seriously, while the hairs on the back of my neck trembled. Astor sat me back on the floor and took my hand. I could hear his heart beating faster.

Chains rustled as Luna hoisted Laila to her feet.

"Just laugh, laugh until you're gone. You won't see the dagger coming, but it will be your undoing," she replied.

"Is that a threat?" Udyr growled.

The relaxed atmosphere withered completely.

"That's a promise. Your rule will not last forever and what remains," she whispered, "is chaos and ruin."

"That's enough!" Astor yelled and even I flinched at his loud voice. "Bring her back to the dungeon, now!"

Hysterical laughter escaped Luna Laila's lips as two warriors grabbed her arms and dragged her away. An icy silence followed her entrance. My stomach had turned once, trying to digest the venomous words.

How could she have so much power even though she was a prisoner?

Alpha Udyr's brows pointed down.

"She will rot in the dungeon for the next few days and then she will get the punishment she deserves," he announced after a few seconds. Cautious claps echoed off the walls. "Now, let's get on with it!"

"Come on," Astor said, pulling me away from the main room where more hearings were taking place. His grip on my hand tightened and his stride increased.

"Astor," I whispered, and as if my voice had shattered his shock, the pressure eased and he stopped. "She can't...who was she talking about?" I asked.

"Not from you, that's for sure," he replied and I could see the thoughts racing behind his eyes. He ran through the possibilities that Luna could have meant Laila.

"What if she's just lying?"

Astor brushed his golden strands of hair out of his face, but one fell immediately back onto his forehead. His gaze slid sideways.

"I'll find out for myself," he said, his normally calm eyes set like steel. My stomach shriveled.

Was he trying to torment her?

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of blood on Astor's face, blood that wasn't his, cold eyes relentlessly doing what was needed.

I pried my fingers from his and the sparks died.

"Go back to our room," ordered Astor.

I crossed my arms and stayed where I was. Even my wolf let out a dull growl.

"I will not do that! And stop bossing me around, I'm not one of your warriors anymore!"

"You're right, you're my mate, all the more reason to listen to me!"

I couldn't listen to him anymore. The blood pumped through my veins like a geyser and I shot around. I stomped my way down the corridor without being able to think straight.

How could he treat me so disrespectfully!

"Dana, stay here!"

Although his words sent chills down my arms, I ignored him. I didn't want to talk to him now. Angry footsteps followed me and before I could turn around, Astor had grabbed my hips.

A second time that morning he threw me over his shoulder, making my bone send out uncomfortable waves. I gripped my hands in his shirt, making it wrinkle.

"Astor, put me down right now!"

I tried to kick him with my legs, but his grip was relentless. The hot blood ran into my head. Suddenly the ground receded further and further away as we tackled the stairs up. The guards downstairs tried to pretend we weren't there.

"Astor!"

I could feel my wolf wanting to take control. Her growl escaped the corners of my mouth and my fingers turned into claws.

"LET ME GO!"

I could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but otherwise he didn't react. With her claws she cut his shirt. The tearing of the fabric echoed down the corridor.

A growl followed along with the slam of a door.

Not a second later I was being pushed into a bed with Astor on top of me. The smell of fresh blood reached my nostrils along with the feeling of regret. My wolf didn't give me back control. The color of his eyes had melted with anger, like hot lava. Despite the sparks, she struggled against his grip. She had hurt him and I could only watch.

With one hand he held my hands above my head and all movements froze as the second wrapped around my throat.

We stared at each other.

Neither of us said anything, but the racing hearts in our chests gave it all away. He didn't squeeze, but still prevented further movement. My chest rose and fell as I gasped for oxygen.

I slowly felt something inside break.

Astor saw it too. After all, my wolf had given me back control and retreated to the farthest corner.

"Let me go."

I emphasized each word and felt them vibrate against the fingers around my neck. He slowly pulled away from me and I moved as far away from him as the bed would allow. I rubbed my neck protectively. It didn't hurt, but his grip didn't seem to be loose yet.

The smell of his blood hung between us.

"Now can you tell me what your problem is? Why do you want to stop me from doing what's right for us? Wasn't it Luna Laila who killed Luke in cold blood? Can't you see that I just want to protect us?"

"Go," I whispered. His words were just water bouncing off an unmoving rock. Without hesitation, Astor stood up, the fire in his eyes still alive.

"I'll go and when I come back I hope you've calmed down," he said, turning towards the door.

"And you don't have to own a wolf to be a monster," I whispered.

He froze for a few seconds. My words were like a dagger in his back that pierced my own heart at the same time.

The door slammed behind him, leaving a chilling silence. The feelings clouded any thought. A dark hole seemed to be eating me from the inside.

I was angry with Astor, with my wolf, and with myself. She had hurt him, he had hurt me, and instead of being reasonable, I had hurt him. I clenched my hands in my hair.

Why wasn't I in control of her?

She growled at my words.

As soon as she felt Astor's hand around our necks, she gave me control and with it responsibility. I swallowed. He didn't want to hurt me, but it still hurt.

He was probably on his way to Luna Laila.

He wanted to know if she was telling the truth. He wanted to know if anyone was trying to overthrow Alpha Udyr. He wanted to know if she could even tell the truth. He wanted to break her facade and see behind it.

A part of me wanted to stop him.

Another part wanted to watch.

A shiver ran down my spine. Luke would be ashamed of me if he knew my thoughts. I balled my hands into fists and got up off the bed.

I had to find Astor.

***

I sprinted through the corridors on Astor's trail. His scent was fresh and I inhaled as much of it as I could. The further I got, the angrier I got at my wolf. She had injured his back and although it had long since healed, I felt cruel.

I couldn't control her anymore because of the anger.

And not just her, me too.

You don't have to own a wolf to be a monster.

I closed my eyes as I thought about my words. Why did I say that to him? Today was supposed to be a happy day that we could finally be together, as mates.

He wanted to protect us, all silver blood.

And if he traded against his own mate for it...

Suddenly I stopped. A new scent mingled with the corridor, a scent that vaguely reminded me of Astor.

beta talon.

He must have stopped by here recently.

Was he back from Riverclaw? Not far away a door lay ajar and loud noises came from behind it. Curious, I sneaked closer. The beta's trail lay closely mixed with another.

She looked familiar too.

Who?

A loud groan sounded from behind the door. I leaned against the frame. Just a look...

My eyes widened. The loud hearts beating in the room made my own beat faster. Their bodies were entwined in an intimate kiss. I had never seen Beta Talon like this. His blond hair was a mess. But it was the other wolf that fascinated me.

Lannis, one of Astor's warriors.

A low growl sounded between them. I could only stare. I had never seen anything like this before. Suddenly Beta Talon's attention jerked away from the kiss and towards me.

My heart skipped a beat.

His gaze was so animalistic that I forgot to breathe. His emerald green eyes sparkled brighter than any jewel. And then they turned yellow.

Damned.

I took a step back.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?"

Beta Talon thundered toward me like a storm. Before I could turn around, he grabbed my dress and pinned me against the corridor wall. The air completely disappeared from my lungs. At least he was finally under control again, but the anger still burned in his eyes.

I knew a secret of his, a weakness.

By mistake.

"Look, no traitor, just a woman," he hissed. I grabbed his hand and tried to pry it from the dress, but his grip was relentless stop."

"Then what's he doing here?" I asked with as much courage as I could muster. Lanni's eyes widened as I pulled him in. I almost felt sorry for him.

"You'd probably be better off sleeping in the dungeons for now," Beta Talon growled, freezing the blood in my veins. He yanked me off the wall just to drag me down the corridor.

"Y-You can't do that, Astor-"

"My nephew has more important things to do than deal with a plague like you right now."

I fell silent, and though my heart was beating faster, I said nothing more. Wasn't Astor in the dungeon anyway? We followed his trail and that kept my panic at bay. Astor wouldn't let anything happen to me, would he?

If it wasn't for Beta Talon's icy grip, I almost stumbled down the grand staircase.

"That way," he growled and pushed me down through the unfamiliar corridors. Suddenly, Astor's trail broke off, leaving only strange smells in my wake.

"Stop," I said, but Beta Talon didn't think to stop, let alone turn back. "No!"

"Move on," he hissed, dragging me away from any hope of rescue. We arrived at a set of stairs that led down into a dark basement. Two warriors stood in front of it.

"No, please!" I shouted. Astor wasn't here. How am I supposed to get out of there? "I won't say anything, I'll keep quiet!"

Beta Talon ignored my words. He almost carried me down the steps. With every step, a spark of warmth was lost and gave way to the cold of the ground. I've never been to the dungeon, just today I had escaped from it and now I was here after all.

Did the moon goddess want to punish me?

At the bottom, Beta Talon grabbed my hair and pulled me further through the stench of excrement. Countless silver cells lay along the sides, but he was heading for a specific one.

My wolf shuddered at the polluted air, which was corroding our sense of smell.

"Open up," he snarled at the black-gloved guards. "Have fun with the other beasts. If I find out you've been talking, I'll kill you."

All my muscles froze at the threat of death. The silver door creaked open and Beta Talon shoved me full force onto the dirty stone floor. The metal clicked back into place behind me.

I looked back at its silhouette making its way to the surface while I sat down here in the stench.

Hysterical laughter erupted from the depths of the cell, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Shackles jingled.

I closed my eyes.

Please do not.

"Look, look. What do we have here?"

Luna Laila.

Though her voice rasped like splintered tree bark, there was glee in it. She lay in one of the corners, chained by silver shackles. Her emaciated figure was only a hint of the beauty she had had as Luna, next to Alpha Lam.

She didn't have to move to do damage.

Hope Astor found me...

"Yes, what a surprise," came a second voice, without false joy, but with so much poison that I crouched down. I slowly recognized the smell under the stench.

Solana.

The human girl was chained in the other corner. She slowly got to her feet. Her brown eyes shone hatefully through the darkness of the dungeon. Her lips were pale and cracked, as if she hadn't had a drink in ages. My heart started to turn into a rock pulling everything down.

I was in a cell with the two creatures that hated me the most in this world, aside from Beta Talon. I turned to the dungeon door but didn't dare touch it.

Silver.

"Please, you have to let me out! Somebody gotta get General Astor! He can clear up the misunderstanding!" I yelled at the guards, but they remained stubborn as rocks.

As footsteps sounded behind me, I turned back to the beasts as Beta Talon had called them.

"I would have been free," Solana hissed, brushing the bird's nest of black hair away from her face. "I would have made it if you hadn't stopped me."

Faced with the hunter's child, I was glad I wasn't wearing heavy chains on my wrists that were burning my skin. That was probably one of the reasons why Laila hadn't attacked me yet. The bonds had weakened her.

I raised my hands in a sign of peace.

"Please Solana. I-"

"Nine years," she hissed with so much hate and pain that I fell silent. "Nine years I've been in this damn dungeon. Since the big shift and why, because of you!"

I swallowed and said nothing because nothing I could say would calm her down. She kept coming towards me. I couldn't retreat without burning myself on the silver.

"You are a monster, you are all monsters!"

Suddenly Solana stopped a meter in front of me. But not because she wanted to, no, the chains had reached their limit and hung taut in the air. I take a deep breath.

"That is not true. Do you know why I stopped you? Because of her," I said, pointing at Luna Laila, who was leaning back watching us. "I thought you were her. She killed Luke, my best friend! She shot him down without hesitation! He saved my life!"

The pain I had been trying to suppress bubbled back to the surface.

"Come here," Luna Laila said mockingly. "Now you can get your revenge. I'm here, I can't fight back."

I blew air through my nose as if that would calm me down. My wolf growled. It would be easy enough to rip her to shreds and Solana wouldn't stop me. I took a few steps towards her corner.

"Do it," Luna Laila hissed. Her facade vanished, revealing the ugly interior. "Come here and kill me."

My eyes widened and I stood frozen. I eyed her silver chains.

Astor, please get me out of here before someone gets hurt...