Chapitre 4

She looked tired. The fight and Beta Leo must have stressed her more than she could admit and yet... Alpha Eros had already tended her wounds. Tears blurred my vision of Lia. In the morning she would leave, away from here. she sighed. Her brow furrowed with sadness and yet the corners of her mouth turned up.

She had no regrets.

"I only have one request: Take care of Uncle Theo. He's even worse than me when it comes to order."

"You have my word," I said.

"We'll meet again. I'm sure."

I couldn't sleep and as the sun began to break I stood in front of the store and stared at the mountains to the north. The autumn air turned my breath into small, shaky clouds.

Then I saw her.

Her red cloak stuck out between the trees and raced up the heights, away from here forever. At least she was safe. I snuggled my royal blue coat closer around me.

Lia disappeared to the other side of the mountains, leaving nothing behind but a silent, lonely city. I would keep my promise and check on Theo. Without Lia he was lonely, alone in his chaos.

Loud thunder shook the cobblestones beneath my feet. They built up like a wave and got closer and closer.

A horde of wolves charged down the street. I pressed myself against the store window and looked down. What were they doing here and so early in the morning?

But they didn't march past. My heart skipped as the boots stopped in front of the store.

"Here it is, let's go men," the voice ordered, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. "Lock the parents in the bedroom, they're just trouble."

Beta Leo.

I looked up cautiously and watched as one warrior after another tumbled into the store. I didn't move because their commander was frozen in front of the door, his eyes burning a hole in my head.

What was going on here?

A crack sounded from inside and thousands of pieces of broken glass shattered.

"What's brat, won't you come in and see what's going on?" Beta Leo asked mockingly. I flinched when a loud crack of wood followed. I was frozen in place, unable to move.

Beta Leo's mouth turned down. He mistook my paralyzing fear for indifference. In two steps he grabbed my shoulder and dragged me into the store. The broken glass crunched under my shoes and the expensive wine seeped into the cracks in the wood. Smashed pumpkins and spilled flour littered the counter.

Fresh tears welled up in my eyes as a spasm gripped my throat. Beta Leo's iron grip pulled me to one of the intact shelves. He took an apple and examined it. Then his gaze fell back to me.

A deep resentment pierced my heart. I could not speak. I couldn't free myself from his grip. I could only watch as they destroyed everything we had worked for all year. How should we get through the winter now?

I was glad of the tears that blurred my view of the misery.

"NO, LET ME GO!! LIZZY!"

I jerked free of Beta Leo's grip. One of the werewolves had Tommy pressed against his chest. His face was red as he kicked wildly. But he had no chance against the wolf.

"Tommy, no!!"

Before I could touch him, two guards pulled my arms back, sending a stab of pain through my shoulders. Beta Leo's smile had returned and he bit the apple contentedly.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, the lump of emotion in my throat making my voice tremble.

"I'm just following the law. Alpha Fenrir has ordered all humans not to go into the forest. The brat broke it and must be punished."

"NO!" Tommy shrieked, his face turning crimson.

"Stop, please! you are hurting him! He's just a kid!" I yelled, trying to break free of the grip, but the werewolves kept twisting my arms behind my back, forcing me to bend forward. "Please..."

Beta Leo liked my humility, I could feel it. He enjoyed his power to the fullest. He might not be able to get to Lia, but to us...

“Young and old, the law applies to all. You're lucky I don't put you in jail for defiing a werewolf, too. I won't be so merciful next time. Take him away."

“Carry away!”

His feet didn't even touch the ground. Tommy had stopped struggling and lay helpless in the arms of a monster. With big strides, he and Tommy climbed over the shards and leftovers and away.

"No, please wait! I'll vouch for him, please!"

Beta Leo eyed me in amusement. He bit into the apple so that the juice dripped down his chin.

"Really, for that little scaredy-cat?"

I felt hate twitch across my face. He wanted to provoke me. The pain in my shoulders and Tommy's sobs kept me sane.

"I'll take his full sentence. Let him go," I said, my tone flat. Although my legs felt weak like overcooked vegetables, I didn't avoid Beta Leo's gaze. A cruel smile spread across his lips before he bit the apple again.

"You heard the brat, take her to the dungeon!"

My heart was beating like a stone as Tommy hit the floor. He jumped up and sprinted towards me, but the guards wouldn't let him get to me. Fresh tears ran from his eyes.

"Lizzy, no! leave her!"

He fought back with his small fists, but was little more than a pup against a full-grown wolf.

"How touching," Beta Leo said coldly, before tossing the rest of the apple into the chaos around us. He kicked one of the last shelves, which went down with a crash. "Take her away!"

The two wolves pressed against my shoulder blades, leaving me no choice. We stepped out of the mess that was my home and followed the path across town. Curious heads stuck out of the doors and I lowered my eyes.

Her eyes added fuel to the fire that was spreading across my cheeks. The whispers around me almost made me sink in shame. I wanted to scream that I didn't do anything wrong. But I stayed silent. I endured the path of humiliation.

At least until the prison entrance came into view. One of my companions pounded on the metal door with his gloves, making me jump.

After a minute it opened from the inside, but it wasn't Davin who greeted us. An old werewolf eyed us. He looked like he had just woken up.

"We need a cell for our little princess here. Beta Leo's orders."

The old man gave me a straight face before stepping aside and I nearly fell down the musty stairs. The wolves pulled my arms back tighter and I whined in pain.

"There's a nice spot there, plenty of room, and even a bed," the guard grumbled, and I backed away at the burning stench of alcohol his breath gave off. I followed his gaze to a corner cell. The bed was straw, the one in front moisture shone.

"Come on, get in there."

They pushed me in roughly and I landed on my knees. I pulled my shoulders back and forward so the pain finally subsided.

"I don't think Alpha Fenrir has time for her in the next few days. The silver-blood prisoners have priority,” said one of the wolves, staring at the sealed cells further back. Were silver-blood wolves caught during the attack? Not even a day ago, Lia had been lying in one of them.

Beta Leo's followers disappeared back to the surface while the old guardian stared at me. Why couldn't Davin be here? He said nothing, neither did I. Like he wanted to make sure I didn't make a fuss...

Instead, I looked around my cell. The straw might have been soaked, but a piece of the stone floor just down the aisle was bone dry. I crouched down and turned my gaze back to the guard. He seemed content and staggered a little to the back corners of the prison. He probably had to sleep off his intoxication.

I breathed in the stuffy air and leaned my head against the icy bars.

What happened?

Until a few days ago, Lia had been the magnet of all misfortune and recklessness. Did she transfer the curse to me? My eyes naturally flew to the battered silver cell. Only the hissing of the torches enlivened the room.

Silence.

He knew I was here.

The window opened slowly, as if in slow motion. I wanted to squeeze my lids shut, but I couldn't. The red eyes drew me in like dangerous rubies.

"What do we have here?" asked the melodious voice with the sneering undertone.

Oh no...