Chapitre 6

His mocking grin was back.

"You owe me a favor."

A favor?

I hesitated. I couldn't forget that he was a monster. Maybe he just wanted to take advantage of me. But what could he do, locked up in the safest cell in the world? I played with the sleeves of my coat.

"Fine, but I won't do anything illegal," I replied, scanning his eyes for any hint of mischief, but they honestly looked back.

"Do not worry. We don't want you to have to stay here any longer than necessary. And I trust on your word that you will keep your promise if I want to return my favor. We have a deal?"

"We have a deal," I whispered, caught by his blazing eyes. Anticipation churned in my stomach. I would at least know his name. With that, I could start my research when I got out of here.

But before I could even say a muchs, the flap closed in front of my eyes and brought me back to the present.

“No...”

"Betty, what are you doing here?"

My eyes darted to the stairs.

Davin stood at the bottom of the steps staring at my huddled form in the cell. I hadn't seen him in days and he obviously hadn't seen me either. The guard stomped towards me.

"It's a vacation..." he murmured and looked for the bunch of keys. His eyebrows were raised in concern.

"What are you here for? Davin asked. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here, alright? Alpha Fenrir owes me a favor. Come on, get up. You'll be attending the hearings today."

Suddenly everything went fast. The keys jingled and before I knew what was happening, he was dragging me out of my cell. Davin looked me up and down and kept talking to me. He pulled me further towards the stairs and I took one last look at the cell disappearing into the bowels of the dungeon below me.

The silver door creaked open and my eyes burned in the brightness of the winter sun. I blinked the feeling away until I could see properly again. A cool breeze washed away the prison stench and relieved the pressure in my lungs. The bright sky was a gift that I had been missing in the last few days.

A faint smile blossomed on my lips.

"Thanks Davin," I whispered.

"Come on, we mustn't waste any time! The hearings are already in full swing!"

He pulled me around town. People's eyes followed our steps. I lowered my head to the gray cobblestones to avoid encountering them. It felt like I woke up from a dream only to be thrown into the nightmare of reality.

What did the shop look like?

Empty and hardly any supplies for the winter?

We burst out of the streets into the big square. The stage was deserted in front of the pack house we were heading towards. Excitement got my heart pumping as we got closer to the guards outside the doors. They nodded to Davin while I kept my eyes downcast. We entered. A cozy warmth surrounded me and I took a deep breath.

I wasn't ready for a hearing.

What should I say?

How would Alpha Fenrir decide my fate?

"Come on, we'll wait here," Davin said as we pulled to a halt in front of the great hall. The room was crowded with wolves. A few glanced at us, only to turn their attention back to their leader.

Large steps led to two wooden thrones. Only one of them was occupied by Luna Lilli, who held both hands over her bulging stomach. It couldn't be long before the child came, that was for sure.

"Do you accept your judgment?" asked Alpha Fenrir, standing in front of his Luna and staring at the wolf in the center of attention.

"I accept my punishment, Alpha Fenrir. Please forgive me."

"Rise," he said, and the wolf stood, bowed one last time, and disappeared into the crowd. Beta Leo leaned in the corner of the action. He watched the crowd with his snake eyes. I swallowed.

"Come on," Davin said, pulling me through the wolf crowd. I stumbled after him. Around me, a few beasts wrinkled their noses at the dungeon stench that still clung to me. "

I jumped at Davin's loud voice, which I wasn't used to. The Alpha's scrutinizing gaze turned to me, and I didn't dare lift my head from the wooden planks below me as I bowed. Especially not since Beta Leo was standing behind him and wouldn't watch silently.

"What is the brat doing here and why isn't she in the dungeon?" he growled.

"She has a right to a fair trial, just like everyone else in the pack," Davin replied, and approval washed through the crowd behind me, giving me a sense of support.

“Davin speaks the truth. Wolf or human, it is my job to determine their fate," said Alpha Fenrir. "So, what happened?"

My heart pounded in my chest as silence fell over the room. where should i start Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alpha Fenrir's boots move a few steps in my direction.

"Raise your gaze."

My voice was frozen with fear, but my head snapped up at the command. Alpha Fenrir regarded me with warm eyes.

"You're the girl who patched Ephilia up with Alpha Eros, right?" he asked. I nodded vigorously, fighting back the urge to stare at the wood beneath my feet again. "Why were you in the dungeons?"

“On the day of the attack, my brother and I wanted to flee home, but a wolf surprised us not far from the forest near the dungeon. _He_ should run away while I distracted the wolf," I said, glancing at Davin who was just a step behind me. "Davin saved my life and I owe him forever for that."

I bowed and a sigh went through the crowd.

"Stop this rambling!" Beta Leo yelled, glaring down at me. "Your brother broke the law by walking into the woods! Somebody has to pay for it and she took the blame!"

Alpha Fenrir raised his hand and the Beta fell silent. My heart protested painfully against the ribs. Tears pooled at the corners of my eyes, but I held them back.

"Your brother went into the forest during the battle? How old is he?"

"Tommy is only six! He didn't know where to go and took shelter among the great rocks... Ephilia saved him from the claws of the Silverblood Wolves-"

"She's just as guilty as he is!" Beta Leo shouted.

"QUIET!"

I flinched from Alpha Fenrir. His eyes lit up as his wolf took control for a moment. He turned his head and his neck cracked. His shoulders were tense, as if he was going to fight at any moment.

"You want me to punish her for that trifle?" he asked, turning to Beta Leo. "If it weren't for those two, Silverblood would have come in from behind and killed more. Ephilia has already received her punishment."

"But she hasn't," Beta Leo said, giving me a disdainful look. "An order has been disobeyed and someone must bear the penalty."

Suddenly a hand fell on my shoulder.

"If you allow me," Davin replied, stepping in front of me. "I could use a helping hand. The stench has become a real problem with the Silver-Blood prisoners."

I beg your pardon?

"Okay, we've found something appropriate with that. Do you accept your judgment?" Alpha Fenrir asked, his eyes piercing me.

what verdict?

Silence fell like a leaden cloak over the crowd as everyone waited for my reply. My head was empty.

"Yes..."

The word tumbled out from my lips without knowing the consequences. Alpha Fenrir nodded.

"The hearings are over. The warriors meet here tomorrow," he said, turning to Luna Lilli. Approval yelped through the crowd, who swarmed towards the exit. Beta Leo had a face on as if I wasn't worth the air I was giving Davin turned to me.

"What judgment?" I asked sheepishly. "What should I do?"

A tired smile spread across his lips.

"Didn't you realize it during your time in the dungeon? Oh what am I talking about, you still stink of it and you don't even notice it..."

Heat shot up into my cheeks and I sniffed my coat unnoticed. I backed away at the cloud of mold and sweat clinging to me.

"Sorry," I said.

"Oh, you do notice it. After all. I thought humans had completely lost their sense of smell. Anyway, you're going to give me a little help from now on, all right?"

A tingle tickled my stomach.

"Under your arms...? I asked. Red eyes made their way into my memory. Fangs twisted in a grin. Just waiting to be used.

“Of course in the dungeon, where else? Brooms and cleaning rags are already down there. Be at the door punctually tomorrow at sunrise. There's a lot to scrub, you've seen for yourself."

I should... clean the dungeon?