Chapter 11 Granting wishes
~Lyra's POV~
Another day passed, and I was still locked up. I would never take freedom for granted again, because being trapped in this place for days without sunlight, fresh air, or the ability to move freely was already driving me insane. The walls felt smaller each day, as though they were closing in, mocking me with their silence and the faint echo of my own breathing.
The worst part of it all was that I did not even know why I was being held. I was imprisoned among people who despised me, people who looked at me as if I were a plague. Escape was out of the question. It was impossible. Every corner of this place screamed restraint, and I could feel it pressing down on me like a physical weight.
It was almost that time of day when Taren would arrive with food, his usual warm smile, and a few words that briefly reminded me of normalcy. That was the only moment I looked forward to each day.
When the entrance gate creaked open, I straightened immediately, folding my legs beneath me in a meditative pose. But it was not Taren who walked in. It was someone else, someone I had never seen before.
The man stepped inside with the kind of calm authority that made me tense. “My name is Gordon. I’m here to escort you to Dorhaven.”
Confusion flooded me instantly. Had I heard him right? My mind stumbled over his words. “Dorhaven? Have I been pardoned and set free?”
“No,” he replied firmly. “But Alpha Kael has decided to grant your wish to pay your last respects to your aunt. She will be buried today, and he wants you to attend.”
The words struck me like a thunderclap. My chest filled with sudden, overwhelming relief, and for a brief moment, I thought I might cry. Maybe Kael wasn’t as heartless as I thought. Maybe there was still a trace of decency left in him.
I followed Gordon out of the cell, my legs trembling slightly from disuse. But as soon as we stepped outside the gate, I saw Taren approaching with my meal, his expression shifting into a frown when he noticed us.
“What is going on? Where are you taking her?” he demanded, his voice edged with suspicion.
“Where I’m taking her is none of your business, Taren,” Gordon said, his tone sharp, almost rude. I frowned slightly. What was his problem with Taren?
“Her welfare and feeding are my responsibility,” Taren replied, refusing to back down. “So yes, it is my business. I demand to know where you’re taking her.”
“I’m taking her out. Alpha’s direct order,” Gordon responded curtly, as if already tired of explaining himself.
Taren did not seem convinced. “How come I know nothing about this order? Besides, Alpha left early this morning. When did he give it?”
“Don’t question me, Taren. You can confirm with Beta Dagan. He’s always informed of the Alpha’s decisions,” Gordon retorted, his voice clipped.
Taren’s eyes narrowed. “You should at least let her eat something before she goes.” He turned to me, his gaze softening slightly, silently asking if I wanted to eat before leaving.
But Gordon seemed impatient. “No time. She’ll eat when she’s back. Let’s go.” His tone left no room for argument.
I offered Taren a small, reassuring smile before following Gordon.
Outside, two black cars waited, engines rumbling quietly. I was ushered into the back seat of the second one. Kael wasn’t there, which unsettled me a little, but I forced the thought away. He was an Alpha. He had more important matters to attend to than escorting a prisoner to a funeral.
The ride began in silence, the hum of the engine filling the air. I tried to keep my mind still, but unease crept in slowly. Something about this didn’t feel right. It had been only three days since Aunt Mia’s death. Witches were never buried this quickly unless their death was by fire. Rituals always had to be performed before burial. If she was already being buried, it meant something had been rushed—or something was wrong.
Still, I told myself to be grateful. I was going home, even if only for a while.
About thirty minutes into the journey, the car jerked violently to a stop. Tires screeched. My body slammed forward against the seat as three black vehicles appeared ahead, blocking the road.
Before I could even breathe, men stepped out, two of them in front, followed by several rogue anomalies. My blood ran cold. I had seen their kind before. They were the same type that had been executed the previous day at Iron Fang.
Fear clawed at my chest as the driver cursed and tried to reverse, but almost instantly, another set of cars blocked the rear path.
“What is happening?” I shouted, my voice trembling. “What do they want?”
No one answered me.
The men outside shifted, their bones cracking and fur sprouting as their human shapes distorted into wolves. In seconds, chaos erupted. The guards from our convoy jumped out, shifting as well, and the forest filled with growls and the sound of tearing flesh.
It was the first time I had seen a werewolf transformation. It was both terrifying and hypnotic. Their fur glistened with sweat and blood, and the air smelled of iron and death.
Within minutes, it was over. The rogues and their leaders remained standing, victorious. My heart pounded wildly as one of them yanked open the car door and dragged me out, ignoring my kicks and screams.
I screamed until my throat burned. “Let me go! I don’t belong to you! I’m not one of you!”
Their leader barely glanced at me as he spoke in a cold, emotionless voice. “There is no escaping the void wolf. All who try will learn the hard way.”
When I struggled harder, the man holding me lifted me like a doll and threw me over his shoulder. My fists pounded his back, my voice cracked with desperation, but it was useless.
He shoved me into one of their vehicles, slammed the door shut, and the world around me spun as the car sped off into the unknown.