Chapter 65 Sixty five

Chapter 65 Sixty five

Nora. 

The relentless morning sun beat down upon me, its intensity a far cry from the discomfort of my current surroundings. The stench of the place only added to my misery. My empty stomach growled in hunger, causing my hand to instinctively rest on my belly, where my poor baby resided. I sighed, knowing that we both deserved better than this.

A soft voice from across the cell startled me, "You pregnant?" The woman in the adjacent cell, whom I had tried to converse with last night to no avail, had finally broken her silence. She eyed me carefully, and I wondered how she had figured it out. I nodded slowly, acknowledging her question with a mix of uncertainty and exhaustion.

Desperate for answers and unable to withstand the silence of our confinement, I mustered the courage to inquire again, "Where are we, please?" My voice trembled with fear and anxiety. She settled back on her cot, her gaze still fixed upon me, her earlier coldness returning. "In a dungeon," she responded with a casual shrug, as though revealing a secret of little consequence. 

Frustration welled up within me, and I was firm to press for more information. "Yes, I know we are in a prison! I mean, where is this place?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin. Her laughter echoed within the dim, damp cell as she shook her head, avoiding eye contact. "You'll soon find out," she said, providing no further insight into our whereabouts. My sigh of frustration was met with indifference, and I turned away from her, concluding that her silence had been replaced by stubborn uncooperativeness.

Throughout the night since my arrival, I had not encountered any of the men who had initially brought me to this dreadful place, further deepening the mystery and fear that gripped me.

The echoing voices of the men filled the prison, their deep tones resonating within the confines of the dungeon, sending shivers down my spine. My physical weakness, compounded by dehydration and malnourishment, seemed irrelevant compared to the fear and unease that these unknown voices stirred within me. To think that my predicament could get any worse, these foreboding presences were the stuff of nightmares.

Summoning my last reserves of strength, I slowly got to my feet, my legs wobbling as I rose. I approached the bars, pressing both my hands against them in an attempt to peer into the shadows beyond. "Hey!" I called out, almost involuntarily. Their menacing approach was evident even without my summons.

"The little feeble is finally awake," the same guy I had spat on before remarked with a sly smirk. If he had been within arm's reach, I wouldn't have hesitated to repeat my defiant act. The urge surged within me, fueling my desire to spite him further.

"Let me out," I demanded, gripping the bars and shaking them as I sought to impose my will upon my captors. They may have underestimated my grit, but I refused to be a helpless captive.

"Let you out?" Another voice interrupted, and the words were achingly familiar. My head snapped to focus on the figure who stepped forward, and my heart sank with the realization. This man – he was one of the board members in Howard's meetings. Though we had crossed paths only once, his face was etched in my memory. I couldn't recall his name, but I knew he was an Alpha and that this must be his pack.

The anger surged, my voice tremulous as I confronted him, "What am I doing here? Your men captured me!" Each word held a note of anger, a challenge to this man who had orchestrated my capture.

"I know," he replied nonchalantly, confirming my suspicion. My eyes widened with fury, narrowing as I stared him down. 

The realization that he was behind this ordeal left a bitter taste in my mouth. "I have been dying to lay hands on what Howard values most, which is obviously you. I was patient, patient enough to have you now because you were foolish enough to come out alone at night. He took what's mine and refuses to give it back, now I have what's his and I don't intend to give it back." His self-satisfied laughter filled the chamber, aggravating my already heightened emotions. Anguish and anger brewed within me as I contemplated the heartlessness of his plan.

"He's coming for me! And you will regret it!" I threatened, even though I wasn't certain if Howard was aware of my abduction or even cared to rescue me. The pain in my chest was overwhelming, doubting Howard's commitment to our bond. But I clung to the hope that the mate bond meant something to him, and he'd come to my aid.

"Oh, that's the plan. I want him to come because I want to kill him, then I kill you. I attacked Direwood for a reason. To kill him, his father, take over the pack, boom! I am in power of two packs!" he exulted in his grand scheme. His sinister laughter fueled my anger, even as I glared at him, despite his evident indifference.

"Give her some food and water, she looks horrible," he instructed, showing a fake concern before dismissing me. "Asshole!" I yelled after him, pounding my frustration on the bars. 

The overwhelming emotions threatened to consume me, and I crumpled to the cold stone floor. Weakness and exhaustion overcame me, and I felt sick not just from my pregnancy but from the mounting emotional havoc. My weariness was profound, not only physically but emotionally

Overwhelmed by despair, tears streamed down my face as I collapsed onto the frigid stone floor. Weakness and exhaustion coursed through my body, leaving me feeling sick, both from the early stages of pregnancy and the emotional and physical turmoil I'd endured. I was drained, a mere shadow of my former self.

Amidst my distress, the woman in the adjacent cell, who had remained silent for so long, spoke. Her words were soft, and they pierced through the haze of my misery. "You're a Luna?" she inquired. I met her gaze with red-rimmed eyes, her sudden interest piquing my curiosity. "Why do you care?" I retorted, my voice laced with irritation and exhaustion.

She ignored my question from earlier, as if she hadn't left me to my misery, and continued, her tone now excited. "Alpha Gray is dead," she declared, her eyes dancing with a strange kind of enthusiasm. "This might be my chance to break free if a war breaks out here. If your Alpha comes for you, would you leave with me?" she asked, her eyes now filled with hope.

My initial annoyance returned, and I gazed at her in disbelief. "You ignored me last night and this morning," I reminded her, my frustration evident. She offered a resigned sigh and rolled her eyes before responding. "Fine, I'm sorry. I had to protect myself. We're not allowed to converse with other prisoners, especially new ones. But now that I know you're a Luna, held captive... this Alpha Gray doesn't stand a chance," she mused with a triumphant grin. She introduced herself as Layla, and I returned the favor, uttering my name through tearful eyes.

Layla's talkative nature didn't go unnoticed. It was as if we were having a casual conversation over tea rather than finding ourselves imprisoned in this desolate dungeon. 

My thoughts strayed to Alpha Gray, and regret coursed through me. I wished I'd never urged Howard to show restraint when Alpha Gray encroached on his territory. Alpha Gray was a ruthless adversary who deserved the pain and retribution that would come his way, especially for daring to harm me. 

Howard may have behaved coldly and aloof, but I knew that he cared deep down. I was convinced that he would come to my rescue, though I had no way of knowing when. Waiting was agonizing, and I couldn't bear the thought of remaining here while carrying our unborn child. I dreaded the possibility of losing the baby in this dire situation. More tears flowed, but Layla remained unfazed.

She continued her prying. "Which pack are you from anyway? I'm familiar with most of the packs in this region," she remarked casually, as if the horrors of our current predicament were a distant concern, replaced by curiosity about my origins. 

The cold, damp cell was a stark reminder of our dire circumstances. We sat there in silence, anxiety weighing heavily on my heart. It was so still, only the distant echoes of footsteps occasionally breaking the monotony.

Then, the footsteps drew closer, and my apprehension grew. It was one of the men we had encountered earlier, a rugged figure with a hardened expression. He thrust a plate of scrambled eggs and bread towards me, accompanied by a meager cup of water. The food didn't appear particularly appetizing, but hunger gnawed at my stomach, and I couldn't let my baby suffer. With a sense of resignation, I grasped the plate and voraciously devoured its contents. I couldn't afford to care about the judgments of others, not in this place.

I shoveled the food into my mouth until there was nothing left, then hastily gulped down the tepid water that did little to quench my thirst. As I returned from the abyss of my ravenous hunger, I became aware of Layla watching me, her eyes filled with shock.

"Want mine?" she offered, pushing her food towards my cell. "I'm not a fan of eggs," she added with a casual shrug. It would be selfish of me to accept, so I shook my head, murmuring a grateful, "Thank you."

A sudden wave of nausea surged through my stomach, and I fought to keep everything down. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure.

"Are you okay?" Layla inquired with concern, and I vehemently shook my head.

"Shadow," she cried out, summoning a figure nearby who approached us with irritation. "What now?" he grumbled.

"She needs to throw up," Layla explained, pointing at me. Before he could react, I was already losing the contents of my stomach. My head spun, feeling light-headed and weak.

"Get her some water, Shadow, she's really sick," Layla implored. The man called Shadow strode away momentarily but returned with a cup of water, extending it to me through the bars. I took the cup, washing my face and consuming the rest of the water. Gradually, I began to regain some semblance of composure.

Once the ordeal was over, I couldn't help but ask, "Who's going to clean that up?" Shadow, looking at my mess, scoffed and strolled away. Layla grimaced and shook her head.

"You'll have to live with that until it dries up," she told me, a cruel reality that made me want to vomit once more, though there was nothing left in my stomach except for my precious baby.

"Direwood," I whispered breathlessly, the very name sending a shiver down my spine. "I was from Greenbell, then I married the now Alpha of Direwood. Now I live..." My words faltered, and I let out a sigh. 

I wasn't even sure if I still belonged there. My destiny was a blurry enigma since my capture. I couldn't predict if I'd make it out of this ordeal alive, or if I even wanted to escape or return to Direwood. 

I longed for my mother, for the simpler times when I could call Greenbell my home. Herman had turned Greenbell into a strange, alien place for me, erasing the familiarity of my past. And just when I thought Direwood might replace that, now I was plagued by doubt.

My emotions got the better of me, and I broke down, crying hard, with tears and sobs pouring out of me. "You cry too much," Layla remarked, and I paid her no attention. "Probably pregnancy hormones," she added, but I remained lost in my own grief, seated beside my own vomit.

Before long, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into a deep slumber. I couldn't fathom how long I'd been out, but when I was nudged awake, I was met with a pounding headache. Squinting in the light filtering through a small window, I heard a voice that I'd never forget. It was a voice I had never expected to hear again. My heart leaped into my throat, and I jolted upright to confirm whether I was dreaming or if she was real.

"Oh God, it really is her," she said, her voice unmistakable. I never thought I'd hear her voice again. She laughed at my reaction. "Nora, if it isn't lovely to see you this way," she said with a wicked grin. 

"Karen?" I mumbled, my heart sinking to the pit of my stomach. I was astounded by her presence in the Void pack, looking just as radiant as she had been in Direwood.

"Shocked to see me perfectly fine and healthy, huh?" Karen sneered. "You and Howard sent me and Scott out to die out there. You two are so cruel! I had vowed to help Gray, capture you, and destroy you like you wanted to do to me, you selfish bitch."

I sat there in disbelief, looking at Karen. "You tried to harm me, and you betrayed Howard's trust," I reminded her. "He gave you the least punishment he could. You should be thanking him for letting you off so lightly after what you did."

She grunted, her eyes narrowing, arms folded defiantly as she scoffed. "You really think you're perfect, huh? Perfect husband, perfect life. Living happily and expecting to have everything your way," Karen spat as she paced back and forth outside my cell. "You think everyone loves you? Well, guess what, Nora Fred? No one fucking likes you. Cut the bullshit with the pretending and the acting, you cheap plastic bitch!" she ranted.

"Just because you're not a fan of me doesn't mean everyone is as bitter and dumb as you," I shot back. She gasped and then erupted into mocking laughter.

"You think everyone loves you?" she yelled, shaking the cell bars. I watched her descent into madness in stunned silence.

"Wait until you see your biggest fan," she taunted, and I could hear approaching footsteps. Karen's face lit up as the person came into view. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes widened, and before I knew it, I jerked upright.

"Selene?" I called out, disbelieving. She avoided my shocked gaze, not daring to meet my eyes. "Selene? You?" I stammered. I had always suspected Selene of hiding something, a lurking feeling that she might be up to no good, but I had never imagined she would turn traitor to me and to the Direwood pack.