Chapter 315: Captive of the Void

Chapter 315: Captive of the Void

Maeve's POV

I regained consciousness to muffled voices of two guards nearby, their words reaching me.

"Are you sure this cage can hold her?" one asked uncertainly. "She's more dangerous than we anticipated."

"Phoebe checked it herself," the second replied firmly. "Question her judgment at your own risk. She's executed too many doubters already."

"I'm just concerned... This Callisto wolf—her power is beyond ordinary. If she regains her shifting ability, we're all dead."

"Keep your voice down! Don't let Phoebe hear you."

Their footsteps faded away. I lay on the ice-cold stone floor, completely numb. Whatever they'd injected me with had rendered me helpless. I had no idea where I was, only that darkness surrounded me.

My enhanced night vision was gone. But I could feel Katie, my wolf, whimpering softly in my consciousness. She stayed with me despite her fear, which was rare—and terrifying.

I wished I could lift my head to see where we were, but I couldn't even move my fingers.

I wasn't even certain I was breathing. Was I truly alive?

My memories were fragmented, but I clearly recalled the burning sensation of wolfsbane coursing through my veins like fire. The pain had been too intense to scream. Then, darkness.

Though I didn't know who had injected me, I remembered seeing Elise with those lifeless eyes. Darkness had consumed her; she wasn't herself anymore. The thought broke my heart.

Time seemed meaningless; I couldn't tell how long I'd been imprisoned. I drifted in and out of consciousness, hearing different guards each time I awoke, all monitoring me for signs of resistance.

But if only I had the strength to fight my way to freedom. But I was too weak. My wolf was equally helpless.

Another wave of exhaustion washed over me. I closed my eyes and sank back into the darkness.

Cyrus's POV

The drive back to the Kratos packhouse was heavy with silence. Occasional muffled sobs from the women were the only sounds breaking the stillness.

Alan, Alpha Rodolfo, and Marc had stayed behind to continue searching. I needed to ensure everyone at the packhouse was safe first, then speak with Sebastian, and immediately return to join the search efforts. I wouldn't rest until Maeve was safely back in my arms.

"I still can't shake the feeling that something's off about Alpha Joshua," Dean's voice echoed in my mind.

"Rodolfo confirmed Joshua was downstairs the entire time," I replied mentally.

"My instincts tell me something's not right," Dean insisted.

I knew his instincts were correct; something was terribly wrong. My stomach twisted at the thought that Joshua might have harmed my mate. I should never have let her go there. I should have been by her side. I should have protected her. I had failed my mate.

When we arrived at the packhouse, Pop was the first to greet us.

"She hasn't been found yet?" Pop asked, her voice trembling.

"Not yet," I answered, "but we will find her. I've dispatched all the Gamma warriors."

When Pop saw Elizabeth, her expression grew more concerned. "Oh, you poor child." She extended her arms, pulling Elizabeth into an embrace.

"I have faith that Maeve will be returned to us safely," Pop assured her.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you."

"Let me prepare some hot food for you," Pop said to Elizabeth, then turned to address everyone. "You all need to come inside and get warm."

No one dared argue with her. We all filed into the house with Pop following behind.

Elizabeth looked at me intensely. "Take me to him now," she commanded.

I didn't want to bring Elizabeth down to see Sebastian; he was unstable and untrustworthy. But I knew Elizabeth wasn't one to back down easily.

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, and I sighed, gesturing for her to follow me.

The guard straightened when he saw us approach. "Alpha," he greeted me with a bow.

"Luna wishes to speak with Sebastian," I informed him. "No one is to disturb us."

"Yes, Alpha," he replied, maintaining his respectful posture.

Following Maeve's instructions, we had stopped torturing Sebastian. So he looked much better than the last time I'd seen him yesterday.

He leaned against the far wall of his cell, looking up when Elizabeth entered. "Luna Elizabeth..." he greeted her, surprise evident in his tone.

"How do you know who I am?" she demanded harshly.

"I know everything about you," Sebastian replied with a hint of amusement. "What brings you here?"

"My daughter has been kidnapped," Elizabeth stated bluntly. "You once tried to abduct her yourself. Tell me, did you have accomplices?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, Luna," he answered predictably.

"Then what can you tell me about the darkness?" Elizabeth pressed.

Sebastian's face paled instantly, fear flashing across his features, but he remained silent as she continued.

"The darkness has taken my daughter, and I need to get her back. If you're not its accomplice, then tell me what you know."

He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, looking lost.

"I am not its ally..." he said slowly. "But I cannot speak of it."

"Why not?" she demanded.

"If I speak, more innocent lives will be lost," he answered.

"He won't say anything," I muttered. "We've wasted weeks."

"Perhaps you've been asking the wrong questions," she shot back.

"Once I speak, it will know, and everyone I care about will die," Sebastian said quietly.

"We have the ability to protect those you care about," Elizabeth promised.

"I do trust you, Luna. But you cannot fight against it. Its ears are everywhere..."

I gripped the cell bars and shook them. "Damn it, answer her question!" I roared.

"I cannot," Sebastian insisted through gritted teeth. "I have a mission, and you're keeping me here, preventing me from completing it. My only duty is to train her, to prepare her for the most crucial battle of her life." He paused, looking down. "I may have already said too much; I cannot give it more reasons to probe my mind."

"The darkness can read your thoughts?" Elizabeth asked, frowning.

He just nodded.

"He told Maeve the same thing," I pointed out.

"And you didn't heed his warning?" Elizabeth reproached.

"He's insane," I argued, earning a derisive snort from Sebastian. I glared at him.

"Can it read all our thoughts?" Elizabeth continued questioning Sebastian.

"It cannot read the minds of Callisto wolves," he answered, looking my way. "Nor those with Callisto blood."

"So those of us with Callisto blood could gather and share information without it knowing," Elizabeth realized. "But speaking aloud is still risky - the darkness might hear directly, plus everything else in your mind."

"I'd rather not draw its attention," he said quietly. "I've already said too much. Any more would make it suspicious."

"The guardian's power protects this pack; the darkness won't appear here," Elizabeth assured him.

"Guardians can indeed repel dark magic, but the darkness itself is more powerful. It can still penetrate," Sebastian told us.

"But if it were here, we would be alerted immediately," Elizabeth reminded him.

"I cannot take that risk..."

"Please reconsider," Elizabeth pleaded.