Lyra POV
I woke up feeling at peace.
That felt strange.
I'm not supposed to feel peaceful here.
But my body felt light, like I had slept really well. I lay there for a moment staring at the stone ceiling above me, trying to understand why my chest didn't feel so tight today.
Maybe it was because of the kind woman.
The one who let me sleep on her lap.
Just thinking about her made my chest feel warm again.
Then my stomach twisted.
Not from hunger.
From something else.
Oh no.
I sat up quickly.
"I need to pee," I whispered to myself.
I hadn't gone since yesterday when that scary man was still here watching me.
The thought of him made my shoulders tense immediately.
I quickly ran to the door and started banging on it with both hands.
"Hello?!" I called out. "Please! I need the restroom!"
At first there was nothing.
Then I heard footsteps.
Heavy ones.
The door clicked and slowly opened.
I froze.
But it wasn't the scary man.
It was a woman.
A knight.
She was huge. Almost as tall as the men I had seen here. Her armor made soft clinking sounds when she moved, and a sword rested at her side.
But her face looked calm.
Not scary or angry.
Just serious.
"I need the restroom," I blurted quickly. "Really badly."
For a moment she just looked at me.
Then she stretched out her hand.
"Follow me."
Her voice was deep but gentle.
I grabbed her hand quickly because I really couldn't wait anymore.
As she led me through the hallway, I couldn't stop staring at her armor.
It was shiny even though we almost underground.
The metal plates covered her shoulders and chest, and she walked like she was used to wearing it every day.
I wondered if it was heavy.
I wondered if I'd ever be strong enough to wear something like that.
But mostly I wondered why she was being nice to me.
Soon we reached a small restroom area and I rushed inside.
When I finished, she was waiting quietly outside.
She didn't say anything.
She just walked me back.
Before I knew it, I was sitting back on the cold dungeon floor again.
The door closed behind her.
I hugged my knees.
The dungeon felt quiet.
Too quiet.
My thoughts started wandering again.
How did I even get here?
I had only gone out looking for my parents.
Just trying to find them.
That's all.
Now I'm stuck in some stranger's house.
I rested my chin on my knees.
"I miss you," I whispered softly.
I wished Mom and Dad never left that day.
I wished I never left home.
But then another thought came.
If I had stayed home…
I probably would've starved.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"I just have to survive," I told myself.
My voice sounded small in the empty room.
But another thought crept in.
What if the scary man comes back?
What if he really meant what he said?
What if he wants to put me to sleep?
My stomach twisted again.
I was still thinking about that when the door clicked open.
My body instantly stiffened.
I braced myself.
But it was the woman knight again.
This time she carried something.
A small bed.
My eyes widened.
She walked inside quietly and placed it in the corner of the room.
I watched her carefully.
Why was she doing this?
She didn't look like the type of person who smiled a lot.
Her face still looked serious.
But something about her actions felt kind.
When she finished setting the bed down, she reached into her pocket.
Then she held out her hand.
Snacks.
My favorite ones.
For a second I just stared at them.
Then a squeak escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
I grabbed them quickly.
"Thank you!" I said, my voice almost jumping.
She looked slightly surprised.
Then she asked, "Are you hungry?"
I nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"Your food will be brought soon," she said.
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
I sat there holding the snacks, completely confused.
Why were they being nice to me?
I didn't understand.
But for the first time since I arrived here…
The room didn't feel quite as scary.
Jason POV
I was heading toward the kitchen to grab a snack when I saw Mom talking to two servants.
They were speaking very quietly.
Mom usually didn't whisper like that.
Something about it made me curious.
So I stepped behind a pillar and watched.
Mom handed one of the servants a tray of food.
Then she said something I couldn't hear.
The servants nodded and started walking away.
But not toward the kitchen.
They were heading outside.
Toward the woods behind the mansion.
My eyebrows frowned.
That area was forbidden.
The guards always warned us never to go there.
They said it was dangerous.
But why were servants bringing food there?
I waited until Mom disappeared into the kitchen.
Then I quickly slipped outside.
The servants were already far ahead.
But I could still see them moving through the trees.
I followed quietly.
Luckily most of Father's guards weren't around.
They had followed him to the meeting.
And the others were on an S-class mission I accidentally overheard about earlier.
The mansion was quieter than usual.
That made sneaking easier.
Soon the servants reached a strange structure hidden among the trees.
With steel huge doors.
I ducked behind a tree and watched.
They opened the door and went inside.
After a few seconds, I followed.
The underground path was dark.
The only light came from the servant's lamp.
The air felt colder down there.
And the walls looked old.
I quickly found a place to hide behind a broken section of wall.
Then I saw them.
The servants were talking to someone.
I squinted.
Wait…
That was Mom's chief guard.
Why was she guarding this place?
They entered a room she was standing beside.
That's when my hand accidentally touched a loose rock.
It fell and made a sound.
The sound echoed in the hallway.
My heart nearly stopped.
The chief guard instantly turned in my direction.
I froze.
Where I was standing was pitch black.
But the torch behind her lit up her face clearly.
Her eyes narrowed.
For a moment it felt like she could see straight through the darkness.
Straight at me.
My chest felt tight.
Please don't see me.
Please don't see me.
After a few seconds…
She looked away.
Then she entered the room.
I didn't wait another second.
I ran.
Quietly and carefully.
All the way back through the underground hallway.
Through the trees.
Back to the mansion.
And finally to my room.
I closed the door and leaned against it.
My heart was pounding.
What was that place?
Why were they bringing food there?
And why was Mom's chief guard protecting it?
Thorne POV
The forest blurred past me as I ran.
Branches snapped beneath my paws.
Blood dripped onto the leaves behind me.
I had already lost several men.
The rest were scattered.
Running for their lives.
Celdor.
That fool actually dared to ambush me on my way home.
I snarled as I leapt over a fallen log.
How did he even know my route?
I had no report or warning of this.
Which meant only one thing.
One of my allies had grown careless.
Or traitorous.
I turned sharply toward a valley.
My breathing grew heavier.
I had already sent word to Almond.
But he was miles away chasing the Draconis.
If he were here with my elite guards…
Those wolves wouldn't have stood a chance.
I spotted a cave ahead.
Good.
I dashed inside and collapsed deeper into the darkness.
My wolf body trembled as I shifted back into human form.
Pain exploded through my right arm.
I looked down.
A deep bite wound.
Blood soaked my sleeve.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a brown amulet.
A small smile crept across my lips.
One of the treasures I gained from helping that foolish woman… Morrisa.
I hovered the amulet against the wound.
Warm energy spread through my arm.
The flesh began knitting itself together.
Few minutes later…
The wound was gone.
Just as the healing finished, a howl echoed through the forest.
Not one of mine.
Celdor's wolves had found my scent.
I chuckled darkly.
"Good."
I reached beneath my cloak and pulled out a small bottle, then drank its contents slowly.
The power burned down my throat.
Then I stepped toward the cave entrance.
My body twisted as I shifted again.
My fur burst across my skin.
When the transformation ended, my massive wolf form stood in the moonlight.
Red stripes ran across my fur like burning scars.
The wolves outside began circling.
Good.
Let them come.
Because now…
They would remember exactly why I am called
The Red Alpha.