Chapter 20: Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

SELINA

Ever since my return, I had occupied myself with work and everything I had left behind. I got introduced to new pack members and workers and everyone was delighted to have me back.

It was a sunny afternoon and I was bored to death from reading how to train a pup for the tenth time today. Miles had gotten it for me to prepare ahead of motherhood just in case we started making pups.

To him, I was too delicate to be a mom. I still needed to grow up. Tch.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with being a crybaby. But crybaby to my mate, couldn't be a perfect mom.

In a way he was right for if the child wouldn't stop crying then we may just end up crying together.

I closed the book and jumped out of bed. I slipped into a baggy vintage dress and decided to take a stroll within the pack's territory, eager to see the growth and changes that had taken place during my absence.

As I walked, I observed how flourishing the pack was and I noted my brother’s accomplishment. The pack had thrived under his leadership and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had really done a good job for Red Moon.

“There are new rogues. The more we capture them, the more they appear,” one wolf said as she picked berries.

“They are more like a threat now. They aren't scared of getting captured,” I heard another say.

Curiosity got the better of me when I heard rumours of the rogues. Intrigued, I decided to check on the captives myself. It was my favourite thing. The way they shied away always made me giggle.

The way to the dungeon where they were always kept seemed to have changed within one year of my absence, but I kept walking through the twists and turns. It seemed to get darker and grow deeper and suddenly I found myself in a part of the territory I had never been before.

I should turn back and go but the distant sounds caught my attention. I braced myself, picked the skirt of my dress and followed the sound. The place smelled like shit and it made me want to puke. How did the person(s) survive down here? It smelled decayed.

To my horror, I stumbled upon a dark, damp cell where a young woman was held captive. She had her back to me so all I could see was a small frame and lots of hair. She was one of us, I could tell by her red hair.

But what terrified me was that the girl was scratching the walls, her fingers leaving marks on the stone and she was whispering to herself in a low, eerie voice.

What in the living waters was going on? Why was she the only one down here?

My heart missed a beat as I attempted to make out what she was writing but I couldn't decipher it.

As if realising she was being watched, she went quiet and turned to face me. I shrieked at the sight of her blood red eyes. The girl ran to the gate, whispering words that I could not hear and I observed that she was bleeding from her fingers.

The girl gave a creepy smile and whispered audibly for me to hear, ‘lilith.’

The mention of that name struck terror in my heart, reminding me of a past I had long tried to forget.

I shook my head vigorously, backed away in horror and fled from the cell, my heart racing.

I didn't look back till I got to the Alpha’s room. I brushed past someone but I couldn't care who it was. I needed to see my brother.

I dashed in and found him deep in thoughts. My presence must have startled him for his ears perked up at my entrance.

“I'm sorry for barging in,” I whispered, but I couldn't hide the fear on my face.

Ryker looked at me with concern. “What's wrong sis? Why do you look so pale?”

I tried to speak but the only words that left my mouth was “The girl…”

“The girl?” Ryker pressed, trying to understand what I was referring to.

I took a moment to catch my breath and explained, “I heard there were new rogues so I went to check on them but instead I found a possessed woman.”

“What are you talking about?” He asked.

“She's possessed brother,” I sobbed. “Why do you have a possessed woman in here? She was scratching the walls with her nails and whispering to herself. Her eyes were blood red. It was horrifying brother.”

The Alpha appeared taken aback by my words. “Are you sure it was the dungeon you were in? Did you see her clearly?”

I nodded emphatically, insisting that the woman I saw was possessed. He listened intently, trying to piece together what I was saying.

He took a deep breath and said to me, “Selina, the woman you saw isn't a rogue. She's an offender, yes, but she's not possessed.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “What do you mean? I saw her eyes! She was bleeding!”

My brother shook his head gently. “She's not possessed. The woman down there is Alpha Zane’s younger sister, Roxanne.”

“What? What do you mean by Zane’s sister?” I inquired, brushing my tears away.

“Listen, I took her as a closure between our pack. Remember I severed ties with them and they didn't want her. So I took her and put her here. She's been locked up for days and secluded because she committed murder. Probably it's making her go crazy.”

As I listened to my brother explain who she was, tears began to we'll up in my eyes. Ryker observed my emotional reaction and stopped talking.

He reached out to gently touch my arm. “Sister, what's wrong? What are you crying about?”

I struggled to find the words, my mind racing back to the haunting memories that had resurfaced. Finally I managed to mutter, “The girl… she reminds me of mother.”

His eyes turned to steel and his expression hardened. His whole demeanour shifted and he walked away from me. Our mother had been a sensitive topic for us both, a source of pain and grief. We had promised to never talk about her but the girl in the dungeon had triggered something within me.

He gave me a reassuring squeeze on the arm. “I know this must be difficult for you,” He said gently, but there was an icy edge to his tone. “I promise you I will find out what's going on and make sure the situation is handled properly.”

I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice quivering.

He nodded solemnly. “Take a moment to compose yourself,” He suggested. “I'll look into this and make sure everything is under control. You don't have to face this alone.”

I nodded, suddenly grateful for having the best brother ever. I was meant to protect him but I sucked at that. He was the bigger person. I tried to regain composure before I left his room.

“Oh and brother,” I whispered.

He turned to me as if unsure of what I was going to say next. “Yes?”

I swallowed and hesitated before I said it.

“She said the name, lilith.”

***

KARA

I was about to knock at the Alpha’s door when I saw his sister, Selina, rush past me and enter his room, shutting the door with a bang! I've known Selina for years and never once had I seen her look so frightened. My instincts screamed at me to leave, but curiosity had a stronger hold.

I glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then pressed my ear against the door, straining to catch their conversation. To my shock, they were discussing Roxanne.

Had things deteriorated that much? My mind raced. Was Roxanne's condition worse than we all feared? Had she become possessed as Selina suggested? It seemed unthinkable, but then again, I had seen Roxanne's broken nails and the state of her cell.

But what truly unnerved me was hearing the name ‘lilith’ again. Both Selina and the Alpha spoke of it with a gravity that suggested they knew something no one else did. My thoughts spun widely. What did that name have to do with Roxanne?

Haven heard enough, I slipped away from the door, my heart pounding. I needed to see Roxanne. I made my way down the dungeon, navigating my secret corners to get there just so I could see Roxanne and piece together this mystery.

When I arrived, I found her sleeping peacefully, her cell strewn with fresh markings— not just on the walls this time, but on the floor as well.

Now that wasn't normal.

My skin prickled as I scanned the room, my mind racing with questions.

There had to be someone who could help me make sense of this. Someone who had the answers. I turned around and made my way back up to my room desperate for answers.

In my room, I retrieved paper and ink, my hands trembling with fear and excitement as I began to write down everything I knew.

Could this be the breakthrough I had been searching for or another dead end? My heart raced with anticipation as I poured out my heart on the paper. One thing I knew for certain was: the answers were out there and I was determined to find them.