IL

iated off him, filling the room. His face darkened when he saw me. "What is the meaning of this?" His voice was low and sharp, like a blade sliding free of its sheath. The taller warrior bowed. "Alpha, we caught her in the human settlement, working there in secret." Thomas's piercing blue eyes cut into me, a storm of rage and disbelief. "Is this true?" The truth clung to me like chains. Lying would change nothing. My voice cracked. "Yes." The room fell silent, oppressive. His hands curled into fists. "Do you understand what you've done? You endangered this entire pack. If the humans discover us-" "They won't," I blurted, desperate. "I was careful. No one suspects-" "You disobeyed my orders." His roar shattered my words. "You spit on our laws. You disgrace us all." Shame burnt in my chest, but so did anger. "I had no choice!" My voice broke, trembling but defiant. "I couldn't breathe here anymore-I-" "You couldn't stay?" He hissed, stepping closer, towering over me like a shadow. "Do you think this is about you? Do you think your selfishness justifies endangering us all?" Tears pricked my eyes. I bit them back, forcing out a whisper. "I just wanted a chance... to be free." Thomas's expression hardened into stone, his lip curling with disdain. "Freedom? You don't even know the meaning of the word." He flicked his gaze at the warriors. "Take her to the dungeon." "No!" Panic ripped out of me as I stumbled against their grip. "Please-I'll do anything, Thomas!" "Silence!" His voice cracked like a whip, final and absolute. The warriors dragged me through the hall again. Faces appeared in doorways-some pitying, most condemning. Their stares weighed me down like stones. The dungeon air hit me like a slap. Cold, damp, and foul with mildew and rust. Iron bars gleamed in the torchlight, and the stink of rot lingered. They shoved me into a cell, the heavy door clanging shut behind me. "You'll rem