Chapter 8

Karyme POV:

Time slowed.

"Archie, don't."

He brought his boot down. Hard.

I heard ribs snap.

From inside the burlap, a tiny, wheezing voice emerged. Barely audible.

"Pa... pa..."

Archie froze mid-stomp. His foot hovered. His face went slack.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"Hear what?" the Head Warrior asked.

"It's a trick!" Faustina shrieked. "Rogues mimic voices! Kill it before it calls the pack!"

Archie's jaw tightened. Paranoia won.

"Die," he growled.

He stomped one last time.

The sack flattened. Movement stopped.

My Inner Wolf let out a soundless howl and died.

"Take it away," Archie said, voice shaking. "Throw it to the wild rogues at the border."

"No..." I whispered.

A warrior kicked me over.

"Get her out of my sight," Archie ordered, turning to embrace Faustina. "Lock her in the dungeon."

"I curse you," I whispered, the words heavy with dying magic. "I curse you, Archie Hatfield. May the silence of this hall haunt you until you rot."

He flinched.

The doors slammed shut.