Chapter 2 The Dungeon

"He was an Oak's Alpha before he became her husband," Adam said calmly.

Edward growled low, his frustration clear as he wanted to end my life, but Adam stayed in his way, stopping him from acting on his violent urges.

Adam turned to me, speaking sincerely, hoping to earn my trust. "Believe me, Sansa, the Oak Pack would never hurt an innocent person."

But I knew there was no way back. Even if I went back, I wouldn't find safety. I had burned all bridges behind me and chosen the only path forward.

"Isn't it interesting? Xavier will be the judge in your trial. I wonder what he'll do-cut off your hands, lock you in the dungeon forever, or make you a pack slave so that everyone can have you for pleasure,," Edward said, laughing and imagining his cruel wishes.

"You have no idea how dangerous it is out here alone," Adam said, his voice full of real concern.

I kept staring at the fence just a few feet away, curious about what was beyond it. Since Adam arrived, he kept glancing over it, but the darkness made it hard to see.

"I'm not going back," I said firmly, standing my ground.

"You must, or you'll die here," Edward warned, his threats looming over me.

While I focused on Adam, Edward didn't stop trying to grab my attention, constantly reminding me of the danger I was in.

I looked at Adam with a mix of determination and sadness. "My answer hasn't changed," I said firmly.

"Try to understand how serious your situation is. If you run, they will hunt you down mercilessly. Going to the trial is your best chance to show your innocence," Adam said, his voice full of concern.

"I don't trust anyone," I admitted, my heartbreak clear.

"You can only trust yourself. Prove that you didn't kill Levine. Come with me. Running only makes you look guilty before the trial even begins," Adam said calmly, his words making sense.

Adam's words struck a chord in me. I had run away in fear, forgetting that I should have stood my ground and fought back against Edward and his followers.

"Don't worry," Adam said gently. "Justice will be done."

His words gave me courage. I decided to go back, feeling a little stronger knowing Adam was by my side. The road ahead seemed hard, but I started walking with him, ready to face whatever came next.

As I went back to the mansion with Adam and Edward-the pack's home where other members lived-I faced a dangerous situation.

Ruth Lane, a silver-haired woman with a cold heart, grabbed my neck tightly, trying to hurt me. She had always wanted Levine for herself, but he had never given her the chance. To her, I was just a threat.

"I will end you!" Ruth shouted, her anger clear.

"Show some control, at least until the truth comes out," Adam said, stepping forward to keep her back.

"There's nothing left to find out-everyone already knows the truth," Ruth said, mocking.

She wasn't the only one angry. Other pack members glared at me, their looks burning like arrows through my heart. I avoided making eye contact with anyone. Seeing this, Adam moved in front of me, standing between me and the angry crowd.

"Remain calm. This is not the way," Adam warned the group as a whole.

My husband, Xavier, should have been there to defend me in all the chaos. But he had been missing for the past two days. Everyone else wanted my blood, yet he was nowhere in sight. He had always promised to protect me, but his absence showed that he couldn't.

"How can you even take her side?" Ruth asked, her voice full of doubt.

"I'm not picking sides. I just want everyone to have a fair chance to speak. Patience is important," Adam said calmly, standing firm to protect me from the angry pack around us.

"Why would she run if she's innocent?" Ruth asked sharply, her voice full of anger.

I looked up at my room's window as Ruth's words echoed in my ears and saw the curtain move slightly. I could still smell him in the air, a reminder that my husband, Xavier, had been watching me just moments ago.

"Now that she's back, let's end this trouble," Adam said, trying to calm everyone down.

"Trouble? This awful creature has been causing chaos since she arrived, and this time I won't let her go without punishment," Ruth said, her voice full of hate.

The wolves around us grew more aggressive, making the place even more dangerous. Fearing for my safety, Adam guided me to the basement, where a few dim candles cast eerie shadows, giving us a small sense of safety amid the chaos.

I knew exactly what I had to do next, so I headed to the prison cell. Adam looked worried, his sad expression showing how much he cared, and he couldn't bring himself to meet my eyes. With a heavy sigh, he locked the door after checking the dimly lit cell.

"You'll be safe here, unlike outside. I'm sorry," Adam said seriously, his voice full of concern.

I whispered, "Thank you, but don't trouble yourself for me. I can't bear seeing you suffer because of what I did," my voice full of regret.

"You'll be fine," Adam said kindly, his words full of hope and encouragement. With that, he walked away, leaving me alone in the prison cell.

The sound of dripping water echoed through the damp, quiet room, breaking the silence. Every breath I took seemed loud, the only sign that I was still alive.

I lay still on the cold, hard floor, feeling the presence of rats nearby. They seemed to sense my weakness, waiting for the moment they could feed on me.

Three days passed in complete darkness. I had no way of knowing if it was day or night. The only thing I could smell was the fresh, earthy scent of rain outside my prison walls.

A cold breeze entered the prison cell as the door slowly opened. I gathered my strength and managed to sit up, feeling the presence of someone approaching.

My blurry vision cleared as footsteps came closer. A faint candlelight revealed Amara, a close friend and pack member.

"You shouldn't be here," I whispered, my voice weak and trembling.

Amara stayed where she was, looking at me with deep sadness. She seemed at a loss for words and remained silent for a moment.