The dungeon walls seemed to close in on Mira with each passing hour. Her body, battered and bruised from relentless beatings, ached in ways she hadn’t thought possible. The starvation left her weak, and even the tears she once shed with abandon no longer came. Her body had betrayed her in the worst way—succumbing to exhaustion and despair.
Every moment in the cell, her mind tormented her with thoughts of what could have been. She blamed herself for staying, for trusting Kaelan’s love to protect her. She had believed that escaping her father and Liana’s cruel grasp meant freedom, but she had merely traded one tormentor for another.
The door creaked open, breaking her from her thoughts. Mira’s heart sank as Liana stepped inside, her elegant demeanor a sharp contrast to the misery that surrounded her.
“Well, well,” Liana drawled, stepping closer. “Look at what you’ve become. A shadow of the mighty Mira, the Moon Goddess’s supposed chosen.”
Mira didn’t answer, her hollow eyes staring past her sister. The energy to fight, even with words, had left her days ago.
Liana crouched down, her tone softening with feigned concern. “You know, this could all end. You don’t have to suffer like this.”
Mira’s cracked lips moved slightly, forming a whisper. “What do you want?”
Liana smiled faintly. “I want peace, Mira. If you leave quietly—disappear from Kaelan’s life—I’ll help you escape. No one has to know. You can start over somewhere far away.”
Mira’s gaze flickered, a faint spark of doubt and anger surfacing. “Why would I trust you? You put me here.”
“Maybe I did,” Liana admitted with a shrug. “But you’re here now, and I have no reason to keep you. You’re no longer a threat to me, Mira. All I want is to see the pack flourish under Kaelan’s leadership. If you go quietly, you’ll save yourself—and him—from further pain.”
The offer dangled in the air like a poisoned fruit, tempting yet dangerous. Mira’s mind churned with uncertainty. Accepting help from Liana felt like walking into a trap, yet the idea of escape, of freedom, was too tantalizing to dismiss outright.
Before she could respond, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the corridor. Liana’s posture stiffened, and she quickly stood, adjusting her dress to appear composed.
The door opened, revealing Kaelan, his presence filling the small cell with a mixture of fury and frustration. His eyes locked onto Mira’s frail form, a flicker of something unrecognizable crossing his face.
“She needs to answer for her actions,” Liana pressed, her voice wavering as though pained by the decision. “The pack’s safety depends on it.”
Kaelan nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “If she’s truly guilty, the pack will demand justice.”