Despite being kidnapped by Kadva and thrust into this surreal situation, a nagging feeling tugs at my intuition. There's something more to Kadva than meets the eye. I can't shake the notion that he might not be entirely villainous. My curiosity intensifies to understand their motives and what binds Kadva to the Wolf Council's commands.
I lift my gaze, meeting Alpha Bennet's eyes with confusion and defiance. 'I don’t know why I'm here. Why did you have me kidnapped?' I question, my voice carrying a note of frustration.
In response, Alpha Bennet smirks, a gesture that heightens the tension in the room. His chin tilts upward in a display of arrogance. 'How would you feel if this planet was free of humans? To live in a world where we are no longer required to keep our powers hidden. To be able to shift into our wolves without being hunted down and slaughtered by humans?' he articulates, the self-assuredness evident in his posture.
I shake my head, vehemently disagreeing with his perspective. 'This world is supposed to be for humans. It was never intended to have supernaturals living here in the first place. Books dating back over a thousand years can be found in the Shadow Crest library's forbidden room. I've recently been reading one in my spare time. It documents the history of supernaturals. We did not come from here, but from another world called Mysteria. So, to answer your question, I would not feel right if humans no longer existed, especially in their own world where they are meant to be. I prefer to leave the humans alone and return to Mysteria if there was no other choice. But I'm not sure what my kidnapping and confinement here has to do with any of this?' I reply with confusion.
Alpha Bennet bursts into laughter, a cruel sound that echoes through the cell. 'You were supposed to say how wonderful living in a human-free world would be. Your priority should be for your own species. You’re a disgrace to all werewolves,' he snarls, his voice dripping with disdain.
Rage courses through my veins as I push myself to my feet, lunging at the cold iron bars that separate me from Alpha Bennet. 'You're lucky I don't have my wand, and I'm behind these bars. The Wolf Council is the disgrace!' I retort with fiery intensity.
Alpha Theaton merely laughs, an arrogant sound that grates on my nerves. 'And the Luna hasn't even heard the best part yet,' he declares, his tone dripping with ominous anticipation.
'What part?' I demand, though a sense of foreboding already settles in the pit of my stomach.
'The part where Magnus will never see you again until your blood flame, the vampire king, wipes out the human race,' Alpha Theaton grins, the malevolence evident in his twisted satisfaction.
'He won't do it!' I assert, my hands clenching around the cold bars.
'Oh, but he will. He was going to do it once to avenge his first blood flame, and if he wants you back, he will have no choice but to proceed with annihilating the human race,' Alpha Bennet chuckles.
I shoot a fierce glare at Hank. 'This is why you were back in Shadow Crest? You were spying on me? How else would the Wolf Council know that Alec is my blood flame?' My accusation is sharp, fueled by anger.
Hank, however, wears a proud smile, seemingly impervious to my wrath. 'You should have killed me when you had the chance,' he laughs with a taunting defiance in his eyes.
'Oh, don't you worry, Hank. The next opportunity I get, I will kill you,' I declare with chilling conviction.
Hank's demeanour shifts, the cocky facade replaced by a sudden stiffness. Laughter ceases abruptly, and a flicker of fear dances in his eyes, acknowledging that I intend full well on accomplishing my threat.
Frantically, I lower my gaze, channeling all my focus into an attempt to mind-link with Reaper, Magnus, and anyone else from my pack. A wave of panic washes over me as I strain against a barrier—my mind-linking ability is still severed. I lift my eyes, and a glare crosses my face as I direct my accusing gaze at Kadva. 'You did something to sever my mind-linking ability, didn't you?' I demand.
Although the hood conceals his face, a sense of discomfort emanates from Kadva. He remains silent but concedes with a hesitant nod.
'Please, Kadva, I have to tell Magnus not to free Alec. I don't want the human race to die because of me. My life is not worth the death of billions of innocent people!' I plead with desperation.
Kadva, still silent, awkwardly retreats, his movements betraying an internal conflict. A sinking feeling settles in my chest as he walks away.
'I have to agree with you, Luna. Your insignificant life is not worth the life of even one human being. But both of your lovers will think otherwise, so sit tight, sweetheart, because the world is about to change,' Alpha Bennet declares, his laughter bridging with the ominous amusement of Alpha Theaton and Alpha Amir as they depart, leaving me behind.
'You'll be sorry! You will all be sorry!' I shout through the bars at the top of my lungs, my words echoing in the empty old-stone corridor.
The door slams shut with finality. Defeated, I slump to the cold ground, hugging my knees.
In the dead of night, I rouse from my slumber to a cold, empty bed, realizing that Nina hasn't joined me, which is out of her character. Concern gnaws at me as I peer out the window, half-expecting to see her silhouette beneath the moon tree, but the night holds no trace of her.
'Nina?' I call out, my voice carrying through the quietness as I traverse the dimly lit hallway and descend the stairwell. Lilac and May emerge from their rooms, their expressions a blend of confusion and sleepiness.
'Alpha Magnus, it's like three o'clock in the morning. Why are you shouting?' Lilac queries, her words punctuated by a wide yawn.
'Have any of you seen Nina?' I ask urgently, my gaze flickering from one face to another as I check rooms in the hope of finding her.
'When was the last time you saw her?' May asks, her concern mirroring mine.
'She was under the moon tree with Reaper earlier in the night. I'll wake him and ask if he knows where she has gone. Not that he can tell me, but perhaps he can show me,' I explain, my mind racing with worry.