IVY’S POV
I heard the whispers through the tiny window of my dungeon cell as pack members walked by outside.
"Did you see him arrive?"
"The Fenrir Prince is actually here."
"He's taller than I expected."
"Those warriors with him look dangerous."
"What does he want with our pack?"
I pressed my face against the cold stone wall, trying to hear more. My heart was beating fast. The Fenrir Prince was really here. Kade was here.
"I heard he brought fifty warriors," one voice said.
"Fifty?" another replied. "That's not good. Why would he need so many fighters?"
"Maybe he's planning to take over our territory."
"Or maybe he knows we're planning something."
The voices faded as the people walked away, but I couldn't stop thinking about what I had heard. Darius had vowed to kill Kade, and now the Prince was actually here. Walking around our pack grounds like he had no idea that someone wanted him dead.
I felt the need to warn him. The feeling was so strong it made my stomach hurt. But how could I? I was locked in a dungeon cell. Even if I could get out, how would I get close to him?
A guard brought me a bowl of water and a piece of stale bread around midday.
"Guard," I called out as he was leaving. "Is it true? Is the Fenrir Prince really here?"
The guard looked at me suspiciously. "Why do you want to know, slave?"
"I'm just curious," I said quickly. "I've never seen a Fenrir before."
"Well, you're not going to see one now," he replied. "You're staying right here in this cell."
"But I heard the other prisoners talking. They said—"
"The other prisoners don't know anything," the guard cut me off. "And neither do you. Eat your bread and keep quiet."
He walked away, leaving me alone with my worried thoughts.
Hours passed. The sun moved across the sky and started to set. I could hear more activity than usual outside. Voices, footsteps, horses moving around. The whole pack seemed busy.
Then, just as the evening shadows were getting long, I heard something that made my blood freeze.
"Open her cell," came Darius's voice from down the corridor.
"Yes, Alpha,” a guard replied.
My cell door opened with a loud creak. Darius stood there with two guards behind him.
"Get up," he ordered. "You're coming with me."
The guards grabbed my arms and pulled me out of the cell. We walked through the dungeon corridors and up the stone steps that led to the main pack house.
As we emerged into the evening air, I saw more activity than I had seen in years. Warriors were everywhere. Some belonged to our pack, but others were strangers. They wore different colors and carried weapons I had never seen before.
"Keep walking," Darius said, pushing me forward.
We moved through the crowd toward the center of the pack grounds. That's when I saw him.
The Fenrir Prince was standing near the main building, talking to someone. Even from a distance, I could tell he was different from everyone else. He was tall and strong-looking, with dark hair and an air of confidence that made people move out of his way.
His entourage surrounded him. Warriors in black and silver armor, all looking alert and ready for trouble. They moved like a unit, watching everything and everyone.
I could only get a glimpse of him, but something about the Prince made me feel... hopeful. Like maybe my father had been right about the Fenrir. Maybe they really were the good ones.
"He looks young," one of our pack members whispered to another.
"Young and dangerous," came the reply.
"I wonder what he wants here."
"Nothing good, I'm sure."
I knew that being seen near him would mean trouble for me. If anyone thought I was trying to communicate with the Fenrir Prince, I would be called a traitor just like my parents. I could end up being killed just like them.
But I also knew that Darius was planning something terrible. And this Prince had no idea what was coming.
I was still staring at Kade, trying to figure out how I could warn him, when I felt someone slam into me from behind.
"Watch where you're going!" a voice snarled.
I stumbled forward and turned around. My heart stopped when I saw who it was.
Darius.
"I'm sorry, Alpha," I said quickly. "I didn't see you."
"No, you were too busy staring at something else," he said with a cold smile.
He followed the direction of my gaze and saw exactly what I had been looking at. Kade and his warriors.
"Interesting," Darius said, his voice getting dangerous. "Very interesting."
"I wasn't staring at anything," I lied.
"Don't lie to me, Ivy," he hissed. He grabbed my throat with one hand and squeezed. "I saw exactly where you were looking."
I couldn't breathe. His grip was getting tighter.
"You were staring at the Fenrir Prince," he continued. "Why?"
"I... I was just curious," I gasped. "I've never seen a Fenrir before."
"Curious?" he laughed coldly. "Or planning something?"
"No! I swear, I wasn't planning anything!"
"I don't believe you," he said. "I think you're just like your traitor father. I think you want to help our enemies."
"Please, Alpha," I begged. "I would never betray the pack."
"Wouldn't you?" he asked. "Your parents did. Maybe betrayal runs in your blood."
He squeezed my throat harder. Black spots started dancing in front of my eyes.
"Let me make something very clear," he said, his voice deadly quiet. "You are not to go anywhere near the Fenrir Prince. You are not to look at him. You are not to even think about him. Do you understand?"
I nodded as much as I could with his hand around my throat.
"Good," he said. "And since you disobeyed my earlier order to stay out of sight, you'll be punished."
"What order?" I whispered. "The guards brought me out," I protested. "You ordered them to."
"Are you arguing with me?" he asked dangerously.
"No, Alpha."
"Good. Your punishment is three days without food. Maybe hunger will teach you to follow orders."
My stomach was already empty from not eating properly for days. Three more days without food might kill me.
"Please," I whispered. "I'm already weak."
"You should have thought of that before you disobeyed me," he said.
Then, suddenly, he leaned in close to my ear. His breath was hot against my skin.
"When that silly Fenrir Prince is dead," he whispered, "I'll claim you."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at him in horror.
"What do you mean?" I asked with jaws dropped.
But he just smiled and walked away, leaving me standing there with his terrible promise echoing in my ears.