Chapter 18: Into the Nightshade Territory

The moment Silver set me down, I could feel the tension in the air. My senses were on high alert as my blindfold prevented me from seeing anything. The sounds and scents around me were both overwhelming and terrifying. I heard angry voices growling in low tones and the unmistakable presence of many werewolves surrounding us. The scent of wet fur mixed with the earthy smell of the forest filled my nostrils.

"Watch it!" I snapped as I felt rough hands grabbing me, causing a shiver of fear to run down my spine. I tried to wriggle free, but their grip only tightened. Silver's voice cut through the cacophony as he tried to intervene. "Leave her alone!"

"Enough!" Ulrich roared, silencing everyone. "Take her away and put her in a cell. And restrain this guy."

My heart raced as panic set in. This was not what I had signed up for. As they dragged me away, I strained against their grip, feeling their cold hands close around my wrists as someone pushed me forward. The sound of Silver's protests faded into the distance, replaced by the unsettling murmurs of the werewolves around me.

"Please, let me go!" I shouted, desperate for someone to listen. But my pleas fell on deaf ears as they continued to drag me toward my uncertain fate.

Thrown into the cell with a rough shove, I stumbled forward, catching myself against the wall. As I ripped off my blindfold, I took in my surroundings. The small, dimly lit cell was barely furnished, save for a narrow bed with a thin, tattered blanket. The wooden walls were scratched and worn as if they'd held many captives before me.

"Please, don't close the door!" I begged, panic rising in my chest as the guard began to shut it. "You can't just leave me in here!"

But he simply slammed the door shut, locking it without so much as glancing back at me. I pounded on the door, my fists shaking with anger and desperation. "Let me out of here!" I screamed, but my cries were ignored.

"Damn werewolves," I muttered under my breath, slumping against the wall. My heart raced in my chest as I tried to calm myself down. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Silver had promised me that everything would be fine, and now here I was, trapped in a cell like some animal.

"Think, Red, think," I whispered to myself, trying to come up with a plan. But my mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion, making it nearly impossible to focus. Sure, I still had my Dad's knife, but that would do little more than ensure anyone who tried to harm me would suffer consequences. I needed something else to open the door and the guard had to go. Shit! All I could think about was how foolish I'd been to trust a pack of werewolves.

As I paced the cell, the sound of my own breathing filled the space, drowning out the faint whispers and growls that echoed through the air. I knew I couldn't stay here forever – I needed to find a way out.

"Hey! You can't just leave me in here!" I yelled at the guard as he took a seat at the desk outside my cell, completely ignoring me. My voice was raw from shouting, and my throat burned with every word I spoke. But the guard didn't even flinch, acting as if I didn't exist.

I sighed, feeling defeated, and lay down on the bed. It was hard and uncomfortable, but I couldn't stand pacing around the cell any longer. As I stared up at the wooden ceiling, fear and regret filled every inch of my being. Was this it for me? Had I really been so stupid to trust the Nightshades' alpha? My heart raced as I imagined all the horrible ways they could end my life – and how no one would ever know what happened to me.

A single tear rolled down my cheek as thoughts of my grandmother filled my mind. What would she think of me now? She had been my rock, the one person who truly understood me and allowed me to be myself. Her death had left a gaping hole in my heart, and I hadn't properly mourned her loss yet.

"Grandma," I whispered, choking back a sob. Memories of my childhood flooded in, and I saw her smiling face as we ran through the woods together, chased by the wind. She'd always covered for me when my mother tried to keep me inside, stifling my adventurous spirit with her controlling nature.

"Red, be strong," she would often say, her eyes twinkling with love and understanding. "You're perfect the way you are. Follow your heart, and you'll be fine."

As the tears continued to fall, I finally let go and allowed myself to grieve. My heart ached for the woman who had nurtured me, who had shown me that there was more to life than just following orders. And now, trapped in this cell, I wished more than anything that I could have her wisdom to guide me through this dark time.

"Grandma, I'm so sorry," I sobbed. "I'll find a way out of this. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Time crawled by as I lay on the rough cell bed, the darkness of the room gradually intensifying. The last vestiges of sunlight filtering through the small window near the ceiling faded, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls. My body felt heavy, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. Despite the fear and uncertainty churning in my stomach, I couldn't fight off sleep any longer.

"Red," a voice whispered, barely audible over the sound of my own shallow breaths.

My eyes snapped open, searching for the source of the familiar voice. Silver stood on the other side of the door, his yellow eyes filled with concern.

"Sorry I couldn't come sooner," he said, his voice low and strained. "They wouldn't let me."

"Did they hurt you?" he asked hesitantly, his gaze scanning my body for any signs of injury.

"No," I replied, my voice hoarse from disuse and crying. "Just my pride."

A flicker of relief crossed Silver's face, but it was quickly replaced by a fierce determination. He growled at the guard, commanding him to open the door. "The alpha's orders," he added. The man shuffled in his seat, visibly irritated but ultimately relenting under Silver's intense stare.

"Where are we going?" I asked as the guard begrudgingly unlocked the cell door.

"Ulrich is ready to talk to you," Silver explained, extending a hand to help me up. As I took it, I felt a comforting warmth radiate from his touch.

"Fine," I muttered, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. "Let's go see what the big bad wolf has to say for himself."

The guard led Silver and me out of the small cabin into the heart of the Nightshade Clan's territory. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows among the dense forest foliage. The air was thick with tension and the musky scent of werewolves.

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel the menacing eyes of countless werewolves on us. Their gazes were like a thousand tiny needles pricking my skin, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. My grip on Silver's arm tightened with every step, and I could tell he sensed my unease.

"Try not to worry," he murmured under his breath, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I won't let them hurt you."

His words did little to soothe my nerves, but I appreciated the effort.

We approached another cabin, this one larger and more inviting than the one I had just been released from. Warm light emanated from the inside, offering a stark contrast to the cold hostility that surrounded us.

"Here we are," Silver announced as the guard opened the door for us.

As we stepped inside, the warm, earthy aroma of burning wood greeted us. Ulrich stood by a crackling fireplace, looking deep in thought, while Ylfa lounged on a nearby couch, her legs crossed elegantly. She looked up at our entrance, her eyes locking onto Silver with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

"Ah, Red," Ulrich said, turning to face us. "I apologize for keeping you confined like that. We have to be cautious when it comes to outsiders."

"Really?" I snapped back, unable to keep the sarcasm from creeping into my voice. "And here I thought you were just a bunch of beasts who enjoyed treating guests like prisoners."

Ulrich's expression hardened momentarily before he let out a sigh. "If a werewolf were to enter the Hoods Settlement, I'm sure you would do the same."

Silver couldn't help but chuckle at that, earning himself a glare from me. The tension in the room was palpable, yet he seemed so at ease. Did he trust Ulrich?

"Please, have a seat," Ulrich invited, gesturing toward the couches arranged in front of the fireplace. I begrudgingly complied, flopping down onto the plush cushions. Silver sat beside me, and Ylfa sent him a warm smile from her position on the couch across from us. I felt my chest tighten with jealousy.

"Ylfa and Silver have informed me about everything that has occurred," Ulrich began, his brow furrowed in concern. "I'm deeply sorry to hear about Beatrice's death." His eyes held genuine sadness, and for a moment, I wondered if he could be trusted. "We were friends, and I wish to offer you my condolences."

"Friends?" I questioned skeptically, my guard still up. "How can I believe that? My grandmother was a werewolf hunter, and you're the alpha of a pack. How did you even meet?"

Ulrich's lips curled into a small, nostalgic smile. "We actually used to date," he revealed, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Wha—whaaat?!" I stammered, taken aback by the unexpected disclosure. My mind raced, trying to wrap itself around the idea of my sweet, loving grandmother dating a werewolf. It seemed too absurd to be true!