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Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“You often meet your fate on the road you take to avoid it.”

Goldie Hawn

It wasn’t until the door at the top of the stairs had slammed shut and the men were out of earshot that Scarlett quietly asked, “Did you mean it, Elsie? Do you really know something that’ll help us get out of here?”

I leaned against the silver bars while she sat on the cot, looking a little less panicked now that we were alone. There was a spark of hope in her eyes now – most likely from the way I’d negotiated a face-to-face meeting with Alpha Enzo for us.

I swallowed. “Maybe. I know something, but I also can’t explain how I know it.”

Her eyes widened with realization as she realized my problem.

What am I supposed to say to the man?

“Hey, I know this sounds crazy, but I’m from another dimension where I’ve read all about your life, which is how I know one of your Betas is willing to betray you…so you might want to eliminate that bad seed from the bunch.”

If it sounded ridiculous in my head, I could only assume how ridiculous it’d sound coming out of my mouth. Alpha Enzo would probably laugh – right before he took my head off.

And then he’d probably take Scarlett’s head off for even associating with me.

“Maybe you can just tell him what you told me,” she whispered, “I didn’t believe it at first, but you were very convincing, and I can even t-try to corroborate your story too.”

Unfortunately, the way her voice wobbled as she said it didn’t inspire much confidence.

“I convinced you because I knew too much about your life and your secrets,” I shot back, “But I don’t know that much about Alpha Enzo…at least not enough to make the whole thing sound less crazy.” I sighed and added, “Plus, you’re not a raging megalomaniac with a penchant for killing anyone who looks at them the wrong way. I can’t say the same about Alpha Enzo.”

Without a clear explanation as to why I – a random human with no association to their pack – knew this information, it’d probably just look like I was trying to cause dissent amongst their pack.

How do I convince someone of something that hasn’t even happened yet?

Suddenly, an idea sparked.

“You know,” I said, whipping around to face Scarlett, “Maybe we don’t need to talk to Alpha Enzo at all.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

I lowered my voice and murmured, “I mean, you’re a white wolf.”

Scarlett’s eyes widened as her eyes darted around in the darkness for anyone who might’ve overheard me. “Y-you can’t just say that!” She hissed.

“It’s true though,” I shot back, “I mean…can’t you just use some of that special white wolf power and bust us the hell out of here?”

While some of Scarlett’s power had been a bit innocuous in the book, I did remember that she was strong. At least five times stronger than the average werewolf.

Maybe that was all the firepower we needed to make a break for it.

Unfortunately, my cellmate didn’t look so convinced by my proposition.

“Even if I’m strong,” she said, “I’m still not immune to the silver bars. We can’t break out if we can’t get through the door.”

She made a valid point – but I wasn’t completely ready to put the idea to bed yet.

“Okay, but if someone opened the door,” I started, “You could catch them by surprise. All they know is that I’m a human and you’re just some random wolf…they’ll never expect you to be that strong.”

She hesitated. “I’m not sure…”

“Scarlett, we don’t have a lot of time here,” I said, stepping closer to her, “I bought us an audience with Alpha Enzo, but as soon as he realizes that I don’t have any explanation as to why I know what I know besides ‘trust me,’ we’re going to be in trouble.”

“Alpha Enzo is the strongest werewolf in the world,” she breathed, “I’m not sure I can take him on…even if I have the element of surprise.”

I sighed. Even if I didn't want to admit it, I knew she was right.

Well, this is looking worse and worse for us.

Just as I was about to voice my frustration, she quietly added, “But I can try.”

That was a surprise.

My eyebrows shot to the sky. “Really?”

Something that looked like determination crossed over her face as she nodded. “I was the one who was supposed to be navigating us, which means I’m part of the reason we’re here right now,” she admitted, “And even if it ends badly, which I think it will, I don’t want to die here.”

Already, this was a far-cry from the Scarlett that I’d read about a couple of days ago. That Scarlett had been afraid to breathe without someone else’s permission, especially Asher’s.

The only reason she’d taken on Alpha Enzo at the end of the book is because Asher had practically manipulated her into.

But now, she’s willing to fight for no other reason than to save her own life.

It was surprising, but I wasn’t going to talk her out of it – especially when I didn’t have any other bright ideas.

“Okay,” I said, swallowing down a bout of fresh anxiety.

We still had to pull this whole thing off.

“When someone walks down here and opens that door, I guess you should just take whatever opportunity you can,” I said, “And since I have no supernatural strength or weapons…I’ll just try to stay out of your way.”

She went to nod, but the sound of the door at the top of the steps slowly creaking open stole the breath right out of our lungs.

Footsteps descended the stairs – much heavier than the men who’d brought us here. And, unlike last time, there wasn’t a peep from any of the other prisoners. As if they were afraid to look at, let alone speak to, whoever had walked into the dungeon.

It had to be Alpha Enzo.

Which meant he was coming for us.

Scarlett and I exchanged a look, our eyes wide, and I’d never wished for the ability to telepathically communicate more.

This was it.

This was the opportunity – maybe the only one we’d get before Alpha Enzo clawed our faces off or left us to rot down here.

The footsteps echoed closer.

And closer.

I didn’t even dare breathe.

It was hard to make out anything in the darkness, but every hair on the back of my neck stood up when I made out a silhouette on the other side of the bars.

And judging from the shadow he cast on the stone floor, it – or he, I should say – was massive.

Taller than any man I’d ever met, broad shoulders, and biceps that looked wider than my head.

I didn’t dare look over at Scarlett for fear of her seeing the hesitation on my face, and backing out of the plan.

She’ll be okay. She’s a white wolf. She’ll be okay.

That was the mantra that ran through my head on repeat, even as the largest pair of hands I’d ever seen in my life grabbed the silver bars (without protection, mind you) and opened our cell.

What happened next was something I never would’ve been able to predict.

Scarlett didn’t waste a moment longer, scrambling off the floor and lunging at the figure cloaked in darkness.

By the time I blinked, her attack was over.

Faster than I could see, the figure grabbed Scarlett by the neck and threw her off. She yelped and collapsed into the stone wall with a thud and a crunch that made me cringe.

Oh, no. This isn’t good.

Fuck, we’re going to die now.

If I don’t do something, we’re going to die. He’ll kill us.

Yet, with my back pressed against the stone wall and a now-angry werewolf only feet away from me, I’d never felt so frozen in my life.

I’d never felt so close to death either.

Think, Elsie, think. You have to be logical now.

It took everything in me to swallow down my panic as I wracked my brain for something – anything – that wouldn’t end with a broken neck.

The silhouette stepped closer, and for the first time, I actually saw more than just the outline of his body in the darkness.

And whatever I’d been thinking, or trying to think, disappeared from my head with a zap.

The man in front of me was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my life.

He was even taller and leaner than I’d thought, with tanned skin and black, curly hair that framed his chiseled face as well as a long, thin scar that ran from chin to eyebrow.

His were gray storm clouds, striking like lightning.

Those gray eyes widened when they landed on me, and I sucked in a breath as he suddenly let out a low growl. It was a quiet growl, but it shook me to the core, practically vibrating off the walls.

Oh, God. This is the part where he kills me now.

I readied myself for the blow, for the crunch of my bones against the stone wall, but it didn’t come.

Instead, he stared at me in awe.

“Mate.”

Excuse me?

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