Chapter 0097
Judy’s POV
I woke up to the sounds of muffled murmurs, the faint vibration of voices echoing through the dim air. My head felt like it had been run over by a truck, and the ache was so intense I almost didn’t want to open my eyes. But I had to. The fog in my mind made everything seem distant, like a bad dream I couldn’t shake.
The only thing that was clear to me was the biting cold sensation in my wrists. I tried to move, but my fingers barely twitched, and I immediately noticed the uncomfortable, burning pressure—metal. Silver.
Silver.
I stilled for a moment, understanding that I was in deep trouble. A shiver ran through me as my heart started to pound in my chest. My wolf was silent, trapped behind the chains of silver. I couldn’t feel my pack, couldn’t tap into the strength that normally surged through me. That was when I knew I wasn’t alone and that this was no accident.
The last few moments came rushing back in bits and pieces. The laughter with Irene, the rush of escaping the guards, the feeling of freedom before everything went dark.
But then… the memory shifted. I remembered a syringe. Irene falling, her body limp as the man injected her.
Irene.
A surge of panic made my heart race even faster. Was she here with me? Had she betrayed me? I tried to stay calm, but my thoughts were running wild. I couldn’t get a clear picture of what had happened, not yet. I had to stay focused.
I forced my mind to clear, straining to hear any hint of movement. I couldn’t rely on my wolf senses right now, so I listened carefully to the sound of their footsteps, the whispers of men nearby. Their voices were low, but the scent of them… it hit me immediately. It was the same sickly, heavy stench from earlier.
Rogues.
I held my breath, trying to make sense of their conversation.
“I thought we were only paid to capture one girl,” one of them muttered, his voice harsh, grating against my eardrums.
“So, we’ll ask for more money,” another rogue laughed darkly. “Who are they, anyway?”
“I don’t fucking know. I didn’t ask questions. He gave me a price, and I said no problem,” a third voice growled. “I’m starving. Let’s get some food while we wait for them to wake up. It’ll probably be a while. We used a lot of wolfsbane.”
The sound of footsteps moving away made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay still. Three rogues. I could deal with that, if I had my wolf. If I wasn’t chained like some animal. But right now, the only thing I could do was play the part.
I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the dim light. The cellar I found myself in was dark, cold, and grimy. The smell of dampness and stale air clung to the walls, making it hard to breathe. I could barely make out the outlines of the cage I was in. It was large—large enough to make me feel like a prisoner.
But the real blow to my heart came when I looked beside me.
Irene.
Her body was motionless, sprawled on the cold concrete. She had a gash on her head, blood staining her blonde hair and making her look pale, fragile. My throat tightened, and I crawled toward her, despite the pain in my wrists and the burning silver chains that restricted my every movement.
“Irene…” My voice was barely a whisper, but I couldn’t stop myself. I needed her to wake up. I needed her to be okay.
Her skin was cold to the touch. I pressed my fingers to her neck, praying for a pulse. When I felt the faint thrum of her heartbeat, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I stroked her bloodied hair gently, trying to keep myself together. “Please, wake up,” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips. “We have to get out of here.”
But even as I spoke, the reality of our situation was suffocating. The air was thick with uncertainty. We were trapped, and I had no idea how to get us out. The men would return, and when they did, I had to make sure they didn’t know I was awake. I had to keep pretending.
With trembling fingers, I moved Irene carefully, sliding her head into my lap, trying to make her as comfortable as possible on the cold, unforgiving ground. I stroked her hair softly, humming a melody I hoped would soothe her when she woke up. I didn’t want her to be afraid.
Time passed. How much, I couldn’t tell. The hours bled together. There were no windows, no clocks, and I had no way of knowing how long we’d been stuck in this hellhole. My head was pounding again, and I could feel my own body starting to grow heavy with exhaustion. I was losing focus.
Just as I was drifting, I heard the familiar sound of footsteps. The rogues were coming back.
I quickly scooted Irene off my lap, gently placing her head back on the floor. I lay beside her, making sure my eyes were closed, breathing evenly, trying my best to mimic the appearance of unconsciousness.
I had to act like I was still out cold.
It was our only hope.
