It didn’t take long for Lance to break into the house.
For one thing, th eMoonville wolves seemed to think they had already lost him after entering the human side, which had made them let their guard down.
Another reason could be the Witch’s protection charm, which they did not know, was useless against him. The spell was meant to affect anyone who entered in human form. All he had to do was shift into his wolf form, and the spell couldn’t recognise him.
It was a simple trick, one that most witches never thought of guarding against but he’d learn when he was a little boy.
Even so, Lance didn’t relax. The moment he stepped inside, he could sense the wrongness in the air.
For someone who practiced black magic, this felt like a careless mistake. No witch strong enough to cast that kind of spell would leave their home so unprotected unless they wanted someone to come in.
That thought alone made him tense. Maybe it wasn’t carelessness at all. Maybe it was a trap-one that had been waiting for him from the start. But knowing this, he still chose to take a risk. Once inside, he made his way to the room where he could scent Emira.
If this was indeed a trap, he could not sense any other presence inside this place so they had to be outside.
Lance moved deeper into the house, his paws silent against the wooden floor. The air inside was heavy and stale, carrying the faint scent of herbs, dust, and something else that made his fur bristle.
He paused at the doorway of the room where Emira’s scent was strongest. For a moment, he only listened. Nothing. He could barely hear her laboured breathing.
He stepped inside slowly still alert for any hidden dangers. But there was nothing.
Then he saw her. Lying on the floor near the far wall, half-covered by a torn blanket.
The large black wolf moved closer, his muscles tense, eyes scanning the shadows around her before he finally lowered his head to check for any injuries. And then sighed in relief at the lack of them. She was unconscious because of whatever she had been given. He nudged her shoulder gently with his snout, hoping to wake her up. She didn’t stir. He tried again, a little harder this time, brushing his muzzle against her neck.
He could carry her out, but that would be risky. Emira couldn’t shift, and the witch’s magic would sense her the moment they crossed the barrier. So, once they were past that, they would have to make their escape quickly. Which meant it would be safer for Emira to be conscious.
Lance took a step back, watching her chest rise and fall faintly. He needed her awake. Only then could they move fast and quietly enough to escape before anyone noticed.
He growled softly and tried to nidge her again. "Come on, Emira," he thought, "Wake up before it’s too late."
***
Emira stirred as the wolf’s low growl reached her. A faint sound escaped her lips as her eyelids fluttered open. The world came into focus slowly, hazy and dim, until her vision settled on the massive black wolf standing only a few feet away. Her breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, she froze, her body tensing as fear rushed through her veins. And then she recognised the wolf.. He was the one she had seen when she had fallen out of the car. The one who had chased them from the very beginning....
"You’re from the Stormhold Pack?" she asked, even though she was sure of it.
The wolf gave a single firm nod, his eyes never leaving hers. He took a step closer, then reached forward and tugged lightly at her sleeve with his teeth. The gesture was clear. He wanted her to move. He wanted her to come with him.
Emira’s brow furrowed. "You... want me to run?" she asked softly.
The wolf nodded again, this time with more urgency. His ears flicked back, and he glanced toward the door as if expecting someone to burst in at any second. He turned back to her, letting out a low rumble.
She knew he wanted her to run. But even if they did escape, the drugs that they had given her had made her too weak. And then, there was...
As the wolf started to back away, expecting her to follow, she shook her head and called out weakly, "Wait."
She struggled to sit up properly, and then said, "You don’t understand... I’m bait."
The wolf went still, his head lowering slightly as he stared at her. His dark eyes narrowed with confusion and anger.
Emira nodded slowly, trying to keep her voice steady. "Go to the princes. Tell them... these people plan to take me to the Ruins for some kind of ritual next month. It’s something to do with their ’master.’"
She swallowed hard, glancing toward the door, as if expecting to hear footsteps. "They won’t harm me now. Not until that ritual. But this...this is our chance to find the truth. If you leave now, you can warn them to stop whatever is going to plan. Because they are planning something big. Also, keep an eye out for vulnerable Omegas. They plan to kidnap more."
The wolf let out a low growl of protest, and tried to pull at her clothes, intending to drag her out. He didn’t want to leave her. His body tensed as he took a step closer, pressing his snout against her arm as if trying to insist she come with him anyway.
Emira shook her head again, and said directly, "No. If you take me out now, they’ll know. And then we would lose this chance. I am safe for now..."
As the wolf stared at her, Emira stared back intently, letting it see her intentions. She might have escaped just now, but she’d heard the witch mention something that made her realize one thing.. While she had gone looking for those who had brought about the death of her mother, those same people had come to her themselves. And so now, there was no way she was going to escape...
As if sensing her resolve, the wolf gave her a brief nod and stepped back slowly.