Page 28 of Wolf Revealed

Artemis

My eyes fluttered open to harsh darkness, a numbing coldness creeping up my limbs. Gradually, my consciousness returned, chased by the harsh feeling of icy stone against my skin. I forced my eyes to adjust to the gloom and took in my surroundings. I was inside a cavern known all too well—the one where Kadence had lost her life.

Chains clung to my hands and feet, their biting coldness a stark reminder of the dire situation I found myself in. I tried moving, but my body responded with a wince of pain, jolting me into full awareness. My eyes darted frantically, landing on Ronan, motionless and chained against the opposite wall of the cavern. My heart hammered in my chest at the sight.

"Ronan!" I yelled, my voice sounding weak inside the empty cavern. But he didn’t stir. Fear curled its icy fingers around me, threatening to consume me whole.

Out of the blue, laughter erupted from out of nowhere, chilling me to my core. I snapped my attention to the origin of the sound. There, leaning against the cavern wall, bathed in the shadows, was Brutus—the shifter whose whispers I had caught just a few nights before.

My eyes narrowed as I addressed him, "Brutus, let us go!" I spat, anger lacing my words. "If you don't, your price will be severe."

His laughter was harsh against the stone walls. With a grin on his face, he mocked, "Artemis, do you really think you can threaten me? You're merely a pawn in a larger game."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words, but I squared my shoulders, refusing to let the fear show. "What are you talking about?"

His grin widened, and he stepped further into the shadows, his figure barely discernible. "Your pack is being slaughtered by Kadence's shifters, even as we speak. They're defenseless in their sleep."

A cold wave of shock crashed over me. My family, my pack, all left vulnerable and open to attack. I felt my breath hitch in my throat as I fought the rising panic. "You will pay for this, Brutus. I swear it."

His laughter filled the cave again, a spine-chilling sound that echoed ominously. "Your threats mean nothing, Artemis. It's already too late."

I strained against the chains, desperation, and anger fueling my efforts, but to no avail. My gaze darted back to Ronan, willing him to wake, to fight by my side. But he remained unconscious, oblivious to our grim reality.

Brutus had us at his mercy, and he reveled in it. Yet, despite the terror of my predicament, I was resolved to fight. If my pack were in danger, then I would stop at nothing to protect them. No matter the cost. Even if it meant facing Brutus and his pack of murderous shifters.

Brutus' words hung in the chilling air, cloaked with the sinister promise of a reality I didn't want to face. His malicious grin cut through the shadows, a mocking symbol of our defeat.

"Kadence’s shifters only pledged allegiance to you as a ruse," he declared gleefully. "All the while, they waited for the right moment to exact their vengeance. And that moment is now."

A pit of despair opened in my chest. Betrayal burned bitter on my tongue, the taste of it harsh and unforgiving. We had been played, led into a trap by those we thought had chosen peace over war. My heart ached with the pain of that revelation.

Just then, Ronan stirred. His eyes fluttered open, confused and pained. As the chilling words of Brutus registered, I saw something change in his gaze. Understanding dawned on him, followed by a simmering rage. He wrestled with his chains, his growl echoing in the cavern.

"Brutus, this is against shifter law!" His voice was a roar that vibrated against the cold stone walls. "If you want revenge, you should take it out on me. Leave the innocent out of it."

Brutus merely scoffed, his chilling laughter sounding in the cavern. "Your laws mean nothing to me, Ronan," he retorted. His voice was a hiss, slithering through the cavern like a venomous snake ready to strike. "Your pack made their choice when they sided with you."

A mixture of fear and fury sparked within me. My heart pounded against my ribs, and each beat punctuated the defiance surging through my veins.

"You won't win, Brutus," I spat out. I saw him pause, the slightest flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. But it vanished quickly, replaced by his usual sneer. His dismissal fueled my determination. I had to make things right. I had to save my pack. No matter the cost.

Brutus' cold laughter hung in the air like an omen. He seemed to derive perverse pleasure from our despair. His lack of concern for the law, for the lives he was putting at risk, ignited an even deeper anger within me.

"I have no interest in following your pathetic laws," Brutus snarled. He stalked towards the mouth of the cave, his steps falling ominously on the stone floor. "I'm off to claim victory for my alpha."

The land he referred to was the heart of our territory, which held memories of generations of our pack. The very thought of Brutus or any of his kin claiming it sent me a surge of protective fury.

With one last mocking laugh, Brutus disappeared into the darkness, leaving Ronan and me in our dismal prison. I could hear his receding footsteps, a cruel reminder of our dire situation. The metallic taste of fear and resentment flooded my mouth. He had left us chained and helpless, easy prey for anyone who dared enter the cavern.

"Artemis," Ronan murmured, the first words he had spoken since his awakening. He sounded weak, his strength clearly drained.

"Save your energy, Ronan," I replied, my voice surprisingly steady despite the dread gnawing at my insides. "We need to find a way out of here."

He didn't respond, and I knew he was lost in his thoughts. We were both grappling with the horrifying reality of our situation. And as the minutes ticked by, I could only hope that our pack was holding their own against Brutus' onslaught.

Silence filled the cavern once again, a haunting reminder of our predicament. In the face of such adversity, all I had left was my determination and the hope that we could protect what was ours.

"I will not let Brutus win," I whispered to the cold, uncaring stones, a personal vow. I couldn't, wouldn't, allow him to take away everything we had fought so hard for. No matter the cost.

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