Silvia's POV
The pack had a literal dungeon. If you thought it was a modernized prison, you were sorely mistaken. I was talking about stone walls, rusted iron bars, and leaking ceilings.
As I stepped through the massive wooden door, the heavy creaking echoed through the cold, damp air. Xavier's broad shoulders led the way, his torch casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. I followed closely, my heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread.
The dungeon's vast chamber stretched before us, its high ceiling swallowed by darkness. Rows of rusty iron cells lined the walls, each one shrouded in an eerie gloom. The air was thick with the stench of mold, sweat, and something metallic—blood.
To our left, a raised platform held a single ominous chair, its wooden slats weathered to a dull gray. Restraints dangled from the arms and legs, like skeletal fingers waiting to ensnare their next victim.
The floor, made of rough-hewn stone, seemed to absorb the torchlight, casting the space in an unsettling half-light. Shadows danced across the walls, as if the darkness itself were alive.
Ahead, a corridor disappeared into the depths of the dungeon, its entrance flanked by two imposing stone statues. Their faces, chiseled from granite, glared at us with cold, unyielding fury.
"Welcome to our... guest quarters," Xavier said, his voice low and even, laced with a hint of irony.
I shivered despite the warmth of the summer evening above. This place felt like a world apart, a realm of darkness and fear.
I didn't know when I had moved closer to him, but the dungeon's chill seeped into my bones. He nodded to the guards, who handed him a set of keys. As we moved down the surprisingly empty hallways of the "guest quarters," we stopped in front of a door. This must be where the intruder was being held.
"So, a dungeon, huh?" I glanced at Xavier, who had been staring ahead, seemingly lost in thought since we left the garden.
"It's been here for generations," was all he said, his tone leaving no room for further conversation.
"Do you remember what happened back there?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as we stepped in front of the door. His intense gaze met mine, drawing me in.
"I remember the world pausing, literally, before I was flung…" The memories rushed back, an onslaught of confusion and anxiety. The attacker had been invisible but undeniably near. What was going on? Ever since Drake had attacked me, everything felt off.
My body suddenly felt heavy; my shoulders tensed. I was exhausted. Since I arrived, I hadn't caught a single break. My head throbbed, and I wrestled with the reality of having a wolf I knew nothing about. Now I had to face whatever had happened outside.
"Are you good? I can send Logan to take you back to rest," Xavier suggested, concern etched on his face.
"No, I'm good. Let's deal with this first." A wave of uncertainty washed over me. It hadn't even been a week, and so much had already happened. I sensed that something significant loomed on the horizon, and all these events felt interconnected.
Xavier must have sensed my turmoil; his expression deepened with concern. I didn't know if I should hate it or appreciate it. I felt like a burden since I arrived.
"Let's go," he said finally, turning to open a massive wooden door that looked oddly out of place in such a grim setting.
Xavier entered first, and I followed. I was unprepared for the sight that greeted me. The expression on Xavier's face mirrored my shock.
"What is going on here?" Xavier's voice dropped to a low growl, tension radiating from him like heat.
Logan, usually composed, looked flustered, his cheeks flushed. "Xavier, I can explain—"
"Explain?" Xavier's tone dripped with venom. "You're practically marking an intruder! Someone who's been sneaking around our territory and may have possibly attacked my mate—your Luna."
Logan stepped back, raising his hands defensively. "It's not what it looks like, Xavier. He's... different."
The intruder, pinned beneath Logan, glanced up at me with wide, frightened eyes. I offered a sympathetic smile, trying to defuse the tension.
"Xavier, maybe we should hear Logan out?" I suggested, placing a gentle hand on Xavier's tense arm.
His gaze snapped to me, the anger in his eyes softening slightly. "Fine. Explain, Logan."
Logan took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. "This… intruder, his scent is unique. It calls to me, Xavier; I couldn't resist."
Xavier's face darkened further. "You're bonded to our pack, Logan. Not to some stranger."
Curiosity got the better of me. "Wait, Logan, what do you mean by 'unique scent'?"
Logan's eyes met mine, pleading for understanding. "It's like... our pack's scent, but with a twist. I've never smelled anything like it."
Xavier's anger simmered, replaced by intrigue. "Go on."
As Logan continued explaining, I couldn't shake the feeling of impending significance surrounding this mysterious intruder.
The intruder suddenly focused on me, as if sensing my curiosity, and spoke. "I'm not an intruder," he said, desperation lacing his voice. "My name is Erwin. I've been searching for... someone."
Xavier's skepticism was palpable. "Who?"
Erwin's eyes locked onto mine, filled with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "You, Silvia. I've been searching for you."
My heart skipped a beat. "Me? How do you know my name?"
His face twisted with a mix of pain and longing. "I've been having visions... dreams. Your face, your voice. I had to find you."
Logan growled, his irritation bubbling over. "You're not making sense."
Erwin flicked a glance at Logan before returning his gaze to me. "I know it sounds crazy, but I feel a connection to you, Silvia. A bond."
Xavier stepped forward, his presence commanding. "Enough. You will answer our questions, Erwin."
Erwin nodded, resignation etched on his features. "I'll tell you everything"