The chamber was suffocating. Alison paced back and forth, her bare feet brushing against the cold stone floor. The faint flicker of the torch on the wall seemed to mock her, its shadows shifting unpredictably as if they had a mind of their own. Kane's words echoed in her head: "Stay here. Don't leave."
But Alison wasn't the type to follow orders, especially not from a man who had kidnapped her and kept her in the dark about everything.
She moved to the door, running her fingers over its iron frame. The handle was firm, the lock unyielding, but Alison wasn't ready to give up. She scanned the room again, her eyes landing on the tray Lyra had left. The small knife beside the bread caught her attention. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
Her pulse quickened as she worked the blade into the lock, wiggling it back and forth. The crude lockpick slipped several times, each failure tightening the knot of frustration in her chest. Finally, with a faint click, the lock gave way. Alison froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat.
I'm doing this.
She pushed the door open slowly, peering into the dimly lit corridor. It was empty, the shadows long and still. She stepped out, her heart pounding with every silent step she took. The cold air of the hallway made her shiver, but she pressed on, her determination outweighing her fear.
The sound of voices stopped her in her tracks.
"She's a liability," Darius's sharp tone carried down the hall. "Keeping her here is a mistake."
Alison flattened herself against the wall, her breathing shallow. The corridor turned ahead, and the voices grew louder as she crept closer.
"She's the key," Kane replied, his voice cold and unwavering. "You don't have to like it, but you will follow my orders."
"You're blinded," Darius snapped. "She's not one of us. She'll never be one of us. And if the hunters don't kill us all, she will."
Alison clenched her fists. What does that mean?
Kane's tone turned lethal. "If you question me again, I'll remind you where your loyalty lies."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the faint crackle of a distant torch. Alison bit her lip, her mind racing. She didn't trust either of them, but Kane's words sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn't just dangerous—he was in control. And somehow, she was at the center of it all.
Before she could process what to do next, a low growl rumbled from behind her. Alison turned slowly, her blood running cold as she locked eyes with a massive wolf. Its golden eyes gleamed in the darkness, its lips curling back to reveal sharp, gleaming fangs.
"Shit," Alison whispered, gripping the knife tightly.
The wolf lunged.
Alison threw herself to the side, the wolf's claws scraping against the stone where she'd just been standing. She scrambled to her feet and bolted down the corridor, the sound of heavy footsteps and guttural growls close behind her.
She didn't think—she just ran.
Her bare feet slipped on the cold floor as she rounded a corner, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear the wolf's pursuit. The corridor opened into a large chamber, its high ceilings and carved stone walls illuminated by the pale moonlight streaming through narrow slits. Her eyes darted around, searching for an exit.
There—a gate.
Alison sprinted toward it, but her breath caught as the wolf lunged again, its massive body slamming into her. She hit the ground hard, the knife flying from her hand and skittering across the stone. The wolf pinned her down, its snarls vibrating through her chest.
"No!" she screamed, kicking out with her legs. Her heel connected with its side, but the wolf barely flinched. Its jaws snapped inches from her face, its hot breath making her gag.
"Enough!" Kane's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
The wolf froze, its ears flattening as it turned its head toward the sound. Alison's heart thundered as Kane stepped into the chamber, his piercing blue eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. The wolf backed off, its snarls fading into a low growl.
Kane's body tensed, and in an instant, he shifted. Alison watched in horror and awe as his form contorted, bones cracking and reshaping until he stood before her as a massive black wolf. His presence was overwhelming, his size and power dwarfing the creature that had attacked her.
The two wolves clashed with a force that shook the air. Kane moved with brutal precision, his powerful jaws snapping and his claws tearing into his opponent. The other wolf fought back, but it was no match. Within moments, Kane had it pinned to the ground, his teeth closing around its throat.
The defeated wolf whimpered, its body going limp. Kane released it, his posture rigid and dominant as he watched the creature retreat into the shadows.
Alison pushed herself up on shaky arms, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Kane shifted back into his human form, his expression cold and furious as he strode toward her.
"Are you out of your mind?" he snapped, his voice echoing in the chamber. "What part of 'stay here' did you not understand?"
"I— I thought—" Alison stammered, her voice trembling.
"You thought what?" Kane interrupted, his tone sharp. "That you'd disobey me and walk into danger? You could have been killed."
"I couldn't just sit there!" Alison shouted, her fear giving way to anger. "You've locked me up, lied to me, and expect me to trust you? Why the hell should I?"
Kane's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then his voice dropped, quieter but no less intense. "Because if you don't, you'll die. And I won't be able to save you."
Alison stared at him, her chest heaving. "What are you?" she whispered.
Kane's eyes softened, the glow in them dimming. "The better question," he said, his tone heavy, "is what are you?"
Alison shook her head, her legs trembling. "No," she said, her voice cracking. "You're not doing this again. Just tell me the truth."
"You're a white tiger," Kane said, his voice steady and certain. "The last of your kind."