Chapter 106: Better Safe Than Sorry

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Better Safe Than Sorry The chilly forest air sent shivers down Lily’s spine. She clung close to Zayn’s wolf form. His soft black fur was warm against the autumn winds. She shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders with one hand while the other gripped his fur. She felt Victoria’s eyes on her, burning with hatred. The she-wolf’s golden glare never left Lily. She was watching her every move from a few paces behind. Lily tried to ignore it, but it made her skin crawl. Being the only wolfless one made Lily feel like she was a burden, dragging the rest down. Everyone else moved with ease through the forest in their wolf forms. Martha’s gray coat flashing between trees, Ragnar’s massive brown form lumbering nearby, and Victoria’s sleek tan body slinking behind them. Only Lily remained human, a fragile passenger on Zayn’s back. “What’s wrong with that bitch?” Ragnar whispered roughly to Martha while glancing at Victoria, who was trailing behind. “She doesn’t like how close they are,” Martha whispered back, looking ahead at Lily and Zayn. “Someone should put her in her place,” Ragnar added before moving to block Victoria’s line of sight. Martha moved to do the same. Both of them formed a barrier, blocking Victoria’s view. When Lily noticed it, she gave them a small smile of thanks. The trees grew denser as they traveled deeper into unfamiliar territory. Eventually, they stopped before their destination. Ruins of a grand packhouse, now reclaimed by nature. “We’re here,” Zayn announced. Zayn lowered himself, allowing Lily to slide off his back. Everyone shifted back into their human form and huddled close. Zayn reached into his pocket, pulling out a small glass vial. Inside were several small white pills. His face darkened as he stared at them. Lily knew what they were. Suppressants. She saw the hesitation on Zayn’s face. Behind his hard eyes were memories, nightmares of a past he fought so desperately to bury. She watched him carefully as he took the pills, swallowing them dry. Ragnar approached Lily. He leaned in close and kept his voice low. “Be careful of that one,” he warned, nodding toward Victoria, who was adjusting her dress. “She’s up to something. I’m sure of it.” Lily nodded. She shared his concern. Though she was sure Victoria wouldn’t do anything to harm Zayn, she wasn’t so sure about the rest. Zayn gathered them back together and handed out intricately painted masks to each of them. Everyone had a different design. “Put these on, everyone in there wears them,” he explained. Zayn handed Lily a mask with a painted white wolf with lily flowers on the side. It covered the upper half of her face. To her surprise, it was comfortable, molding to her features like a second skin. “I know the way in,” Victoria declared as she walked ahead, “Follow me.” She led them through the ruins with confidence. They entered what was once a grand hall, weathered by the elements. Victoria headed straight for the only wall that remained intact. She felt the ridges of the stone bricks, feeling for a hidden mechanism. A satisfying click sounded, bringing a smile to her face. A section of the wall slid away, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground. Cold air rushed up from below, smelling of damp earth and something else Lily couldn’t identify. “This way,” Victoria said, stepping into the darkness. Zayn took Lily’s hand, guiding her carefully down the stairs. Martha and Ragnar followed close behind. The passage was pitch black until they reached the bottom, where dim lights cast eerie shadows on stone walls. A hooded figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path. Zayn was immediately defensive but didn’t make a move. “Password?” The hooded figure asked. “In the shadows, there is no light,” Zayn replied confidently. The figure nodded once and stepped aside. “Welcome to the Market.” They passed through a heavy iron door into a cavern that took Lily’s breath away. The underground market was vast, stretching farther than she could see.) Stalls lined winding paths, selling everything from weapons to herbs to things Lily couldn’t even identify. The air was thick with a mixture of scents: spices, smoke, sweat, and magic. True to Zayn’s word, everyone wore a mask. There were no exceptions. “How do we find Hunter?” Martha asked, staying close to Lily’s side. “We don’t. He’ll find us,” Zayn replied grimly. He never liked waiting games. Too many variables. Lily touched the mask on her face. She wondered if Hunter would recognize her by her mask. “Stay close,” Zayn warned. As a unit, they moved through the market. Lily kept her eyes peeled, watching for any sign of Hunter. She didn’t know what he looked like, but something told her she would know when she saw him. But as the crowd grew denser, it became more difficult to keep track of eachother. Someone bumped into Lily, pushing her forward. When she regained her balance, her blood ran cold. She was alone. Martha was no longer by her side. Ragnar, Victoria, and Zayn were all nowhere to be found. Lily looked around frantically. She wanted to scream for them. But she couldn’t. Several nearby market-goers were watching her now. Lily knew she was an easy target. She could not let fear consume her. Just as she was trying to decide where to go, she felt something sharp pressed against her lower back. “Keep walking,” a low voice instructed. “Don’t look back.” Her heart pounded in her chest, but Lily obeyed. The pressure of the blade never left her back. “Are you Lily Brightpaw?” the voice asked. Lily nodded. She touched her throat, indicating to the person she couldn’t speak. “Turn left here,” The voice instructed again. The stranger directed her into a narrow alley between stalls. Away from the crowds, Lily considered her options. She tensed, preparing to drive her elbow into her captor’s stomach and flee. Before she could do so, the figure stepped in front of her. They revealed a tattoo on their arm, a key with a pair of eyes. Lily recognized it immediately. It was just as Zayn had briefed her before they left. “You’ve grown,” He muttered while studying her intently. Lily blinked. She didn’t realize they had met before. “You probably don’t remember me. We were never formally introduced,” Hunter explained, “I saw you in passing... at one of your brother’s... parties.” She gestured to her throat again, then made a writing motion with her hand. “No need for writing,” Hunter said. “I can understand sign language.” Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. “We can’t talk here,” he continued, glancing around. Hunter pulled out a black cloth from his pocket. “I’m going to blindfold you and bring you to a more suitable location for us to continue our discussion,” He explained. Lily was hesitant. She didn’t know if she could trust him. But what choice did she have? For the sake of the pack and Zayn, she put on a brave front. The cloth covered her eyes, plunging her into darkness. Hunter took her arm, guiding her forward. “Count the steps,” he advised quietly. “Remember the path. It might save your life someday.” Lily did as instructed, mentally mapping their journey. Twenty steps forward. Right turn. Thirteen steps. Left turn. Down a flight of stairs—seventeen steps. Another right. The air grew cooler as they descended deeper underground. Finally, they stopped. Lily heard the sound of a key in a lock, then a door opening. Hunter guided her inside and shut the door behind them. When he removed the blindfold, Lily found herself in a surprisingly cozy room. A fire crackled in a stone hearth, casting warm light over comfortable furniture. It looked more like a living room than a criminal’s hideout. “Please, sit,” Hunter gestured to a well-worn armchair. Lily sat cautiously, eyes never leaving the masked man. He was different from how she had pictured him. He didn’t look like a criminal, but she knew better than to underestimate him. Hunter poured whiskey from a crystal decanter into two glasses. “Drink?” he offered, extending one toward her. Lily stared at the glass suspiciously. It could be poisoned, drugged, anything. She made no move to take it, but worried he would think she was being rude. Hunter’s lips curved into a knowing smile beneath his mask. “Cautious. Good.” In a swift motion, Hunter drained the glass he offered Lily, then the other. “If I poisoned it, we’ll find out together.” He poured another two glasses and offered one to her again. Lily still hesitated. ‘What if you had the antidote?’ She signed. Hunter chuckled. “True, but this is a risk you’re going to have to take, isn’t it? To gain my trust?” He smirked.