Chapter 24: The Forest, the Flesh, and the Secret Below

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: The Forest, the Flesh, and the Secret Below The dream gripped her throat like a snake. Lily struggled in the straw, her limbs tangled in the thin blanket as the phantom hands of her father clawed down her back. In the dream, she was a child again—silent, terrified, bleeding. Her brother’s laughter echoed behind him, a display of cruelty that was overwhelming. The sound of the whip cracked loudly. The feel of cold stone against her knees. His voice, low and merciless: ‘You’re not even worth the pain.’ She woke with a start, soaked in sweat, her breath caught somewhere between a scream and a sob. Her chest heaved. Her wrists ached as if they were still bound. Moonlight cut through the slats of the shack like silver blades, and the night air inside was stifling. The abuses she had gone through, were repeated all over again. Her body shivered, the memories so vivid, her scars so fresh, and her skin was aching as if everything had just happened all over again. She couldn’t stay. Shoving the blanket off, Lily rose on shaky legs and slipped out through the door. The forest stood nearby, dark and inviting. Her bare feet made no sound as she slipped through the trees, drawn by the stillness. Each breath of fresh air calmed the tremors inside her bit by bit. The canopy above swayed gently, and for a few precious seconds, there was peace. Until she heard it. A moan. It was low, sharp, and unmistakably pleasured. Lily stilled. Another sound followed, a grunt. Male. Deep and breathless. She turned toward the noise, curiosity locking her in place even as instinct screamed at her to leave. She moved toward the sound slowly, heart thudding, every step light and careful. She ducked behind the thick trunk of a tree and peered around it. And froze. A man was pressed against a woman, her back against a boulder slick with moss. He had one hand tangled in her long white-blonde hair, the other under her thigh, lifting her leg high around his waist as he rammed into her with a savage rhythm. The woman’s voice cried out with every thrust. “Harder,” she gasped. “Harder, damn you!” The man growled and slammed into her with a brutal snap of his hips. Lily’s heart leapt into her throat. She recognized the voice. ‘The Queen.’ And the man—he looked like Beta Ezra, but... something was off. His touch was too raw, too feral. His eyes were darker, crueler. Then she saw it: a faint scar above his collarbone. One that Ezra didn’t have. ‘Not Ezra. Zephyr.’ Ezra’s twin brother. The Queen clawed at his back, raking her nails down his shoulders as she came with a shriek, her entire body arching against him. Zephyr didn’t stop. He grabbed her by the throat, twisted her roughly against the boulder, and took her from behind with a grunt, hands wrapped around her hips, dragging her against him with every stroke. The Queen moaned again, her lips parted, face wild and flushed. She opened her legs and spread herself for him, displaying herself at the same time as she was giving him full access to all of her. The Queen’s face, was a portrait of heated desire. “Such a good little whore,” he growled, reaching for her hair and pulling it. She laughed breathlessly. “Say that again.” Lust filled the air. He slapped her ass hard enough to echo through the trees. “My good. Little. Whore.” Lily’s stomach twisted. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Her face burned, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Her pulse thundered. Her thighs trembled, and she hated herself for it. There was something about the way they were together, she was watching something forbidden. Something she should not see. What was worse was the way they acted with each other. It was obvious this was not their first time. It was clear they knew each other intimately well. She couldn’t watch anymore, and then she stepped back—and snapped a twig beneath her heel. The sound was soft, but loud enough. Both heads turned toward her. She stumbled back, panic surging. Her foot slipped in the underbrush, and she fell hard on her back, knocking the breath from her lungs. The Queen’s voice was sharp. “Who’s there?” Zephyr grabbed his trousers, tugging them up quickly as he stalked toward her. “Stay here,” he whispered to her. Lily scrambled backward, but it was too late. He was already on her, his scent overwhelming—musky, sharp, dangerous. “Well, well...” he sneered. “Looks like we got an audience. The little mute slave.” She shook her head rapidly, trying to get up, but he shoved her back down with his boot. “She saw everything,” the Queen said, stepping closer, only half-clothed, her eyes glittering with malice. “Do you think she’s still a virgin? We can use her, break her.” Zephyr snorted. “No. Not after what Zayn did to her.” The Queen made a face and lost interest immediately. “Pity. I would’ve enjoyed watching you fuck her while she begged.” Zephyr smiled coldly. “I’ll handle it.” She rolled her eyes, redressed, and started to walk away. “Make sure of it, I was enjoying myself until she ruined it.” She didn’t even spare Lily a second glance, vanishing in the distance between trees and shadows. Now it was just Lily and him. He crouched low, bringing his face inches from hers. “You think you can watch us like some filthy little spy and walk away?” he whispered, drawing a gleaming silver blade from the sheath at his hip. “Perhaps I should carve out one of your eyes as punishment. Hell, you can’t even tell anyone what you saw, can you?” He laughed. Lily’s whole body shook as he ran the tip of the blade lightly down her cheek. “You’ve already lost your voice, perhaps you wouldn’t mind living in darkness, now would you?” Her eyes widened, afraid. He fed from the pain and fear she showed. “Remember this, you mute bitch,” he rested the tip of his blade right below her eyes. “You so much as hint about this to anyone, you’ll never see the light of the moon ever again. Understood?.” Terror flooded her, and she shook her head, but something inside her snapped. She kicked out, caught his shin, and twisted from his grip. She crawled backward, scrambled to her feet, and started to run. “Bitch!” he roared behind her. She flew through the trees, dodging low branches, lungs burning, legs trembling. Behind her, she could hear him crashing through the brush, gaining fast. She knew she was not going to be able to outrun him, he was going to get to her soon enough. He growled, already changing his mind about leaving her alive. As soon as he caught her, he would make her bleed and beg, then he would make her pay for what she did. She felt tears falling from her eyes and tried to be smart about where she could run to. She headed towards the left, where she knew there should be a small camp, and she hoped to make it there before he was able to catch her. Then her foot caught on something hard—metal. She stumbled and fell flat. Leaves scattered. And beneath her, a trapdoor. Rectangular. Weathered. Covered in ancient carvings, barely visible under the dirt and moss. She blinked, stunned, her hand pressed to the cold surface. For a moment, the surprise made her forget she was running from someone. Behind her, Zephyr skidded to a stop. He stared down at the door. “What the hell...” he muttered. The moonlight spilled down onto the carvings. One symbol pulsed faintly. No... not pulsed. Reacted. The symbol shimmered faintly under Lily’s palm. Zephyr stepped closer, blade still in hand. “What did you just do?” Lily shook her head—she didn’t know. The trapdoor clicked. A mechanism within shifted, and a soft hiss escaped the sealed edge. Zephyr’s eyes widened. “What on earth...?” Lily scrambled to the side as the trapdoor opened with a slow grind. Cool air poured out, and a staircase led downward into darkness. Zephyr looked at her, then at the stairs. And for the first time since the chase began, he didn’t look angry. He looked afraid. Lily rose slowly to her feet. She didn’t understand what she had done, but something ancient had recognized her touch. Though she could not understand what had just happened, Lily knew she had to run. But just as she turned to make a dash for it, Zephyr caught hold of her once more. “Where do you think you’re going?”