Skye’s POV

We walked in silence for several minutes, the only sound our footsteps echoing against the stone walls of the underground maze.

I kept my fingers reinted

hem of Leons shirt, trying to ignore how familiar it felt to follow him this way.

Suddenly, Leon broke the silence. “About that night… His voice was controlled, careful, “I was drunk, (that bits was just a mistake.”

I nearly stumbled at his unexpected wordsb. /bThe memory of his lips on mine shed through my mind, unhidden and unterframe.

“Alcohol barely affects werewolves,‘ I pointed mit, ‘Expecially not an Alpha like you.”

Leon gave a

e a dismissiveugh.

“You think I actually wanted to kiss you? You’re merestimating your appealb. /bHis eyes were cold, distant. “I was in a good mood that night and had some

wolf liquor. That’s all.”

“Good. bThat’s /bexactly what I wanted to bhear/b.” bI /bexhaled slowly.

Relief washed over me. The kiss bhad /bbeen weighing on my conscience, ba /bbetrayal of Adrian even though I hadst initiated it. Now I could put it behind me where it belonged.

“Look,” Leon said suddenly, pointing ahrad. “I think I see light.”

Sure enough, the narrow tunnel began to brighten. The stale, dusty air bgradually /bfreshened as we bapproached /bbwhat /bappeared to be an exit.

The rough stone walls gave way to smoother bsurfaces/b, and I could smell grass and open air.

We finally emerged from the underground tunnel into daylight! Though high walls around us served as stark reminders we remained trapped in the mare, bleast /bnow sunlight warmed our faces, nts badded /bsshes of green, and birdsong filled bthe /bair. These simple elements breathed hope into our weary spirits.fn81bc Newest update provided by Find?Novel/fn81bc

“Finally out!” I released Leon’s shirt bimmediately/b, putting distance between us.

My first instinct was to reach out to Adrian through our mind–link.

Adrian! Can you hear me?

Before I could focus properly, a bdark /bshape burst from the Bushes to our right. My reflexes kicked it instantly–I leaped backward, dropping into a defensive crouch, my wolf surging close to the surface.

was another werewolf, one of the Alphaspeting in the election.

As the figure staggered into view, I realized it was

But something was terribly wrong. His eyes were bloodshot, pupils dted with terror. He was muttering to himself, swinging wildly at invisible enemies.

“Get away… get away from me!” he screamed at nothing, his movements frantic band /buncoordinated.

Leon approached him cautiously.

“Hey,” he bsaid/b, waving a hand in front of the Alph’s face.

The man didn’t react at all, continuing to fight his invisible tormentors.

“He’s trapped in a bhallucination/b.” bLeon /bsaid, turning back to me. “Let’s got

| hesitated, watching as the Alpha dropped to his knees, tearing at his hair with such face that champs came away in his hands. His face was contorted in agony, btears /bstreaming down his cheeks.

“I sald. “bAren’t /bwe going to help him?”

Leon looked at me with genuine disbelief.

“Help him? Did I hear you coscectly? He gestured toward the Alpha. We’re in apetition. He’s or opponent.”

I watched the Alpha ms his head against the genund, nd trickling from a fresh wound art his forehead.

“I know that. But I’ve heard stories about people who never recover from these hallucinations–they y stay trapped in their minds forever.”

Leons expression hardened. “If you want to save lives, be a doctor or a firefighter.” His voice was cold, pragmatic. The fact that I’m not killing him right now is merry enough. If our positions were reversed, do you think he would help us?”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Don’t forget Elder bSelene’s /brules–members of different packs are allowed to attack each other.

I fell silent, knowing Leon’s logic was sound. Yet watching the Alpha’s suffering made my stomach twist with pity. His agonized whimpers breminded /bme too much of my own experience with the hallucination, the crushing guilt and terror.

“Come on,” Leon grabbed my arm. “We don’t have much time left.”

Then he closed bhis /beyes briefly, obviously mind linking with his park members.

I tried again to breach /bAdrian.

Adrian? Are you there?

Nothing but silence answered me. Worry gnawed at my insides, Where was he? bWhat /bhad happened to him?

I quickly shifted my focus.

Lydia? Can you hear me?

Skye! Her relieved voice filled my mind immediately. Thank God! We’ve been trying to reach you.

Fru finally back above ground, I btold /bherds there any word from Adrian?

No, her voice was tight with concern. I’m with bRyder /bnow, but we havent been able bto /bcontact Alpha Adrian. We couldn’t reach you either. Du you and Alpha bAdrian /bbget /bseparated?

bin /b

Yesb, /bI replied, not wanting bto /bwaste time with exnations. Listenb, /bbe careful of traps. This maze in three–dimennal–there are underground levels. You might fall through if you trigger the wrong mechanisis.

Underground levels? Lydia’s surprise was evident. No wonder we could contact you. What should we do now? Should we turn back and search for Alpha bAdrian/bb? /b

I considered our options. bHaving /beveryone scramble around like headless chickens searching blindly would only waste precious time. Better to bhave /ba clear rendezvous point.

No, you and bRyder /bkeep moving forward. Try to find the realt. We’ll meet there.

Understood, Lydia agreed.

bAs /bour mind–link faded, dread settled in my stomach.

Adrian was still bunreachable/b. Where bwas /bhe? Was he trapped in a hallucination? Or worse?

“Adrian’s still missing.” I told Leon, unable to keep the worry from my voice. b“/bNow”

above ground, I should go find him. You go on ahead”

Leon frowned, his brows drawing together. “Do you even know where he is? For all we know, Adrian might have already made his way to the exit. Running back now might justplicate things for him.

He paused, then badded/b, “I just mind–linked with Ethan. Hex already at the exit.” A smog smile yed across his lips. “If even my Beta canplete this mai easily, surely Adrian isn’t worse than him.”

bAs /bmuch as I hated to admit it, Leon had a point.

Searching blindly through the mare would be foolish. The best strategy was to reach the exit and regroup

“Fine,” I conceded, Let’s keep moving.

I fell into step beside Leon, my thoughts racing with possibilities. Adrian was strong, capable–one of the most powerful Alphas 1 knew

He would be bfine/bb. /bHe had to be

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