TRAPPED

Just then, Hugo laughed about the fact that Bruno was dead, joining in with Dawn and the other guy. My heart broke into a million pieces. I couldn't believe that the man I respected was capable of such cruelty. I stood frozen in the shadows, listening to their conversation, unable to move or speak.

"I knew that he would die one day. He was a liability," Dawn said, her voice cold and emotionless.

The other man nodded his head in agreement. "He was a fool to cross us. He should have known better."

Hugo chuckled. "Well, he's gone now. And we are better off without him."

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't believe that the man I had once admired was now a cold-blooded killer. I had been so blind to his true nature. I thought back to the time when we first met. Hugo had been charming, funny, and kind. He had promised to protect me, to keep me safe from harm. I had believed him. But now, I realized that he had only been using me all along, he didn’t protect me when he knew where I was.

As I was about to sneak out, I accidentally broke a vase, and all eyes turned to me. Hugo's face twisted in anger when he saw me. "Adora, what are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I-I was just passing by," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Hugo didn't look convinced. He gestured to his warriors, who quickly surrounded me, blocking my escape.

"Is that so?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I tried to push past the warriors, but it was no use. Before they could grab me, I passed under the leg of one of the warriors and ran out of the dining room at great speed. I couldn’t let them catch me. I had to go back to Bruno to look for some help. If I don't go to him, he might die.

I found my way out of the packhouse and reached the entrance. Just as I was about to step outside, Hugo appeared at the door and captured me.

"Gotcha," he said, grinning triumphantly.

I tried to run, but his warriors pointed their swords at me. He freed me and held my shoulders, asking me how I was able to escape from the forest dungeon I had been locked in for years.

"I-I don't know," I stammered. "I just woke up and the door was unlocked."

Hugo looked skeptical, but he didn't press the matter. Instead, he leaned in closer and wrinkled his nose.

"And what's that smell?" he asked, his voice dripping with disgust.

"I-I don't know," I said, feeling embarrassed.

Hugo shook his head in disgust.

"I can't have you running around the pack smelling like that," he said. "You're coming with me."

"I-I can't," I protested. "Please let me go and I promise not to cross paths with you again." Hugo's expression darkened.

"You're not going anywhere," he said firmly. "You're a threat out there, even if the alpha is dead. I'm going to keep you in the dungeon of the pack instead."

I tried to struggle, but it was useless. Dawn also came out of the house and ordered Hugo to put me in the dungeon quickly. Before I knew it, I was thrown in the dungeon along with other pack criminals. I was supposed to go back to help Bruno in the forest, but now I was trapped once again.

***

I groaned as I woke up to the sound of someone tapping me. When I opened my eyes, I saw one of the dungeon guards standing before me, holding a plate of cheap food. It reminded me of the food I had been eating for years, and the sight of it made me sick.

"Here, eat this," the guard said, placing the plate close to my feet.

I refused, looking at the iron bars of the dungeon, thinking of a way to escape.

"You better eat it," the guard warned me. "Or else you'll be sorry."

I glared at him. "I'd rather starve than eat that slop."

In a fit of anger, the guard grabbed my face and rubbed the food all over it. I was disgusted, but I still refused to eat it.

"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" the guard sneered.

I didn't reply, instead choosing to focus on the small window above the dungeon wall. It was already night, which meant Bruno could be dead in the forest. I needed to get out of there fast.

As the guard was about to insult me again, I saw Hugo appear at the door of the dungeon. Before I knew it, the warrior lifted me off the ground and carried me out of the public dungeon, with other guards preventing the other people from escaping.

I was stripped naked and bathed by a maid before being dressed in sack clothes, just like the other prisoners. I was deeply hurt that no one loved Bruno in his pack, and everyone wanted him dead. It seemed that everyone close to him was evil and cruel.

As the maid tied my hands behind my back and started leading me out of the room, I knew that I had to find a way to escape. I couldn't let them keep me here any longer.

Despite feeling weak and hungry, I was determined to go find Bruno in the forest. My wolf was howling like crazy inside of me, telling me something was wrong. I could feel Bruno slipping away from me every minute that passed.

I tried to fight the maid who was luring me down the hallway, but my hands were tied behind my back. I hit the maid with my body and started running down the hallway, with tears streaming down my face.

“Stop running, you stupid little bitch!” The stupid maid was yelling and running after me, but I was too focused on going to Bruno.

As I ran, I noticed the walls of the hallway were made of stone, with intricate carvings etched into them. The floor was made of smooth marble, and each step I took echoed down the long corridor. I could hear the maid's footsteps getting closer and closer, but I didn't stop.

Just as I thought I had escaped the maid, I was hit hard on the head from behind. The last person I saw before everything went dark was Dawn, smiling ruthlessly at me.