Chapter 39: The Interrogation Anna POV

I was jolted out of my reverie by the sound of boots on stone. Sitting against the chilly dungeon wall, Lucas and I looked at each other suspiciously. The footsteps grew louder and more purposeful before coming to a halt right in front of the iron door. When the lock snapped open, I held my breath.

A tall, grizzled guard enters. "The council requires that you be present. You two. Right now."

Lucas got up first, moving slowly and carefully, as if he wanted to project serenity. Despite my heart pounding against my ribs, I followed. The council? Which council? My mind raced with questions, but I kept a bland expression. I couldn't risk looking weak.

The torches cast flickering shadows on the damp walls as we were guided along dim halls. The metallic tang of my anxiousness mixed with the smell of dampness. Lucas walked next to me, his face blank, his posture tight. I wanted to ask him what to expect, but it seemed safer to stay quiet in front of the guard’s prying eyes.

We entered a circular room with a blazing fire pit in the center. Five wolves sat on an elevated dais, their faces showing a mixture of mistrust and interest. Leaning forward was their Alpha, a guy with piercing amber eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He ruled the room, and a shiver ran up my back.

"Lia," the Alpha said, his eyes locking onto mine, his words firm and powerful. "And your brother?" His tone revealed his suspicion as he raised an eyebrow at Lucas.

Before I could say anything, Lucas easily added, "Caleb. We're just going through, lone wolves."

I nodded and swallowed hard. "We had no notion of causing trouble. All we wanted was a place to stay."

The Alpha’s eyes remained fixed on me. "But problems seem to follow you. Lia, my Beta has voiced some intriguing concerns about you."

I felt sick to my stomach. The Beta had, of course, reported what he’d seen, my lapse, my skills. I forced myself to stay calm. "Are you worried?" I claimed not to know. "In our first meeting, I told you everything. The rogues attacked me. Later, my brother found me."

"Is that correct?" With a seemingly nonchalant tone, the Alpha leaned back. "According to your brother, however, you have been traveling together. Which of these accounts should I believe?"

With fear rising in my chest, I looked at Lucas. He was unaware of what I had previously told them. In an effort to reconcile the inconsistency, I blurted out, "We... got separated during the attack. I escaped, and he found me."

With a snort, the scarred councilwoman’s piercing look shifted to Lucas. "Easy. And where were you at the time of this claimed incident, Caleb?"

Lucas answered quietly and without hesitation. "Fighting off rogues. I thought Lia had vanished when I couldn’t locate her. I looked for days before retracing her path."

The Beta moved forward, standing to the side. He had a determined, hard face. His voice was low but strong as he stated, "That doesn’t explain what I saw. Lia showed... extraordinary abilities. Skills not found in a typical wolf."

Everyone’s eyes turned to me. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to look into the Alpha’s eyes. My voice was firm as I replied, "I have no idea what he's talking about. He must have been mistaken."

"Mistaken?" With an astonished tone, the Beta repeated. "I saw it firsthand. "You are concealing something."

I hardly noticed the slight movement of Lucas’s hand at his side. "Enough," he answered, taking a small step forward. "My sister has suffered enough without these unfounded allegations. Provide proof if you have it. Don’t slander her otherwise."

The room fell silent as the Alpha raised a hand. I was fixed in place by his golden eyes. "Lia," he said slowly and carefully, "you have nothing to fear if you are what you say you are, a lone wolf looking for safety. But I'll find out if you’re lying. The abilities my Beta described are not a random occurrence. Really, who are you?"

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. My thoughts raced, trying to find something that would please him. Lucas stopped me before I could say anything.

He uttered the lie with ease and without hesitation, saying, "We’re from Crescent Valley. Rogues destroyed our pack. The skills Lia holds are a gift from our father. He was a Beta. He taught us survival skills."

The Alpha turned to face Lucas, his face blank. "You say Crescent Valley?"

Lucas nodded. "A far-off pack that’s long since vanished. But we endured thanks to our father’s lessons."

"Interesting," the Alpha mumbled in a doubtful tone. Yet, Crescent Valley was known for its warriors more than its mystics. Your account doesn’t make sense."

I felt the situation slipping out of control, so I tightened my hands. "It’s the truth," I stated, sounding more assertive than I had expected. "I have no idea what your Beta thinks he saw, but I’m simply a wolf trying to survive. Isn’t that enough?"

The Alpha looked into my eyes and studied me for a long time. He leaned back at last. "For now, you're still being watched. Step outside the boundaries, and you will pay a price."

Lucas murmured, dropping his head slightly, "Understood. I appreciate your kindness."

The Alpha dismissed us with a wave of his hand. The guard moved forward and took hold of my arm to usher us out. I forced myself to stay composed and fought the temptation to jerk away. My thoughts raced as we were led back to the cell. We had bought some time for ourselves, but for how long?

I glanced at Lucas once the cell door banged behind us. "Crescent Valley? Really?"

His voice was low as he stated, "It’s far enough away that they can’t verify it quickly. And near enough to sound realistic."

I leaned against the wall and sighed. "This is a catastrophe."

He sat next to me and added, "It could be worse. At least they didn’t cast us among the rogues."

"Not just yet," I whispered.

Lucas laughed quietly, a sound that was pleasantly warm in the cold, shadowy cell. "Anna, have some hope. We’ll resolve this."

His face was partly hidden by the faint light as I gazed at him. In spite of everything, I wanted to believe him because of the calm in his eyes and his peaceful resolve. But I couldn’t afford the luxury of trust.

I closed my eyes and mumbled, "We better. Because I’m not going to die here."

The weight of our situation pressed heavily on me as stillness fell between us. The Alpha’s inspection, the Beta’s charges, and the council’s mistrust were all looming dangers. Lucas and I were now entangled in this complex web of lies.

We were in this together, for better or worse.