Four Mates And A She Wolf
71

Hours had passed since Avery's last encounter with the rogue lord, and the cell had grown darker and colder. Her body ached from the repeated beatings and the strain of trying to escape. She lay on the dirty mattress, her mind racing with thoughts of her mates and the pack, trying to keep her hope alive.

Suddenly, the heavy door creaked open again, its rusty hinges protesting. Avery's heart leaped in her chest. She quickly sat up, her eyes straining to see who was entering. The dim light from the torch outside cast a shadowy figure on the stone wall.

As the figure stepped into the cell, Avery's breath caught in her throat. It was Cassie, her number one bully from childhood.

Avery knew that Cassie had always been ambitious and competitive, often challenging people for better positions and power-hungry. But this is another level. seeing her here, in league with the rogues, was a shock that Avery hadn't anticipated.

"Cassie?" Avery's voice was filled with disbelief and confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Cassie smirked, a cruel glint in her eyes. "Surprised to see me, Avery? You shouldn't be. I always knew you were too soft to be Luna of the pack. You and your precious mates thought you could rule without consequences. Well, it looks like your reign is coming to an end."

Avery's mind raced to understand. "You... you were behind this? You helped the rogues kidnap me?"

Cassie laughed, a cold, mocking sound that echoed off the stone walls. "Of course I did. The rogue lord promised me power and a place at his side. All I had to do was get you out of the way."

Avery's heart sank as the realization of Cassie's betrayal hit her. She had always known Cassie was ambitious, but she had never imagined she would go this far. "You won't get away with this, Cassie," Avery said, her voice steady despite the fear and anger coursing through her. "My mates will find me, and they'll stop you."

Cassie rolled her eyes, her smirk widening. "Oh, Avery, still so naive. Your mates will probably soon be dead or captured. The rogue lord has plans for them too, you know. And as for you, this is the end of the line."

She stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with malice. "You always thought you were better than me, didn't you? Always had to be the hero, the leader. Well, look at you now. Helpless, tied up, and at my mercy."

Cassie reached out and grabbed Avery by the hair, yanking her head back. Avery winced in pain but refused to give Cassie the satisfaction of seeing her break. "You won't win," Avery said through gritted teeth. "My mates will come for me. They won't stop until you're defeated."

Cassie's laugh was pure venom. "Keep dreaming, Avery. Your time is over. The rogue lord will crush your pack, and I'll be right there to watch it all happen."

She released Avery's hair and stood back, her eyes narrowing with hatred. "You should have stayed out of my way. But now, you're going to pay for every slight, every time you make me feel inferior. This is just the beginning."

Avery's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to turn the situation around. She knew Cassie was dangerous, but she also knew that Cassie's arrogance and desire for power could be her undoing. She had to find a way to use that against her. "You think the rogue lord will actually share power with you?" Avery said, her voice calm and measured. "He's using you, Cassie. Once you're no longer useful, he'll discard you once you are of no use to him again." Cassie's eyes flickered with doubt for a brief moment before she sneered and her eyes hardened. "Nice try, Avery. But I'm not falling for your mind games. I've already made my choice, and I'm going to see it through." She turned and walked toward the door, but before leaving, she looked back over her shoulder. "Enjoy your last moments, Avery. The rogue lord will be back soon, and when he is, you'll wish you had never crossed me." With that, Cassie left, slamming the door behind her. Avery lay back on the mattress, her mind churning with plans and possibilities. She couldn't let Cassie win. She had to find a way to escape and warn her mates about the betrayal within their own ranks.

Hours turned into days, and the situation grew more desperate. The rogue lord's visits were more frequent, each one filled with threats and violence. But through it all, Avery clung to her hope and determination. She knew her mates were out there, searching for her..

Avery knew she couldn't stay and do nothing or she would die.

Avery began to stir, making as much noise as she could to draw the attention of the guard stationed outside her cell. She banged on the metal door, shouted incoherently, and rattled her chains, hoping to lure him inside.

The guard, irritated by the commotion, finally unlocked the door and stepped into the dimly lit cell, intent on silencing her. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Avery launched herself at him with all the strength she had left. She grappled with him fiercely, using every ounce of her remaining energy to subdue him. After a brief but intense struggle, she managed to overpower the guard, leaving him unconscious on the cold floor. Without wasting a moment, Avery sprinted out of the cell and dashed through the narrow, dark corridors of the place

Her heart pounded in her chest as she quietly tiptoed through the maze-like structure, desperate for freedom. Eventually, she burst through an exit and into the open air, racing towards the cover of the dense woods that bordered the rogue hideout. The branches scratched at her skin and her breath came in ragged gasps, but she didn't stop, driven by the overwhelming desire to escape her captors once and for all.