The rush of adrenaline still coursed through my veins as I held the artifact close. The cold, smooth surface no longer reassuring, the growing dread that had settled in my chest only grew heavier with each second. The cave trembled around us, echoing the roars of the dark werewolves.

"They're about to attack again," Seth said, his voice tight with fear. His magic, still flickering around him, was barely holding its form.

"How are we supposed to get out of here?" Clara rasped, pressing a hand to her side where one of the wolves had struck. Her eyes fluttered from exhaustion, the glow of her magic fading fast.

"We fight," Sarah spat, blood dripping from a gash above her eye, her sword shaking in her hand. But even she knew how grim our chances were. Before I could respond, a new sound broke through the cave—a low, rumbling growl, deeper and more menacing than any dark werewolf. It echoed through the cave, shaking the very walls.

And then the shadows moved. We had been too focused on the immediate danger to realize it before. The dark werewolves were not the only threat. Emerging from the shadows, more figures appeared, cloaked in shadow. The unmistakable emblem of Eden’s forces shimmered on their armor.

My heart sank. Eden’s elite soldiers. The Alphas.

In an instant, the Alphas were upon us. The dark werewolves snapped to attention, standing obediently as the alphas marched forward, their claws gleaming in the torchlight.

There was no fight this time. My sword was knocked from my grip, and I felt the cold bite of steel shackles around my wrists before I even had a chance to resist. We had the artifact. But before we could even process that we had succeeded, we were under attack.

Seth let out a strangled cry as he tried to cast a spell, but one of the Alphas struck him down with a fist, leaving him groaning on the cave floor. Clara, too drained to fight, collapsed in a heap next to Mascot, her fingers weakly reaching for him.

A sharp blow to my head had knocked me off my feet. My body felt like it was floating, weightless, as I tried to fight the overwhelming urge to give in to unconsciousness.

I barely registered the heavy footfalls surrounding us or the low growls of the dark werewolves closing in. Mascot, Clara, Seth—they were all beside me moments ago, and now... I didn’t know. Panic surged through my chest as I tried to move, to defend us, but something cold and rough bound my hands. A blindfold was yanked over my eyes, and I was thrown roughly over a broad shoulder.

The artifact! Where was it? Who had it? I had it one moment, the next I didn't. I felt the energy pulsing from it, but I couldn't sense where it was. Was it with me? With Seth? It didn’t matter. If the dark werewolves had it, we were already dead.

Hours—or was it minutes?—passed. It was impossible to tell. The sound of heavy breathing filled the space around me as the werewolves carried us deeper into their territory. I forced myself to stay awake, my mind racing to piece together a plan, but there was no way out.

Finally, I was dropped onto cold stone, and the blindfold was torn from my face. I blinked in the dim light, my head pounding as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.

We were in a cave—bigger, much bigger than the one we had retrieved the artifact from. The air here felt suffocating, thick with the stench of blood. A low snarl brought my attention to the shadows, where dark werewolves circled us like vultures, their glowing red eyes fixed on their prey. Me.

Seth, Clara, and Mascot were nearby, bound and but alive. Seth’s eyes locked with mine, his expression grim. There was no sign of Sarah.

“Where is it?” A voice cut through the air, cold and demanding. A figure stepped forward from the shadows—one of Eden's Alphas no doubt. He towered over us, his armor gleaming with the blood of those who had crossed his path before. “I'll ask you again,” he growled. “Where is the artifact?” I said nothing, my jaw clenched tight. They couldn’t know. If they got their hands on it now, all would be lost.

But Seth’s expression told me everything I needed to know. He was trying to shield it, to protect it with magic. But for how long?

The Alpha sneered, his eyes narrowing as he turned his attention to Seth. “Ah. The little scholar thinks he can hide it, does he?” Without warning, he backhanded Seth across the face, sending him sprawling onto the cold stone floor. I struggled against my restraints, fury boiling in my veins.

If only I could break free— “Well, well, well... what do we have here?” My blood turned to ice.

That voice.

From the far side of the cave, Charlotte sauntered forward, her lips curled into a sickeningly sweet smile.

Her betrayal hit me all over again, harder than any physical blow ever could. “Charlotte,” I growled, my voice trembling with rage. “What the hell are you doing here?” She chuckled, tossing her hair back like this was all some grand joke.

“Oh, Tasha. Still so naive, aren’t you?” I struggled to rise to my feet, my muscles screaming in protest as I strained against the chains. “You traitor!”

She gestured lazily, and the soldiers moved forward, dragging the others to the center of the room. One by one, they were forced to kneel, bound and helpless. My heart pounded as I glanced at my friends. Seth’s face was pale, his eyes wide with fear. Clara was barely conscious, her breathing labored. Mascot, still unconscious, was limp in the soldiers’ grasp.

"You see," Charlotte continued, stepping closer to me, "there’s something you should know, Tasha. This… artifact, this mission of yours—it was doomed from the start." I narrowed my eyes, trying to control the rage building inside me. "What are you talking about?" Charlotte stopped right in front of me, close enough that I could see the satisfaction in her eyes. "I’ve been working with Eden for years. Everything that’s happened to you—the framing, the betrayal—it was all part of the plan." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I killed your uncle and aunt."

My world tilted, my heart plummeting. For a moment, the words didn’t register. But when they did, a wave of fury crashed over me, blinding in its intensity. "You…" My voice shook with rage as I glared at Charlotte. "You’re the reason…"

Charlotte’s smile widened, cruel and unrepentant. "Yes, it was me. And I enjoyed every moment of it." I lunged forward, but the chains held me back. Tears of anger and betrayal burned in my eyes as Charlotte laughed, her voice echoing in the chamber.

Her smile only widened. “You should’ve known better. Always too soft, too trusting.” She circled me slowly, her eyes gleaming with malice. “And now look where it’s gotten you.” “You stole my mate,” I spat, the words like venom on my tongue. “You framed me for your crimes.” Charlotte stopped in front of me again, “I did what I had to do. And guess what? It worked.”

My heart pounded in my chest, the fury coursing through my veins making it hard to think straight. I wanted to lunge at her, tear her apart with my bare hands, but I was powerless. Bound and at her mercy.

“You won't get away with this,” I hissed through gritted teeth.”

“Seriously?” she interrupted, raising an eyebrow as if amused. “Oh, Tasha, you still don’t get it, do you? I’ve already won.” Her hand shot out, grabbing me by the throat and yanking me closer. “You're nothing without that artifact. And soon enough, I'll have it. Then you can watch as everything you care about crumbles to dust.” I glared at her, my breathing ragged as I fought against her grip. But she was stronger than I remembered— too strong.

Charlotte leaned in closer, her breath hot against my ear. “Tell me where it is, Tasha, you might save your friends if you do.”

I spat in her face. Her eyes flared with rage, and she shoved me back with enough force to send pain searing through my arms after trying to choke me. I gasped for air, my vision swimming, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

“Fine,” she said, wiping her face with disgust. “If you won't tell me, maybe your little friend will.” My blood ran cold as she turned her attention to Clara, who was still bound, her magic nearly depleted from the earlier battle.

“No!” I shouted, struggling against my binds. “Leave her out of this!” Charlotte’s smile returned. She pulled a blade from her belt, the silver metal flashing in the dim light. “Tell me where the artifact is,” she said calmly, her eyes locked onto mine. “Or… Clara, was it?” she said as if trying to remember her name, before nodding her head, “Or Clara dies.”

Clara’s eyes widened in terror as Charlotte approached her, the silver blade dangerously close to her throat. I could see the fear in Clara’s eyes, the silent plea for me to do something. But I couldn't. “Don't do this, Charlotte,” I said, my voice low and desperate. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Charlotte’s smile only grew wider. “Oh, but it does, Tasha. You’ve always been too soft. Too weak to make the hard choices.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched helplessly. I had to think of something—anything to stop this. But the more I tried, the more hopeless it felt.

Then Charlotte pressed the blade against Clara's skin, a single drop of blood welling up where the metal touched flesh. “Tell me where it is,” she said again, her voice calm but laced with deadly intent. “Or she dies.” I locked eyes with Charlotte, my chest heaving with rage.

“You'll pay for everything you've done. I swear it.” She smiled, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

“We'll see about that.”