Chapter 8: Captive
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on Silver's face as he slept. I found myself wrapped in his strong arms, my head resting against his broad chest. Even with his eyes closed, he looked so beautiful and peaceful, it was difficult to reconcile the image of him as a fierce werewolf capable of tearing enemies apart.
I traced the lines of his chiseled jaw, down the curve of his neck, and along the muscular contours of his shoulders. As I inhaled his comforting scent, a mixture of earthy woods and something uniquely him, I couldn't help but snuggle closer.
"Are you comfortable?" Silver asked suddenly, his beautiful yellow eyes opening and meeting mine. Damn, caught in the act.
"Uhm, yeah," I replied, blushing furiously. "I was just... waking up." I needed to change the subject. "How's your wound?"
"Much better," he said, taking my hands and placing them on his chest. I could feel his steady heartbeat beneath my palms, making me blush even harder. "In fact, could you help me undo these bandages?"
"Of course." I fumbled with the ends of the bandage, trying not to get too distracted by the heat radiating from his skin. The more I unraveled, the more I was reminded of just how incredibly sexy he was. His toned abs, the V-shape leading to... Focus, Red!
"Thank you," he said with a genuine smile when I finally finished. I couldn't help but return the smile, my heart melting a little.
"Anytime," I whispered, trying to shake off the haze of desire that threatened to envelop me.
With the last of the bandages unwound, I took a step back and observed Silver's chest. The wound was almost completely healed, leaving only a faint scar as a reminder of his recent injury. My fingertips traced the smooth line of the scar, the skin warm to the touch. It was hard to believe that just yesterday, he had been bleeding out.
"Your healing ability is incredible," I murmured, still running my fingers along the scar. As I realized what I was doing, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Sorry, I should let you get dressed."
"Wait here," I instructed as I stood up, heading toward the door. Carefully, I cracked it open and peered outside into the living room. Seeing no sign of my mother, I slipped out of my bedroom and made my way down the hallway towards her room.
The door to my mom's room creaked softly as I pushed it open. She lay peacefully on the bed, her chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern. It seemed that the pills had finally allowed her some rest. Trying not to make any noise, I tiptoed over to her closet and slid the door open just enough to reach inside.
My hands found the box hidden at the back of the closet, and I pulled it out gently, trying not to disturb anything else. I rummaged through the contents until I grasped a soft, worn men's shirt. It belonged to my father, and the thought brought a sudden pang of sadness to my heart. Clutching the shirt tightly, I stepped out of the room, careful not to wake my sleeping mother.
As I reentered my bedroom, I handed the shirt to Silver. "Here, I found this for you," I said. As much as I enjoyed the view of his chiseled torso, I knew he couldn't stay shirtless forever.
"Thanks," he replied, pulling the shirt over his head. Once it was on, he looked down and chuckled. "Dad Bod?" he read off the shirt, amusement in his eyes.
I smiled, though the nostalgia tugged at my heart. "It was my dad's. He had a good sense of humor."
"Seems like he did," Silver agreed, still grinning. His expression softened when he saw the sadness in my eyes. "I'm sorry, Red. I didn't know he wasn't around..."
"It's okay," I told him, shaking my head. "Anyway, we need to focus on getting you out of here safely, and figuring out who killed my grandmother."
"Right," Silver nodded, his face becoming serious. "We need to start somewhere. Do you have any leads?"
"Her cabin was hidden," I explained, my mind racing through the possibilities. "It wasn't easy to find, so I don't understand how a werewolf could've tracked her down. The only person who knew where she was was Adriano, a family friend. He brought her food and supplies. But he would never hurt her."
"Maybe someone else found out from him," Silver suggested, concern evident in his intense yellow eyes.
"Adriano wouldn't tell anyone," I insisted, frustration bubbling inside me. "He's like family."
"Red," Silver said quietly, touching my arm gently. "I'm not saying he's responsible, but it's possible someone found out from him without his knowledge. We should talk to him, see if he knows anything."
I sighed, knowing that Silver was right. We needed answers, and he was our only lead.
"Fine, I'll talk to Adriano," I acquiesced, my voice laced with annoyance. "But it's a dead end."
"Better safe than sorry," Silver replied, his tone calm and measured. "I'd like to come with you, just in case."
"Absolutely not!" I protested, my hands on my hips. "There's no need for that. Adriano would never hurt me, and besides, I can handle myself."
"Red, I'm not doubting your abilities," he argued. "But I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. Let me be there, hidden, as backup."
"Ugh, you're so stubborn," I grumbled, throwing my hands up in the air. "Fine! But only if you promise to stay out of sight and not interfere."
"Agreed," Silver said, a small smile playing on his lips.
***
As I waited for Adriano at the edge of the forest, I couldn't shake the irritation I felt towards Silver. Why couldn't he trust me? It was just Adriano – a sweet, innocent boy who had been like a little brother to me growing up. And I knew how to defend myself.
The rustling of leaves caught my attention, and I watched as Adriano emerged from between the trees.
"Adriano!" I called out, waving as I spotted him approaching through the trees. His face lit up with a warm smile, and within seconds, he wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.
"Red, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you yesterday after the funeral," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
"Hey, it's alright," I reassured him, rubbing his back gently. "I know how much you cared for Grandma Beatrice too. You must be just as heartbroken."
He pulled away from the embrace, nodding his head as his eyes grew teary and reddened. It was clear that he had spent the night crying over our shared loss. My own eyes welled up in response, and I blinked back tears.
"Anyway," I began, forcing myself to focus on the reason for our meeting. "I wanted to ask you about something. You were the one taking care of Grandma, bringing her food and supplies, right?"
"Yeah, of course," Adriano replied, sniffling and wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Why do you ask?"
"Did anyone else know where her cabin was?" I inquired, trying to keep my tone casual despite the importance of the question.
"Only me, as far as I know," he answered, looking puzzled. "She always insisted on keeping the location a secret. Why? What's going on, Red?"
"Something doesn't add up," I confessed, my mind racing as I tried to piece together the mystery surrounding her death. "If only you knew where the cabin was, then how did a werewolf find her?"
"Red, I swear, I didn't tell anyone," Adriano insisted, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I would never do anything to hurt her or you, you know that. Also, no one followed me, ever... I would have known."
"I believe you," I said softly, pulling him into another hug. He clung to me, his body shaking with silent sobs. My heart ached for him – for both of us.
"Alright," I whispered after a moment, releasing him from the embrace. "Take care of yourself, Adriano. We'll get through this together."
"Thanks, Red," he choked out, giving me a watery smile before turning and disappearing back into the forest.
I hurried back to where Silver was supposed to be waiting for me, heart pounding in my chest. The trees loomed ominously overhead, their branches casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. I cast my gaze around, searching for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Silver?" I called out, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Silver, where are you?"
Nothing. No response. Panic began to rise in my throat like bile, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had abandoned me after all.
"Damn it, Silver, this isn't funny!" I shouted, frustration and fear mingling in my voice as I continued to search for any sign of him. But after half an hour of fruitless searching, I knew I had to face the truth: Silver was gone.
Cursing under my breath, I trudged back to the Settlement, my mind racing with thoughts of what could have happened to him. As I approached the main square, I heard the sound of raised voices and angry shouting. My heart caught in my throat as I turned the corner and saw the source of the commotion.
There, in the center of the square, surrounded by jeering Hoods, was Silver in his werewolf form. He looked beaten, bruised, and utterly defeated, his proud shoulders slumped and his head hanging low. And worst of all, he was trapped inside a massive iron cage, the kind we used to imprison werewolves.
"Fuck," I muttered, feeling sick to my stomach as I took in the scene before me. Gabriel stood at the front of the mob, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he addressed the angry crowd.
"Behold the monster that has killed our Matriarch!" he bellowed, gesturing dramatically at Silver's prone form. "This beast will be executed at dawn tomorrow. It is the will of the Hoods, and it is final."
As the crowd erupted into cheers and jeers, I stood there, feeling utterly helpless and defeated. How could I save Silver from this fate when everyone around me seemed so eager to see him dead?
Thank you for reading! 🤗 I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The following episode comes next week, but if you really can’t wait, the book is available now!
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