Chapter 2

Eve's POV

"Alpha says you can get out."

The guard's cold voice echoed through the dungeon. The iron door scraped open with a harsh screech, blinding sunlight cutting through the darkness like a blade.

After a night in that cell, my body ached everywhere, but the moment I heard those words, adrenaline shot through me. Noah! I had to save Noah!

I didn't wait for my eyes to adjust—just stumbled toward the exit. Every second I wasted could mean my son's death!

"Stop! You can't leave without Alpha's say-so!"

Two guards blocked the main gate, their crossed spears barring my path.

"Get out of my way!" I shoved against them desperately. "My son is waiting for me!"

"Sorry. You're restricted to the residence grounds."

"NO! Noah will DIE!" I screamed, clawing at the gaps in their armor. "Please! Let me through!"

But the guards didn't budge. I felt completely hopeless. I had to find Arthur.

I spun around and ran toward the back garden, shouting as I went. "Arthur! ARTHUR!"

Then I saw that disgusting scene.

Arthur sat leisurely at a white iron table sipping tea while Lilith, dressed in a pink lace dress, sat across from him feeding that damn ferret pastries with a silver spoon.

"Arthur!" I rushed over, my voice breaking. "Please! Send someone to save Noah!"

Arthur frowned and set down his teacup. "Eve, you spent all night in the dungeons and you're still not ready to face reality?"

"I'm not making this up!" I grabbed his sleeve desperately. "Noah might still be alive! He's out there waiting for me to save him!"

"Oh my, Eve, you look terrible." Lilith stood up. "Last night in the dungeon must have been awful. Here—" She picked up a velvet box from the table and smiled as she held it out to me. "This is a ruby necklace Arthur specially picked for me yesterday. I want to give it to you as compensation. Please don't be angry with us anymore?"

"I don't want it." I knocked her hand away hard.

The box hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Eve!" Arthur shot to his feet, his golden pupils blazing with fury. "What's your problem? Lilith offers you a gift and this is how you treat her? Want to spend another night in the dungeon?"

No. I couldn't be locked up again. Noah couldn't wait.

I gritted my teeth and bent down to pick up the fallen jewelry box.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly.

"That's more like it." Arthur sat back down. "Now do you understand your mistake?"

"I do." I clenched my fists, then dropped to my knees. "Arthur, I'm begging you... send a few people to check Black Forest? Just a few people... please..."

"Jesus Christ, still pushing this bullshit story!" Arthur waved dismissively. "Noah is wherever YOU hid him! Don't think I don't see through your little games!"

Lilith chimed in right on cue. "Yeah, just stop this nonsense. Bring Noah back already—everyone's worried about him."

"I didn't hide him anywhere..." I shook my head bitterly as tears streamed down my face. "He really was taken... why won't you believe me..."

"ENOUGH!" Arthur threatened. "Get to your room before I make you!"

That's when desperation gave me an idea—my only option.

"I'll agree to break the mate bond."

Arthur and Lilith both stared in shock.

"What?"

"I said I want to dissolve our mate bond." I repeated each word carefully. "If you send a team to Black Forest to save Noah, I'll sign the dissolution papers."

"Are you crazy? Three years you said no, now suddenly you want out?" Arthur's brow furrowed. "You think I can't see this is just another manipulation tactic?"

"Without me, how long do you think a civilian woman like you would survive?" He sneered. "Or have you already found yourself a replacement?"

"I haven't found anyone else." I closed my eyes. "I just want to save my child."

Lilith spoke up softly. "Arthur, why don't you give Eve a small team? Noah's probably just playing hide-and-seek somewhere. Once they search around and come back empty-handed, she'll give up. Then she'll have no excuse not to honor her promise."

Arthur thought for a moment, then finally nodded. "Fine. I'll give you five men. But if they don't find any rogue shifters, you sign those papers and get the hell out."

"Deal."

"I'll get the dissolution documents." Arthur turned and strode toward the house.

Only Lilith and I remained in the garden. I breathed a sigh of relief—finally, there was hope of saving Noah.

But then Lilith slowly walked toward me, her gentle mask slipping away to reveal a vicious smile.

"Too bad, Eve." She said softly. "Even if you go now, it's too late to save that little bastard."

I jerked my head up, my heart pounding. "What do you mean?"

Lilith didn't answer—just smiled even brighter.

Suddenly I understood. "It was you... YOU hurt Noah!"

"Oh my, you can't just say things like that." Lilith gasped and covered her mouth, blinking innocently. "After all, YOU'RE the one who didn't watch your child properly! YOU'RE the one who hurt Noah, aren't you?"

I snapped and went for her. "You BITCH! I'll KILL you!"

But Lilith was ready. She suddenly screamed and threw herself hard against the table.

"AH! Eve! You pushed me!"

Teacups and dishes crashed to the ground as she clutched her forehead, blood seeping between her fingers.

"Help! Arthur! Eve's trying to kill me!"

"You fucking BITCH!" I roared. "You killed my child!"

Arthur stormed out furiously. "What the hell is going on?"

"Arthur!" Lilith cried as she ran to him. "Eve went crazy! She said she'd kill me and pushed me into the table!"

"SHE killed Noah!" I pointed at Lilith, screaming. "She sent those rogue shifters—"

"You're still fucking lying!" Arthur bellowed. "Give her fifty lashes!"

Guards immediately seized me. The whip cracked through the air, agony tearing through my body.

One lash, two, three... I bit down hard to keep from screaming.

After fifty lashes, I lay on the ground barely breathing.

"Still want people to save your precious Noah?" Arthur sneered. "In your dreams! Get to your room and think about this shit!"

Arthur left with the sobbing Lilith, leaving me alone to struggle in my own blood.

I hauled myself up. Now I could only rely on myself. Even if it killed me, I had to find Noah. I couldn't let my child die alone in that dark place. Every step tore at the wounds on my back, but I had to keep going.

"Ma'am!" The butler hurried toward me, his face pale. "The gate guards delivered a package... addressed specifically to you..."

He pointed to a wooden box in the corner. Blood seeped through the wood, filling the air with the thick stench of death.

My heart stopped beating.

I walked trembling toward the box and lifted the lid.

Inside lay a small head. Golden curls, closed eyes, and the little face I'd kissed a thousand times.

My Noah.