My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"If they can be released safely right now, then yes! How long have they been in there?" August asked as they stepped through a slippery patch of leaves and Graeme's hand tightened around hers.

Whoever had been put in the dungeon initially for 'speaking against her,' whatever that even entailed, likely hated her even more now. It was a very lonely, miserable place to be. And they were in there simply for voicing their feelings—these pack members who had been deceived for years, being presented with a truth by the elders about the alyko that may have even run in contrast to their own instincts. But after being given one story for so long and having lived through the fallout of a tragedy, anyone's feelings could sour.

August didn't blame those who would be at least suspicious of her, if not entirely opposed to her presence. But they needed a chance to hear the truth. Once they got to know her and see how she and Graeme could lead with compassion together, then they would hopefully come around. The pack could heal.

"Let's focus on getting Zoe out now, and then I will take care of the others," he replied. August evaluated his sincerity with a sidelong glance, and he chuckled. "Before Samhain. I vow it."

"What about the treehouse for Zoe?" the thought suddenly occurred to her. "Would Maggie's enchantment work for her? If she were there, could no one with ill intentions enter?"

"That's how it's supposed to work, but after Marius showing up there, I don't know what loopholes there are to it," Graeme grunted. "And it would't keep her from leaving if she wanted to."

"If we have her share her truth with the pack on Samhain, then we only really need to keep an eye on her for a few days," August pointed out.

"Okay. We'll take her to the treehouse," he agreed and pulled out his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm sending Sam a message to have him find Lucas and bring him to meet us at the treehouse. Hopefully your instincts about Lucas are right and he won't mind watching her for a few days," Graeme mumbled as he typed away on his phone.

As they once again entered the dark stairway descending into the dungeon, August wondered why she couldn't see this supposed glow that was so apparent to everyone else.

"I have a question," she whispered, as if she was still concerned with evading guards down here rather than walking down as the Alpha and Luna of the pack.

"What is it, my Luna?" there was the hint of a smile in his voice even though she couldn't see his face clearly.

"Do I illuminate the darkness with this strange glow of mine?"

"You do a bit, yes," he chuckled. She was whispering like a child who had learned something unfathomable.

"How much?"

"It's a soft glow," he smiled in the darkness.

"Should I walk ahead and light the way for you?" she teased.

"I can see quite well in the dark, Moon," he squeezed her hand.

Zoe's cell was quiet again when they arrived in front of it. August and Graeme glanced at each other wordlessly, and she could see that he still had a measure of doubt about what they were about to do.

"Zoe?" August called out gently as she further approached the door.

"Luna?" An excited reply instantly came with what sounded like scrambling from within until the were rustles of movement just on the other side.

"Yes, I'm back. I brought Graeme with me, and we are going to let you out, okay?" she replied, glancing at Graeme as she did.

Zoe went quiet, fearing perhaps what may happen to her now. She had revealed many things that were kept secret in this pack for so long. Had she been unwise to do it?

Sure, she wanted to get back at Andreas. He obviously cared nothing for her and had forsaken the agreement to make sure she was well taken care of—he hadn't even visited her down here to explain himself! If her predicament was a temporary situation to advance some scheme of his, then he could at least let her in on it! Seeing the expression on his face the moment he realized she had rebelled against him would bring her a great deal of satisfaction indeed.

But Graeme must be furious to learn of how he had been manipulated and deceived. This was going to be tricky to get him to see her as simply a… a tool used by the elders rather than a mastermind of some kind. Rather than the cause.

"Will he try to hurt me?" she asked cautiously, not that she could do anything to avoid it. And it wasn't the actual hurting she was fearful of, it was the trying.

Graeme and August exchanged glances again before he went to retrieve the key to the cells from further down the hall.

"I have asked him not to. He is very angry though, Zoe. So please cooperate, okay?" August answered.

"Thank you for coming back for me. Thank you thank you thank you. Lucas tries to visit as much as he can because he knows how lonely I am, and he brings me food too because most prisoners in here are only fed once a day, but he was the one who moved me from the first cell into this one, and he must have been surprised to see someone who looked so young abandoned in here like I was. He even brought me the heater outside the door hoping it would make me more comfortable. He is very friendly. But even with all of that, this is the worst place I have ever been left in since I've been in this pack," she continued on until Graeme returned with the key and she heard it sliding in the lock.

Graeme slid open the heavy door to reveal the pitiful looking Zoe wrapped in a blanket with a fiery gleam of hope in her eyes.

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