CHAPTER 13 - Caught Out

Lyra In my dorm room, I lay under the covers of the most incredibly plush bed. Despite being exhausted from all that I’d been through, I couldn't fall asleep. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Ryan and what Sally had told me earlier about the Luna Trials. "Long ago," Sally said in an overly dramatic voice, "it was said that a very powerful member of Ryan's family rejected their destined partner. The Moon Goddess was so angered, she placed a curse on their bloodline, making it impossible for them to find true love. Well… at least not until a special she-wolf is born. They say only she can break the curse by completing several tests. These became known as the Luna trials." I mentally scoffed at at the tale. The arrogance displayed by one of Ryan's ancestors didn't surprise me one bit. “Do I have to participate in these trials?" I asked Sally. Her eyes widened briefly before she composed herself. "No," she said slowly, looking at me as if I sprouted horns, "only if you want to." "Oh, good. Because I definitely won't," I replied, and promptly changed the subject. As my eyes closed for the millionth time, I wondered why Ryan placed me at Harbringer. What was his motive? If he expected me to join the Luna Trials, he was mistaken. I had enough of ridicule in my old pack. Here, I would keep my head low, study hard, and find my place…. here or somewhere else. The campus clock tower chimed 1 AM. I settled deeper under the covers, and as I drifted off to sleep, my last memory of Ryan ran like a slideshow through my mind… The bright brass key glimmered under the torchlight. "I pretended to bump into a guard," Ryan said, "and stole the key. He never even knew I took it." My hands trembled as I reached through the bars, grasping Ryan's hand tightly. The dampness of the cave seeped deep into my bones, but I pushed the discomfort aside. All that mattered was the boy in front of me, his deep blue eyes filled with a determination to escape his captors. "You promise you'll protect me?" My voice cracked, barely a whisper over the drip-drip of water. Sweat mingled with the dampness on my skin, but it wasn't the cold making me tremble. Trusting another soul, after a lifetime of fending for myself, was a terror unlike anything I'd ever known. Ryan's gaze held mine, his thumb gently caressing my knuckles. Despite the darkness that surrounded us, there was a spark in his eyes, a promise that he would do whatever it took to keep me safe. "I promise, Lyra," he said, sincerity in his gaze. "I'll protect you, no matter what. Trust me." Trust him? I didn't trust anyone. My life was filled with lies and betrayals. All from my own family no less. Yet with Juan… Ryan there was something about him that made me put my faith in him. Made me say, "Okay. I'll meet you." Later that night, in the stillness of my room, I paced back and forth, my mind racing with thought of the present and the future. I wrung my hands, biting my lip as I imagined a life beyond Wolfsong's boundaries. The unknown terrified me, but anything was better than living under my stepmother's rule. In fact, why should we wait? What was left of the moon was hidden by clouds. Ryan had a key. We should leave now! A tremor went through me at what I was about to do. Gathering my bag that I had hidden away in my closet, I strapped it to my shoulders. Goosebumps pimpled on my arms with the first step from my room, footsteps nearly silent in the sleeping household. I moved through the darkened halls, pulse pulsing in my ears. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the curtains made my blood run cold. I pressed on, belief in Ryan and his promises giving the courage to push me forward. As I reached the front door, I paused, my hand hovering over the doorknob. 'This is it,' I thought to myself. 'The point of no return.' With my hand trembling with fear and excitement, I turned the doorknob, the sound of the latch clicking open echoing in the stillness. I pushed the door open, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The first step outside had my pulse racing as I tasted freedom… "Just where do you think you are going?" Vivian's voice broke the stillness, and my eyes immediately went to the club she carried in her hand. The next morning, a commotion outside jolted me awake. I sat up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest as I strained my ears to listen. The sounds of shouting and the distant crackle of flames sent ice through my veins. I threw off the covers and rushed to the window, my eyes widening at the sight of smoke rising from the prisoners' area. A sense of unease settled in my stomach as I hurried to get dressed, my hands fumbling with the buttons on my shirt. I hobbled towards the door, my legs still sore from my stepmother's punishment. The smell of smoke grew stronger as I stepped outside, the acrid scent stinging my nostrils. I scanned the crowd of pack members gathered around the burning building, my eyes on the move as I searched for a familiar face. I spotted one of the pack members, a tall man with a stern expression, and hurried towards him. "What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling. The man's eyes were cold as he looked me up and down, his lips curling into a sneer. "The prisoners tried to escape," he said, pointing to the smoke billowing from the building. "Some learned a hard lesson." His words were like a punch to my gut, and I felt my knees buckle beneath me. I grasped onto the man's arm to steady myself, my breath coming in short gasps as reality sank in. The prisoners...they were gone? All of them? He shook me off with a huff and moved away. I stumbled backwards, my vision blurring as tears filled my eyes. I limped towards the prisoners' area, trying to ignore the pain shooting up my legs. The snippets of conversation swirling around me felt like daggers cutting into my heart. "Prisoner died." "Others escaped." "Good riddance." As I got closer, my eyes landed on a body covered by a sheet. My breath caught in my throat, tears blurring my vision as I reached out with a trembling hand. Slowly, I pulled back the sheet… I clapped my hands over my mouth, stifling a scream upon seeing the old woman's face. Her eyes were rolled to the whites. Black soot covered her from nose to chin. Lips pulled back in a death snarl. Ryan was nowhere to be seen. Fresh tears rolled down my face as the truth hit me like a physical blow. He had left without me, breaking his promise. Shattering my trust. I sank to my knees, a sob tearing from my throat. My soul, crushed. The crowd around me faded into a distant hum, their words lost to the wind. I had trusted him. I had believed in him… And he had left me behind.