The noises began before they reached the stairs.
Giggles.
Scratching.
A song hummed out of tune.
When they stepped onto the second level, every prisoner was awake — eyes too wide, smiles too sharp.
"You smell sweet," one hissed.
"Pretty little wolves…" another crooned.
"They'll bleed silver," a third whispered.
Nova and Elle's hands shook violently. This time — Elle broke.
Her breath stuttered into rapid shallow gasps. Her eyes squeezed shut as she pressed her back to the wall, sliding down.
Nova didn't hesitate. She grabbed Elle's hands.
"You breathe, I breathe" she whispered, voice shaking.
Together — trembling — they inhaled.
Slow. Slower.
Elle choked a laugh‑sob. "I hate it here."
Nova nodded, tears spilling again. "I hate it too."
"It smells like death," Elle added miserably.
A long pause.
Then Nova, still shaking, muttered: "Let's never talk back again. Even if they call us whore, slut, bitch, omega prostitutes."
Elle let out the weakest laugh in history.
"Agreed."
The prisoners stared, confused by this emotional breakdown.
______________________
Cael was halfway to the courtyard when he collapsed to a knee, clutching his chest.
Elle's fear slammed him like a physical blow. He gasped.
When he saw two black wolves running, he knew something was off. Cael shifted mid‑air and landed on four paws.
The three wolves tore across the grounds, powerful and silent.
Jax: They're not in either eastern dungeons.
Cael: There's something wrong with Elle. I need to take her out of there immediately.
Jax: I think Nova is having a hard time breathing.
Cael: That's what Elle is having.
The three of them picked up the pace even more.
Finric felt rage for Nova and his wolf knew her wolf was not okay.
Fin: How dare he actually keep them the entire night. In a dungeon with active prisoners.
Wind howled around them as they vanished into the forest to check the northern prisons. After checking those, they moved to the western prisons.
Jax: You don't actually think he brought them to the southern prison with our most dangerous criminals.
Cael: I'll kill him.