CHAPTER 40. Don't let her go! >>>>>

Nora felt uneasy taking Akira to the dark hallway. She couldn't remember the last time any of them were allowed there,most of the girls who were picked to scrub the floors were always accompanied by Beta Ragnar, Madam Estelle, and some other Alpha council members. She had never been chosen, but the girls who had gone there returned with tales that they wished they had never experienced.

They confirmed it was quite scary, often hearing loud growls from inside, further validating the rumors that the Grand Alpha King went feral. Nora had been in the North for years and knew all the rumors, whether true or false. Even as she pushed her feet forward, she felt a deep sense of fear and unease, but she continued, knowing she'd reach the entrance soon enough. Then she'd leave Akira to carry her cross. She had no part in it, so she wouldn't even mention the place Madam Estelle had sent her to.

It was even more frightening that Madam Estelle had asked her to stand and wait there. Nobody in the North went there without the Grand Beta Ragnar.

As Nora continued, she hoped to see Beta Ragnar on the way, but she didn't. Not that she disliked Akira,she just didn’t want to get entangled in the current hate train against her. As a junior slave–petite and fragile without a wolf,she knew the other girls would bully her if they noticed she was friends with Akira. They had always hated her, and that animosity had doubled since they believed she had killed Thalia.

“Here.” Nora finally let out a shaky breath of relief. She turned to Akira. “Go in from here and keep going until the end. Stop at the wall; I’m sure Madam Estelle will be on her way soon.”

Before Akira could nod, Nora hastened her steps and left the place.

Akira heaved a deep sigh, her eyes darting around the darkened space. It was much darker inside compared to the outside where she had just come from.

After a few moments, Nora’s light footsteps vanished, leaving only silence.

Akira narrowed her eyes, hoping to see the walls Nora had described, but she didn’t.

Letting out a long, frustrated sigh, she wished Madam Estelle had postponed this until tomorrow, after she had checked on how Beth was faring.

Either way, she continued striding forward, her steps quickening. She wanted to finish this before Madam Estelle arrived so she could go to Beth.

Each of her fast steps made a soft echo. Her eyes strained in the darkness; even in the dark, she could see clearly.,.....thanks to her wolf, Aya.

Deep inside her chest, Aya stirred. She felt very uneasy about where Akira was going, but Akira didn’t pay her any attention.

Aya had always been uneasy about the Northern pack, but she was just a wolf who knew nothing of the outside world.

Each time she acted out, Akira didn’t bother to ask her what was wrong. She knew her wolf hated the North, so anything could easily irritate her.

As Akira moved forward, Aya stirred aggressively, pressing to burst out, but Akira wouldn’t let her.

Aya remained restless and continued to grumble, but her words fell on deaf ears.

“Turn back, Akira!” Aya finally snapped.

Akira rolled her eyes and continued. Aya knew nothing of the punishment she would face if she disobeyed Madam Estelle at this critical time, especially when everyone hated her for a murder she didn’t commit.

“Let’s go back! I have a very bad feeling about this place!” Aya stirred again, this time more firmly.

Akira swallowed hard. “Look, Aya, I can’t. I can’t go back right now. We’d be punished,don’t you get it?”

“I’d prefer we get punished than go to this place.”

Akira didn’t reply, instead she pushed her legs forward, taking careful steps. She paused when a deep wave of cold air brushed against her skin.

It felt as if she had walked into a different realm. The hallway was no longer warm,it felt utterly cold, and the smell worsened. It wasn’t just damp anymore—she could detect a faint metallic smell of blood.

Not animal blood…..wolf blood. Akira paused, sniffing hard. It might be a mile away, but she was sure it was blood.

She couldn’t help but hold her breath as she passed. When she finally inhaled again, the stench filled her chest and made her stomach tighten.

Aya prowled against her ribs, always restless.

Akira continued to move, ignoring whatever signs Aya was giving her, even as her heart pounded in her chest. She tried to steady her breath.

“Whatever they sent you for, you shouldn’t have come here,” Aya said again.

Akira clenched her fists. “Can you let me hear myself, Aya? Stop talking!”

Suddenly, as she continued, the darkness in the hallway began to diminish, and the space grew lighter.

She could now see the color of the walls and where they ended. Once she spotted it, she exhaled, a small smile creeping into the corners of her lips.

“I do not like this,” Aya began again, stirring around. “I have a bad feeling about this. I think we should just go back.”

“You’ve never liked anything to do with the Northern pack, so why should I listen to you?”

“No, you should. Today, I’m being very serious, Akira. Listen to me.”

“No, I won’t, Aya. You barely even talk to me most days—why decide to speak today? Go back to hiding; I’m better off without you!”

“I hide because I hate this place,” Aya snapped.

“And whose fault is that? Mine?”

There was a loud silence between them.

Aya didn’t reply, and Akira continued. “It’s none of our faults, but you seem to hide every time and won’t even speak to me.”

“Stay that way; I don’t need your random advice right now!”

Aya ignored Akira’s rant. “I still do not like this idea. Let’s leave.”

Akira rolled her eyes, turning her back to the walls. The last thing she wanted to do right now was argue or listen to Aya.

“She should go back to hiding,” she murmured.

A few moments later, Akira started to hear the approaching footsteps of a person. She exhaled slowly; it was certainly Madam Estelle.

She couldn't wait for her to show her where to clean or scrub so she could get going. She had limited time before the senior slaves locked their doors. Beth might not be strong enough to open it for her when she knocked.

As the footsteps got closer, Akira noticed the figure from afar. It wasn’t female; it was male.

Her heart started to race, and panic set in slowly, but she remained where she stood, her gaze narrowed to see the person.

She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as the figure approached. Her breath hitched when it was fully unveiled.

“Lord Ragnar?” Her heart stopped beating immediately.