FAILED PLANS VALERIA I pushed the wooden door , which was barely hanging on its hinges , and it let out a loud creak .


    Inside , the stench of mold , rotting wood , and decay hit my nose like a p , my eyes adjusting to the overwhelming darkness .


    Beside me , I noticed some remains of wooden beams from what used to be a doorframe .


    I picked up one with my trembling hands , ying the heroine once again .


    What I was doing was far too dangerous and reckless I knew that .


    But I couldnt just let them take him right in front of my eyes .


    I couldnt lose another pup , or I would never forgive myself Step by step , I ventured deeper into what seemed like the entrance hall and then into a living area , keeping a watchful eye on the floor where the wooden nks were lifted in some ces , leaving dark , deep holes with no visible bottom .


    Miss Valeria ! Edwards tearful voice called from above , and I immediately raised my head , spotting him at the top of the staircase , trapped between the shadows and the beams of moonlight filtering through the half copsed ceiling , The man held him from behind , an arm wrapped tightly around his neck , nearly strangling him , keeping the child suspended in the air since Edward couldnt support himself His legs shook with strange spasms , his face red with terror , his small hands desperatel


    y trying to loosen the iron grip around his neck .


    Stay calm , sweetheart .


    Everything will be alright , Edward , I tried to soothe him when I saw his face soaked withi tears , overwhelmed with fear and pain Let the boy go , you bastard ! What do you want ? Money ?! Heh , what a brave and selfless maid , sacrificing yourself for the Alphas son .


    How much do you think Daddy would pay us for him ? he mocked me with cruel sarcasm .


    If you know hes the Alphas son , how dare you do this within the packs territory ? I questioned , mind racing to find a way out of this situation .


    He responded , saying he no longer belonged to the pack , and thenunched into a hateful monologue about the Alpha .


    Valeria ! Where are you ?! Amid the chaos , Aldrics voice suddenly echoed in my mind , igniting a spark of hope I had thought we were too far apart for the link to work .


    I dont know exactly ! Its an old house on the outskirts of the packs center they have the Alphas son ! Hurry , Aldric ! I screamed in my mind , all while stalling the sadistic man upstairs , trying to buy time .


    Dont do anything reckless , Valeria ! Im close.


    Im following your scent ! Please , little one , dont put yourself in danger run if you get the chance ! the how and way can wolt for the Alpha se mene y uchu 11 may here and look after him .


    Just hand anymoes , Thegged , taking a rantsoen tep forward , terrified that once Aldric tom what they attend , this man might harth the hostage 1 held toward in In my arms , I could protect b?ng → 17 you want him ni badly , hers , take him ? be univered , and before trould react , he hurled the child down the ETWAND ? I akioked , rushing toward the base of the stain ase , heart pounding only to realize toote it had been a distractión .


    Ihadit noticed the other figures lurking in the darkness until they ambushed me from behind when my guard was lowered .


    Let me go , you bastards ! Let me go ! Aldric Aldric ! Let miego , you sick bastards ! I thrashed against what felt like two ingen restraining me , but of course , I was no match for their strength , Why did these horrible things always happen to me ? Why couldnt evil people just leave me alone ? Why ? Why ? like My Trustration boiled as I struggled violently , screaming a madwoman , trying to break free in the overwhelming darkness .


    Then , something answered my silent plea Suddenly , ck wings pped around us , slicing through the air .


    The deafening caws of ravens filled the room , their sharp bealo , and ws shing at my captors faces .


    creamed , trying to fend off the frenzied flock of birds , swiping blindly as the ravens attacked their eyes .


    with vicious precision 1 felt their grip loosen as the birds swarmed around us , feathers swirling through the air .


    As unbelievable as the scene was , I didnt waste a second I had to get to Edward making free from the chaos of pping wings , I lunged toward the small figure lying still on the filthy floor .


    But in my desperation , I made my final and gravest mistake I didnt see the gaping hole in the broken wooden floor.


    My foot slipped into the void , and before I could react , I fell aturp , high pitched scream tore from my throat as I plummeted into darkness , the crows cries echoing faintly above me , unable to reach me this time .


    That the ground hard ,nding on my back , dustrising around me as pain exploded through my body .


    But nothingpared to the agony that followed .


    A deep , wearing pain tore through my chest , unlike anything Id ever felt before .


    The stock of blood overwhelmed my senses .


    My trembling hands reached for the source , brushing against sorting cold and solid .


    A thick , rusted iron rod had pierced straight through my body .


    SI FAILED PLANS  … Damn it … What the hell happened with those crows out of nowhere ? What do we do with the Kings maid now ? They said she might be dangerous ! Then why the hell did we go through this whole n to lure her out and take her ? Idiots ! Should we actually ask for ransom for the Alphas son ? Since they wont pay us for the woman anymore … … Forget it ! Run , quickly ! No , leave the boy there ! I could barely make out the voices as my vision blurred .


    I stared helplessly at the hole above me , where three figures lingered , watching me like shadows from the underworld .


    Everything was fading the pain , the sound , the light .


    The blood kept flowing , soaking the ground beneath me .


    I was slipping away .


    VALERIA !!! A deafening roar echoed through the building , yanking me back from the suffocating darkness .


    My King hade for me .