Chapter 71

Harper’s POV

Pressing my hands over my ears doesn’t stop the sounds from Logan’s cell from reaching me. The grunts and groans of pain, the sound of something hitting flesh, and the shouts of pain; it all filters through my hands as I squeeze my eyes shut.

Another scream and then a cracking sound makes me whimper. I push further into he far back corner of my cell, hoping and praying that it stops soon. I wish for the silence from earlier to return.

Anything would be better than listening to this.

Someone is beating him, or doing something of the sort, and he keeps screaming and shouting in pain. They’ve been at it for a while, and the longer they torture Logan for information, the more frightened I become.

The elders said torture was okay, and they included me in that instruction.

Another crack sounds, followed by a broken cry that makes me flinch. Am I next?

Again, I try to block out the sounds. I hum and bury my head between my legs, pushing my hands harder against my ears. The sounds become muffled after a little while, and then they go completely silent.

I go still, listening for anything that would tell me what happens next. I’d wanted silence, but now it feels dangerous. The air around me practically vibrates with tension.

The creak of the cell door rips through the air, and I curl into myself. I pull my legs to my chest, tuck my head down, and peer over my knees. Then, I hold my breath and wait.

The two men that went to Logan’s cell earlier walk out and pause in front of my cell. Their once clean clothes are splattered with blood. They look at me and then exchange a silent look before turning back to look at me again.

My heart hammers so hard against my chest that I feel it in my throat. I can’t breathe as one of the men reaches for my cell door.

I’m next.

They’re going to break me down into little pieces, and there won’t be anything left of me once they’re done.

“Riker. Jones. He said to leave her alone,” a voice calls from somewhere down the hall. The two men don’t enter my cell; instead, they turn and walk toward the exit. I don’t move, though, afraid that they’ll change their minds and return to start on me.

Even as the door that leads upstairs closes, I don’t relax. I couldn’t even if I wanted to because I know I was just moments away from torture

And that thought is terrifying.

If that guard hadn’t stopped them, I’d be enduring the same treatment that Logan just went through. I dig my fingers into my legs and hug them to my chest. Instinctively, I want to call out for Lucas. Then, I remember who put me in here and I remember that he won’t be helping me anytime soon.

A sound outside of my cell makes me jump, but the moment my eyes land on Nora, I feel like crying. She grabs the lock and slips a key into the hole, unlocking the door.

“I’m getting you out of here,” Nora whispers, and I reach for her. She helps me stand, but my legs are shaking so badly that I have to lean on her to walk. “Stay quiet and follow my lead,” she whispers, leading me down the hall.

The two guards that were on duty are nowhere in sight, and as we pass by Logan’s cell, I force myself to keep looking forward.

We sneak through the dark hallways, stopping and ducking into side rooms or supply closets when someone comes our way. Nora stays completely silent, and I do the same. I tighten my grip on her hand as we make it to her bedroom and slip inside.

“To the window,” she whispers.

I nod, following her and watching as she slides the window open. I want to ask why she isn’t helping her brother, but I keep my mouth shut. Talking could lead to being found, and if that happens, she’ll be thrown into a cell with me.

Nora climbs out the window first, then helps me out. By the time I turn around, she’s no longer human. Her wolf stands in front of me, jerking its head at her back. Nodding, I climb on, wrap my arms around her, and take hold of her fur.

She takes off toward the forest, zigzagging through trees and jumping creeks. She runs for what seems like forever before she slows and stops in front of a secluded cabin.

“You’ll hide out here,” she says after shifting.

Launching myself at my friend, I throw my arms around her and the damn breaks. Tears stream down my face as my body shakes with sobs. She helps me inside, giving me tissues once we sit on the couch.

“I heard Brandon talking to my father about what happened.”

“Could you tell me because I don’t know what’s going on,” I cry, still confused.

“I overheard Brandon talking about Logan and how he’s been trafficking wolf souls. He also told my father that Logan used a potion to form a fake mate bond with you,” she says, looking down. “I know you would never do any of the things they’re accusing you of, so I had to help. Also, none of us had any idea that Logan was doing this, Harper. I swear.”

“I didn’t know either,” I sniffle. “I thought our bond was real, but now everyone thinks I’ve been helping him with all the crimes he’s been committing.”

She shakes her head, “My brother, Mason, and Lucas are digging further into everything. They’re trying to prove your innocence.”

More questions surface in my mind. If they think I might be innocent, why didn’t they let me explain or defend myself?

I want to believe her but being thrown in prison and nearly tortured has me thinking otherwise. Lucas wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say, and Mason could barely look at me as he locked me up. Is that how they treat people they think are innocent?

What’s even worse is that I want to go find Lucas and talk to him. I want to know what he’s truly thinking and if he really believes I’m innocent or if Nora is just speculating. Though, I realize it’s probably not a good time to go to him.

If I hide out here for a few days, Lucas will have more time to investigate the matter. Going back to the pack house now will only get me thrown back into prison, so I’ll stay. Maybe I’ll get Lucas to come to me, somehow.

“I packed you a bag of essentials and a laptop. I brought it out here earlier today while scouting that no one is patrolling around the cabin” Nora says, pulling a bag out from behind the couch. “You’ll be safe here for a while, but don’t go outside and keep a low profile.”

Leaning forward, I hug Nora again, “Thank you, Nora. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

After a while, she leaves to check the area. When the coast is clear, she goes back to the pack house to keep people from finding her absence suspicious.

Sinking back into the couch, I let my mind wander. If I can connect with Lucas, especially now that he might think I’m innocent, I could get answers. I need to know why Logan did what he did.

And if anyone knows, it will be Lucas.