Chapter 50 DANE I felt the floor crumble .


    Acting on pure instinct , I grabbed Aurora , pulling her into me and rolling so that she was on top of me as we fell .


    Dane ! she screamed .


    I knew I had no time , but I transformed .


    The lycan body could take more abuse than this one .


    The dark surrounded us .


    I was half transformed by the time we hit the ground .


    My back and ribs exploded in pain , but I kept my arms wrapped around her , kept her head tucked protectively against my chest .


    I couldnt breathe .


    The wind had been knocked out of me .


    She fought for me to let go , and I finally did .


    Goddess ! Dane ! She knelt beside me .


    Shed managed to keep her phone in her hand , and its light swept over me as she searched for injuries .


    I could tell Id cracked a few ribs , and I didnt even want to think about my spine .


    But I could still feel all my limbs so that was a good sign .


    I finished the shift all the way into a wolf .


    Then slowly , achingly , I turned back into man .


    The shift popped the seams of my clothes , but they were intact enough to wear .


    Aurora sat back as I shifted .


    When I was fully human again , she leaned forward and touched my head , my face , my chest .


    Are you all right ? Is anything broken ? Did the shift- ? It healed me well enough , I said .


    My voice was gruff .


    My body still ached , especially my head , but it was nothing I couldnt handle .


    Aurora stood up and shed her phone around .


    Trajan ! Archer ! I reached out for my beta with my mind .


    He was sore but answered .


    We fell pretty far .


    I think were in some kind of sub basement .


    Its strange .


    Theyre alive , I told her .


    To Archer , I said , Find a way back up and meet us .


    Yes , Alpha .


    I rose , wincing at a few aches and strained muscles hadnt been able to heal .


    Aurora was still shining the light around a bit wildly .


    It was strange to see her like this when shed been so calm , so collected since returning .


    If I listened with my wolfs ears , I could hear her heart beating .


    The way her breath fluttered in and out of her chest .


    Chapter 50 3/5 Come here , I said .


    I grabbed the hand that held her phone .


    In this state , youre likely to fling this against a wall and shatter it .


    Then you wouldnt have any light at all .


    1- I ignored her protests , gently took the phone from her hand , and shined it along her face and body .


    Are you injured ? No , she said .


    Then she hesitated and added , Thank you for that .


    If I hadnt done it , Trajan would have , I said .


    Seeing not injuries , I handed back her phone .


    Maybe he would have , she said .


    But you were faster .


    I grunted .


    I didnt want either of us reading into my actions more than strictly necessary .


    Alpha powers .


    Thats all .


    Come on .


    We need to try and find our way back upstairs .


    Do you recognize where we are ? She nced around , her pale brows drawing together .


    Its hard to say .


    Theres a lot of debris from the fall .


    She shed the phone around some more , then lifted it to look at the ce wed fallen through .


    Muttering to herself , she said , I think its this way .


    Then she led me into the dark .


    Chapter 50 The room wed fallen into wasrge and open .


    From the few boxes we saw around , it seemed to have been used mostly for storage .


    It took a few minutes , but we found the door .


    It was stuck .


    I kicked it open .


    4/5 It burst into splinters , and we moved through into another part of the basement .


    Eventually , we found a set of stone stairs .


    But they didnt lead all the way up .


    Only halfway.


    Is there another set of stairs ? I asked .


    Yes , she said .


    She had a determined look on her face .


    But these are the ones we want .


    We followed them up to a single door that opened into a bare stone room with no windows .


    Why did wee up here ? I asked .


    Theres only one room .


    Were looking for your childhood bedroom .


    Not some dismal storage area .


    She looked up at me with a raised brow .


    Dane … this was my room .


    Shock rocked me to my core .


    Because this wasnt a room .


    It was a prison cell .


    How could she have grown up here ? How could anyone who had any kind of heart kept a child in this ce ? This darkness ? Chapter 50 Is this a joke ? I asked .


    She frowned and shook her head .


    No , Dane .


    I told you .


    The Reeds abused me .


    Used me .


    5/5 She nced around the stone room , then took a few steps inside .


    She turned back to me and lifted her arms .


    The ceiling was so low she could touch it .


    In one corner of the room there was a sad little cot and a rickety wooden table next to it .


    Do you believe me now ? she asked .