Episode 57.
After his conversation with Dean, Ryan left feeling incredibly disheartened. This outcome was far from what he had anticipated. How was he supposed to navigate this situation now?
Having already betrayed his alpha for Dean, Ryan now found himself grappling with a wave of disappointment. He felt lost, unsure of his next move.
Should he return to Mula and offer an apology? But Mula was already confined, rendering any apology futile. Moreover, Ryan knew he couldn't aid in Mula's escape from captivity. It seemed Mula was resigned to his fate, even if it meant his own demise.
The weight of his betrayal hung heavy on Ryan. He understood that the trust once shared between him and Mula was irreparably damaged. He feared he had jeopardized any chance of earning back that trust.
Feeling overwhelmed, Ryan resolved to find a quiet place to reflect on his actions. He realized he needed to strategize his next steps carefully, without involving anyone else in his internal turmoil.
•
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At The Passage.
Elisa was rushing to the kitchen to prepare the best food for Mula that he could eat and sustain himself for a while.
Realizing that feeding him now might be her only chance as sneaking food into the cell was risky, given the alpha's watchful eyes, she quickened her pace through the passage, where she unexpectedly encountered Jared.
"Jared, thank goodness I found you here," she whispered, relieved. This was the perfect moment to share her plan with him.
Approaching him, she noticed his troubled expression and was taken aback by the severe injury on his face. Pausing in shock, she stared at him with a mix of surprise and concern, waiting for him to explain, noting that he was also struggling to walk.
"What in the... oh my gosh," she gasped, moving closer to gently touch his face and adjust it to get a better view of the injury.
"Jared, what happened to your face?" she asked softly, attempting to inspect the injury, only for Jared to wince in pain.
"Awwssh!" he groaned in discomfort.
"I'm so sorry, but what happened to your face?" She asked, noticing tears welling in Jared's eyes as he struggled to find the words.
Jared hesitated, unsure of how to explain that their cruel alpha was responsible for his injuries.
"Can you tell me who or what did this to you?" She inquired, studying the wound closely and realizing it was no ordinary injury.
"The alpha did this to me," Jared revealed, causing Elisa to look at him in surprise. She couldn't fathom what he could have done to incur such wrath from Dean.
"Why did he do this to you? What happened?" Elisa's curiosity peaked as she observed Jared's condition, feeling a pang of discomfort at seeing him in pain. Despite her usual facade of indifference, she genuinely cared.
"It's because of Minerva. I was supposed to be looking after her, and now she's gone," Jared explained, prompting Elisa to furrow her brow in dissatisfaction.
"Unbelievable. Why should you be punished for another's transgressions? It seemed unjust that Minerva wasn't the one facing consequences."
"He hurt you because of Minerva? He should know you can't bear the burden alone. He should have involved both of you. How heartless of him! Look at what he's done to you," Elisa exclaimed in frustration, gently touching his wounds as she expressed her dismay.
"Elisa, please, it's okay. You don't have to talk about this in that manner. You might get into trouble if the alpha hears your ranting," Jared advised, but she was not ready to calm down.
"Alpha, my foot! What does he gain from treating everyone in his pack like mere animals?" she yelled, only to have her mouth covered by Jared.
"Elisa, please, I'm begging you! I can't bear to watch you in pain. Just stop it," he whispered to her. She sighed, nodding her head, checking for anyone approaching.
When the coast was clear, she moved closer to Jared. "We're planning a way to free Mula from the cell," she whispered, causing Jared's eyes to widen in shock. He never expected that from her.
"What?" He exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, of course! The Luna is the mastermind behind this, and Mula promised us all a better life in his pack. A pack where every wolf is valued, where no one has to be an Omega. A free world. Isn't that what we've always wanted?" she whispered happily.
Jared looked at her for a moment, then scoffed, unsure of what to say. He scratched his head, blinking.
"Alright, that's great. But how do you plan to achieve that?" Jared asked, a crucial question.
Imagination is an easy world, far different from reality. One can spend just two minutes imagining what may never be possible, even in the next 20 years.
Elisa took a deep breath upon hearing his question, glancing around before gently guiding him to a secluded corner.
"This is where you come in. Each of us has a role to play, and I'm merely playing mine. See, I have the keys to the dungeon," Elisa said, displaying the key to him.
Jared's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth hanging open in shock as he gazed at her.
"This is madness! The alpha will have your head if he catches you! Mula won't stand a chance," Jared exclaimed.
"I never intended to unlock him. I'm just going to feed him. I showed you the key so you understand the gravity of the situation. You're the pack's scout, with a vital role to play," she explained, tucking a strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes behind her ear, as Jared listened intently.
Even though he was aware that their plan was doomed, he was taken aback by her belief that he was the pack's scout.
"Tonight, at dawn, while you're watching over the pack from outside, you need to go to Mula's Pack and alert his wolves that their alpha is here and needs rescue. They will come as a pack," she instructed, inhaling deeply and widening her eyes.
"Max and Athena are absent. We have already aligned ourselves with Mula, leaving no one to fight along side Dean. He will be defeated," she concluded, her voice filled with excitement.
Elisa was brimming with happiness, expecting Jared to share in her joy. However, when she looked at him, she saw no trace of happiness in his expression.
Sensing that something was amiss, her demeanor turned serious as she silently observed Jared, who met her gaze with a fixed stare at the floor.
"You're trying to tell me that you can't do this, aren't you?" she inquired. Jared glanced up at her, shaking his head.
"It's not about that. It would have been easier if you had tried to convince me to collaborate with you," he explained, leaving Elisa bewildered, struggling to grasp his words.
"So, what's the issue then?" she probed, prompting Jared to respond promptly.
"The situation is dire. I've been stripped of my scout position by the alpha and demoted to the lowest rank in the pack," Jared revealed, causing Elisa to look at him with a mix of confusion and concern.
"What do you mean?" she questioned, peering into his eyes.
"The alpha has relegated me to the status of omega. I'm sorry, but I can't assist you. I'm in great pain and need to rest," he expressed before walking away, leaving Elisa stunned.
Witnessing his suffering must have been heartbreaking for her. She took a deep breath, realizing they had a challenging road ahead.
Nevertheless, she knew she had to feed Mula first, then return to report the outcome of her discussion with Jared and Mula as well to Elena.