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Lia's POV

The sound of the keys jingling outside my cell sent a chill down my spine. I sat up, staring at the bars, dreading yet another interruption to my solitude. My life was in shambles, but at least here, in this cold, damp cell, I could think—strategize.

“Get up,” the warden’s gruff voice commanded as she unlocked the door.

I stayed seated, narrowing my eyes. “What now?”

“You have visitors,” she snapped, stepping inside.

Visitors. My stomach churned. No one should be here. No one who cared about me would dare come to this place. Which left only enemies.

I stood slowly, letting my chains rattle as I stretched out my aching limbs. “This should be fun,” I muttered under my breath, following her out.

The warden led me through the long corridor. Every step felt heavier than the last, the chains clinking like a somber melody. As we stepped outside, the blinding sunlight stung my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust, and then I saw them.

Alina and Dean.

Alina stood tall and regal, her arms crossed, her expression dripping with smug satisfaction. Dean, on the other hand, leaned casually against a post, his face devoid of emotion, but his sharp eyes never left mine.

I let out a short, bitter laugh. “Well, well,” I said, tilting my head. “Dean, is this your new plaything? Or are you just following her orders like a good little pet?”

Alina’s face twisted in fury, and before I could react, her hand flew across my face, the sharp sting spreading through my cheek. The warden didn’t even flinch; she just stood there, indifferent, as though this was a daily occurrence.

“You vile, conniving wench!” Alina spat, her voice low and venomous. “You think this is a joke? You will pay for what you’ve done! The elders will see to that.”

I took a step back, tasting blood on my lip but refusing to wipe it away. “Punished for what, Alina? For existing? Or for standing in the way of your desperate need for control?” I smirked, though my heart raced in my chest. “Tell me, dear sister-in-law, have you ever stopped to ask yourself who’s really behind all this?”

“Shut your mouth!” she barked, her hands trembling with rage.

I turned my attention to Dean, ignoring her outburst. “And you, Dean? What’s your angle here? Or are you just here for the entertainment?”

Dean stepped forward, his presence imposing despite his calm demeanor. “We’ve got evidence, Lia,” he said coolly, his tone sharp as a blade. “Evidence of your affair with Luca. Even when you were engaged to Finn, you were sneaking around like the ungrateful little liar you are.”

My smirk faltered, but I quickly recovered. “Oh, please,” I scoffed, my voice laced with defiance. “What kind of evidence? Fabricated texts? Staged photographs? You two are grasping at straws, and it’s pathetic.”

Dean leaned closer, his dark eyes boring into mine. “The elders won’t see it that way. You’ll be tried, and when the truth comes out, you’ll wish you’d never crossed us.”

I held his gaze, refusing to show fear. “You’re both cowards,” I said, my voice steady. “And when the real truth comes out, it’ll be you two standing in chains, not me.”

Alina’s laugh was cold and hollow. “Keep dreaming, Lia. But remember this: tomorrow, the elders will strip you of whatever dignity you think you have left. You’ll rot in the pack’s prison, and no one will mourn you.”

I turned to the warden, ignoring Alina’s venomous words. “I don’t want any more visitors,” I said firmly. “Not from them, not from anyone. Make it clear—they’re not welcome here.”

The warden nodded, her face betraying no emotion as she led me back inside.

As I walked away, I could feel their eyes burning into my back, their hatred palpable. But I refused to look back. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

Back in my cell, I sat down heavily on the cot, my mind racing. They thought they had won, but I wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.

___

Alina's POV

I paced the length of my room, my heels clicking against the polished wooden floor, my thoughts racing as I waited for Dean to arrive. Everything was falling into place, but there was still one loose thread that needed to be tied up—Lia.

A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I said curtly.

Dean stepped inside, his face unreadable, as always. He moved with a quiet confidence that unnerved most people, but I found it useful. It was one of the reasons I had kept him close all these years.

“You called?” he said, shutting the door behind him and leaning casually against the wall.

“Yes,” I replied, folding my arms. “We need to discuss Lia. The elders are already meddling, demanding her return to the pack for questioning. If we don’t act soon, this whole thing could spiral out of control.”

Dean smirked, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “You sound worried, Alina. That’s not like you.”

I shot him a glare. “Don’t test me, Dean. I’ve come too far to let some meddling elders ruin my plans. Lia needs to be brought back to the pack—on our terms. We can’t let her fall into their hands. They’ll start asking questions, digging into things best left buried.”

Dean nodded thoughtfully, straightening up. “So, what’s the plan? I assume you’ve already thought of a way to get her out of that cell?”

“Of course,” I said, a small, satisfied smile tugging at my lips. “But it won’t be easy. The prison is heavily guarded, and the warden is no fool. We’ll need to be careful, precise.”

Dean crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward. “I’m listening.”

I began to pace again, outlining my plan as I spoke. “First, we’ll create a diversion. Something that will draw the guards’ attention away from Lia’s cell. A fire, perhaps, in one of the storage rooms. It doesn’t have to be big—just enough to cause chaos.”

Dean’s lips curved into a sly grin. “I like it. Chaos is always a good distraction.”

“While the guards are occupied,” I continued, “you’ll enter the cellblock disguised as one of them. I’ve already arranged for a uniform to be delivered to you. Once you’re inside, you’ll escort Lia out under the pretense of transferring her to another facility.”

Dean raised an eyebrow. “And you think she’ll cooperate?”

“She won’t have a choice,” I said coolly. “I’ll make it clear to her that this is her only chance to escape the elders’ wrath. She may be stubborn, but she’s not stupid.”

“And once we get her back to the pack?”

I paused, meeting his gaze. “We’ll keep her under lock and key, out of sight. The elders can’t question her if they don’t know where she is. And once the Moonlight Auction begins, we’ll put the final phase of our plan into motion.”

Dean chuckled darkly. “You really are ruthless, Alina. No wonder Finn trusted you to handle things.”

At the mention of Finn, a flicker of pain shot through me, but I quickly pushed it aside. This wasn’t the time for sentimentality.

“This isn’t just about me, Dean,” I said sharply. “It’s about the pack. Finn’s death has left us vulnerable, and Lia is a threat to our stability. She has to be dealt with.”

Dean nodded, his expression turning serious. “Understood. When do we move?”

“Tomorrow night,” I replied. “I’ll handle the arrangements for the diversion. You focus on getting that uniform and making sure everything on your end goes smoothly.”

Dean gave a mock salute. “Consider it done. Anything else?”

I hesitated for a moment, then added, “Be careful, Dean. If anything goes wrong, it could be both our heads on the chopping block.”

He smirked again, his confidence unwavering. “Don’t worry about me, Alina. I know how to handle myself.”

As he turned to leave, I called after him. “And Dean?”

He paused, looking back at me.

“Make sure Lia understands that this is her only chance. If she so much as thinks about betraying us, she won’t live to regret it.”

Dean’s grin widened. “You’re more ruthless than I thought, Alina. I like it.”

With that, he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, steeling
myself for what lay ahead. Lia’s days were numbered, and I would make sure she paid for everything she’d done.