Chapter 3e

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Finbar felt the pit in his stomach deepen, but he knew better than to resist, though desperate as he was. His fear showed no sign of stopping, and he wanted nothing more than to cradle his children again and huddle with his woman. Two wolves, including the gray one, moved in quickly, flanking him as they led him away from the clearing. The eyes of the pack followed him, some filled with contempt, others simply curious.

No one spoke as they escorted him toward the cave, but Finbar could feel their hate blazing upon him like the noon sun on a hot summer’s day.

There, half-hidden beneath an overhang, was the cave—dark, cold, and uninviting. Finbar was shoved roughly toward the entrance, his paws scraping against the stony ground.

"Get in," the gray wolf growled.

The white wolf-dog hesitated for only a second before stepping inside, almost tripping. The darkness swallowed him whole, the only light coming from the opening where the two wolves now stood guard.

The interior was cramped, with jagged rocks lining the walls, and the damp air chilled him to the bone. There would be no comfort here. He was a prisoner, awaiting sentencing that could very well end his life.

These could be his last hours, his last day with breath still in his lungs. Had he really survived the ice river only for his life to be snatched away a couple of months later?

As the guards settled outside, their silhouettes blocking most of the light, Finbar let out a long, shaky breath. His mind ran a million miles per hour with thoughts of Willow, Moonlily, Sugarloaf and Ashen. He had to survive this—not just for himself, but for them. Though, how could he? Would the pack truly give him a chance to prove his worth, or was this just a prelude to his demise at dawn?

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Hours passed. It felt like a never-ending hell in his head.

The sounds of the forest filtered faintly through the cave entrance—the distant calls of birds, the rustling of leaves—but inside, it was quiet and still. Finbar could hear nothing but his own heartbeat pounding in his warm ears.

He shifted uncomfortably on the cold, jagged ground, trying to find a position where his aching limbs could rest. Sleep eluded him. His thoughts kept drifting back to the situation he was in, and to the look in Alpha Balto’s eyes.

There had been a hint of softness there, a glimmer of something that gave him hope, but he couldn’t be sure.

The future was uncertain.

Eventually, as the day began to wane and the light grew dimmer, Finbar heard footsteps approaching. He lifted his head, his ears perking up. Someone was coming. The guards outside growled a warning softly, but they did not move, allowing the visitor to approach.

“Let me enter, Thorn,” came a stern female voice.

The gray wolf moved aside, albeit reluctantly. “Yes, High Lady Willow.”

‘Willow!’ Finbar’s head shot up to see her walking down into his holding place, her face filled with concern.

“Finbar,” she whispered, her voice sodden with emotion. “I had to come see you.”

He stood slowly, moving toward her, but he stopped just short of her, afraid of making her things worse; he was being watched closely. “Willow,” he murmured. “I… I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”

Tears glistened in her eyes as she closed the distance between them, nuzzling him gently. “It’s not your fault,” she said softly. “You didn’t know. I just… I can’t lose you, Finbar. Not like this.”

He pressed his head against hers, savoring the warmth of her touch. “I don’t know what they’re going to do,” he admitted. “But no matter what, I’ll always be with you. Even if…”

“Don’t say that,” Willow interrupted, her voice shaking. “We’ll find a way to fix this. I’ll speak to my father again. I’ll make him come to his senses. His grandchildren need a father, surely he wouldn’t leave us defenseless.”

Finbar closed his eyes, wishing he could believe that. He wanted so badly to hold on to hope, but the reality of his circumstance wasn’t so whimsical. “I just want you and the pups to be safe,” he whispered. “That’s all that really matters.”

“We need you,” Willow replied fiercely. “Our pups need you. And I won’t let them take you from us.”

Her determination stirred something within him, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to hope again… even if that hope was as small as a mustard seed.