Chapter 1561: The Chains Beneath the Moon

The days inside the mountain prison blurred together. Steve sat quietly in the dim light, his back resting against the cold wall. His wounds had begun to heal, the torn flesh knitting together at a slow but steady pace.

The guards still brought him food every day, meat, water, and the occasional herb mixture meant to aid recovery. It was strange. Why would they feed him, heal him, keep him alive? Wouldn’t it be smarter to let him grow weak, too weak to fight or escape?

He couldn’t tell if this was some trick or if Rogan still saw him as one of his own.

Maybe this is his way of pretending he still cares, Steve thought bitterly. He kills those who leave but spares the ones who disobey him. Maybe it makes him feel merciful.

But soon, he got his answer.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the cave, slow and deliberate. The guard standing watch immediately stiffened, then stepped aside as Rogan entered. The Alpha’s presence filled the space, the weight of his aura enough to make the air grow thick.

“Leave us,” Rogan said simply, and the guard obeyed without hesitation, retreating until his scent was gone completely.

For a few moments, silence lingered. Then Rogan spoke, his tone deceptively calm. “I’ll ask the question anyway, Steve. Do you still think what I’ve done is foolish?”

Steve didn’t look away. Despite the chains, despite the pain still etched into his muscles, his will hadn’t broken. His spirit burned as fiercely as ever.

“Of course I do,” Steve said flatly. “You call it protecting the pack, but what you did wasn’t protection, it was slaughter. You talk about family, but you shed our family’s blood. That’s something I can never forgive.”

Rogan’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

“What’s your plan now?” Steve continued. “To keep me here forever? To come every day and ask if I’ve changed my mind? You think that’ll work?” He scoffed. “You’ll need to come up with something better than that.”

Rogan didn’t rise to the taunt. He merely shook his head, almost pitying. “No, Steve,” he said. “I won’t have to do anything.”

His eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness. “I’ll continue to lead this pack. I’ll make us stronger, as I’ve always done. And when others come here asking to leave, asking to join them, I’ll make sure they never become enemies that threaten what we’ve built.”

Steve’s lips curled in disgust. Even now, even after everything, Rogan was justifying murder in the name of unity.

“You think that’s strength?” Steve asked. “You think fear and control will keep us safe? You’re wrong, Rogan. All you’re doing is turning this place into a grave.”

Rogan took a step closer, his shadow falling across Steve. “Then wait and see,” he said. “When the time comes, when the other Alpha brings war to our gates, you’ll finally understand. You’ll see that I was right. You’ll see that I’m the one keeping this family alive.”

He crouched slightly, lowering his gaze to meet Steve’s. “And when that happens, you’ll fight beside me again. Because no matter how much you hate me, this is still your family. And you’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”

Steve’s heart twisted at those words. Rogan was right about one thing, Steve did want to protect the pack. He’d do anything to keep them safe. But right now, the biggest threat to their safety wasn’t the outside world.

It was Rogan.

“I want to test something,” Rogan said suddenly, standing tall again. “Transform. Try to break those chains.”

Steve blinked. “What?”

“I want to see if these restraints hold,” Rogan said. “I’ll know if you’re pretending, so don’t bother faking it.”

Steve stared at him for a moment, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. He’s treating me like a wild beast now, he thought.

Then he spoke, his voice cold and steady. “No. You’re not a man I’ll listen to anymore. If my words mean nothing to you, then you’re no longer my leader.”

Rogan’s expression hardened. He grunted, turning away. “Fine,” he said. “Then you can starve. Maybe hunger will make you more obedient.”

He left without another word.

For a while, Steve sat in silence. Then the guards returned, bringing a fresh torch that flickered weakly against the damp walls. One of them lingered a moment longer than usual.

The guard looked at him, really looked, and Steve saw no hint of malice in his eyes. Only sadness. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

Time passed. Hours blurred into night.

In the camp outside, the rhythm of life continued. Some werewolves preferred the night, their instincts more alive beneath the moonlight. Others, once human, clung to the day. The pack never truly slept; there were always voices, always movement, always watchful eyes.

That was why Rogan had guards working in shifts. Every few hours, one would trade places with another, keeping constant watch over Steve’s cell.

When the next guard arrived, the cave had grown darker. He stood silently for a few moments, staring through the carved stone bars. Then, without warning, he turned his back to the entrance and lifted his hand.

A single swipe of his claw tore through the stone like paper. Dust scattered, cracks running up the wall until the bars split apart completely.

Steve’s head lifted in shock.

The guard stepped closer. “I’m getting you out of here.”

“What are you doing?” Steve hissed. “If Rogan finds out, he’ll kill you!”

The guard’s voice trembled slightly, but his eyes were resolute. “If you hadn’t saved me back then, I’d already be dead. You pulled me out of the pit those humans threw me into. You gave me a place to belong.”

He reached for the chains. “I don’t know what’s happening between you and Rogan, but I do know this, you don’t deserve to be treated like this.”

Steve’s chest tightened. He wanted to refuse. Even if he escaped, Rogan would find out, and this wolf, this good-hearted fool, would pay the price. He couldn’t let that happen.

But before he could speak, more footsteps echoed through the cave.

“What the...?” one voice whispered. “Someone’s already here!”

Steve turned. A group of young werewolves stood at the entrance, faces he recognized immediately.

“It looks like the guard’s breaking him out,” another said.

“So it was pointless that we stole the key,” a third muttered.

Steve blinked, speechless. “You, what are you doing here?”

They didn’t answer. They moved quickly, helping the guard break the remaining chains. The moment one of the young wolves unlocked the final shackle with the key, Steve fell forward, barely catching himself.

“Don’t worry about us, Steve,” one of them said, smiling faintly. “You saved us from our old lives. We couldn’t just stand by and watch you rot here.”

Another grinned nervously. “So, go. Do what you need to do. Leave this place and live your life.”

Steve stared at them, his chest heavy.

“Now that we’ve broken you out,” the young wolf added softly, “you don’t have a choice.”

*****

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