Chapter 88. Shadows and Truths

Avery’s POV

Even as I was escorted to one of the pack’s guest rooms, a space of deceptive warmth and comfort with its soft, inviting sheets and the flickering glow of a welcoming fireplace, my mind was already formulating an escape plan.

Every polite smile, every offered comfort, felt like a calculated move, a subtle attempt to lull me into a false sense of security. I was a prisoner here, just a well-treated one, and I knew that the moment I let my guard down, the walls would close in.

But days passed, blurring into a monotonous cycle of forced rest and uneasy quiet. My associate had been allowed to see me whenever they wanted, and they were treated very well. It seemed they had let their guard down already.

Even I had been allowed easy movement and free access to wherever I wanted. I could go anywhere if I was bored or tired of being in my room. I could speak to whomever I wanted.

And with each sunrise, with each hesitant interaction with the m