The Twelfth Moon || ✔️

70. Beginnings And Endings

"Where do you think he'd be now?" Benjamin asked. "I've learned the maps of these tunnels by heart ever since I was young, I can take you to the nearest point."

By the Moons, I had no idea. Would he wait somewhere? How would he even hide an entire army? He would go straight for the attack, surely. Aven had no interest in a siege. Killing was the only thing on his mind.

"I don't know," I admitted. "The scouts I came here with are hiding at the North-West side, behind the slums."

"Alright, we'll start there," he said, leading me into the tunnel to our right.

I followed him underground, where we hasted our way through the underpass. 

"You memorized these tunnels as a kid?" I asked after our third turn. He didn't even need to stop to think about what direction we needed to head.

"Yes. My parents started teaching me when I was around eleven or twelve years old."

Sam was thirteen. Would Benjamin tell him all about it soon? Or did he already know?

"How-" I had to gather myself before I continued, feeling a lump growing in my throat. "How did Beckett never find out?" 

"He's suspicious. More so than the previous Alpha. But that only makes us even more cautious - and he hasn't found any proof to confirm his inklings."

"Yet," I whispered. "We're about to lead Aven into his safe haven through the tunnels."

"If Aven kills him, I suppose that won't matter much."

We took another turn, when Benjamin explained, "We're in the center of the slums, now. We'll be out soon. I won't be able to follow you of the tunnel, but I'll wait for your return."

"That's-" I perched my ears, suddenly hearing someone grunt. The echo was faint, but not faded enough to escape my ears. It didn't sound too near, but it couldn't have been Benjamin anyway.

"What's wrong, Sari?" Benjamin asked, hushed. He seemed on edge, quickly halting, his body stiffening and his posture losing its natural softness. He had read my reaction well because he knew me so well. If only I could say the same about him.

"We're not alone," I whispered, shaking the thoughts away. I would have time later to mope about all this mess. Or maybe not. Either way, I had no time for it now, I reminded myself.

He nodded, nervously biting his lower lip. He didn't ask me how I knew, or if I was sure. He immediately trusted my senses, because he knew what I was capable of. 

No, I ordered myself again, but the thoughts kept worming themselves into my mind, crawling into every little empty space they could find, and nesting there, multiplying and never leaving me alone.

Breathe, I thought, imagining Jerr was here to do it with me. Breathe. In, and out. 

"Can you hear who it is?" he whispered back.

I shook my head. "Doesn't smell like a wolf," I concluded, searching the air around me for that typical, animalistic scent.

"That's not good," Benjamin said.

"What? Why?"

Benjamin began walking again, nearing the source of the sound. "We got here because you warned us, Sari. No one knows about these tunnels but we, and we're strictly forbidden to use them unless our lives are in danger."

"You were the only ones I warned," I realized.

"Yes," Benjamin confirmed, his candle shaking. "We might be too late."