Ella

As the startled men hurry out of the conference room, Henry turns to Cora and I, looking at us with a grim expression as we stare at him in terror.

“I have made a grave miscalculation,” he informs us with a steady, regretful nod. “I am sorry, girls – I have failed you – ”

“Wha- what?” I gasp, holding my baby tight. “Henry – what are you talking about?”

“It was a trap,” he says, looking towards the door, where we can still hear the banging – increased in pace now – as well as shouts, the beginning of screams –

“A trap?” Cora asks, turning towards the door herself.

“They knew,” he says, and I’m still staring at Henry as he shakes his head. “They must followed us back here after the sewer and then bided their time, waiting for the bulk of our forces – and our most powerful wolves – to leave before they attacked. Damn it!” he shouts, slamming a frustrated hand against the arm of his chair. “I was a fool, to leave you and the child unguarded!”

“Oh my god,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I try to wrack my brain for something – anything to do next –

“Come,” Henry says, pulling himself together and rolling quickly to the corner of the room. There, he points to the edge of the carpet. “Cora,” he orders. “Pull that up.”

Cora does as he says, instantly falling to her knees and digging her hands into the corner of the carpet, getting her fingers beneath and pulling as hard as she can. I can’t help my surprise when I see what is revealed when she pulls enough of it back.

A trap door.

“Open it,” Henry snaps, and Cora does so, lifting the little latch and swinging the door up to reveal a very thin winding staircase that leads down, down, down.

orders, not looking to us

I protest, shaking my head. ” We can’t

from the hallway, making me jump. And then

“Go down. Keep going. At the bottom is a tunnel, and at the end of it, a car. God willing it is in good

and presses it into my hand. “Tell them what happened as soon as you are out. But don’t tell them where you are until you get to a different phone.

and I can see his

grows louder and my breath comes faster as I

to Cora and then swooping down to kiss Henry on the cheek. “Henry, we love you. We’ll – we’ll come back for

eyes only on Rafe now, who squalls unhappily in my arms at all the noise. “Take the baby – take yourselves. Get safe girls.

my heart wrenching to leave him – to leave him

follow quickly after, reaching out to hand her the phone so that she can light our way and the baby

the door snaps shut above me, leaving me in

Cora cries, “Ella please – come we have to

say, swallowing my horrible fear and steeling myself for all we have to do next. We have to survive. We have to get out of here

and look determinedly down at

once, and then she

Sinclair

begin to unload themselves from the cars. We’ve arrived at our place of entrance,

is the best way in

stronghold. But still, if I never went in

my phone, where I’ve been keeping in touch with my father. “Apparently they’re

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