The wolf among us: Legacy of Wolves and Snow

Chapter 2: A Night The Woodlands

Lucian woke with a start, the persistent knocking at the door pulling him from the edge of an uneasy sleep. He rubbed his eyes, the lingering weight of exhaustion still heavy on his body. He glanced toward the closed bedroom door, and with a sigh, moved to knock on it.

The door creaked open, revealing Eira, bleary-eyed and still in her clothes from the night before, crumpled and worn after an hour of restless sleep. She rubbed at her eyes and glanced at Lucian.

"I think the woman's here for the statement," Lucian muttered, adjusting his tie out of habit.

Eira groaned. "Okay, let's get this over with."

They walked to the door, the early morning silence pressing against the walls of their apartment. Lucian's hand hovered over the doorknob before pulling it open. He expected to see the woman from last night, but instead, standing before them was Snow White, a figure of authority and familiarity.

"Lucian!" Snow's voice was urgent.

"Snow?" His brow furrowed.

"Mom?" Eira's voice held an edge of surprise.

"Come with me." Snow turned without waiting for a response, her steps quick and almost frantic. Lucian shot a glance at Eira before following, her footsteps close behind him.

The hallway seemed longer than usual, filled with an unsettling quiet as they passed offices and darkened rooms. Snow was rushing, her breath uneven, and Lucian quickened his pace to catch up.

"Snow. Snow!" His voice cut through the tension.

"What? Sorry... I'm..." She shook her head, visibly rattled. "What is it?"

"What happened?" His voice was low, but there was a bite to it.

Snow's lips pressed together, a hesitation in her step. "I can't get into it right now. We need to hurry."

Before Lucian could push further, Cryer rounded the corner, his usual upbeat self unaware of the tension in the air.

"Hi," he greeted with a smile.

"Hello. Good morning. Or... evening," Snow muttered, barely pausing as she passed him.

"Yeah." Cryer's laugh echoed faintly as they left him behind.

They reached the elevator, Lucian pressing the button in a silent urgency. Snow's voice broke the uneasy quiet.

"These walls are paper-thin... We need to be careful. We'll talk outside."

The elevator ride was suffocating in its silence, none of them saying a word until they reached the lobby. Through the glass doors, Lucian saw something that made his stomach drop—a security jacket draped over something just outside.

Lucian's steps faltered as they exited the building. Snow gave him a look, one of grim understanding, as he moved toward the object beneath the jacket. His hands felt heavy as he lifted the fabric, revealing the severed head of the woman from last night.

Eira inhaled sharply, stepping back. "Oh god..."

Lucian cursed under his breath. "Damn it..."

Snow's voice was soft but laced with dread. "You knew this girl? She's not a Mundy... right? Who was she? She looks familiar, but I can't place her."

Lucian swallowed, the bitter taste of regret filling his mouth. "A working girl."

Snow blinked. "A working girl? I don't— I mean, I'm a working girl..." Her voice trailed off as Eira nudged her arm.

"Oh."

Lucian exhaled. "The Woodsman. He attacked her. We stepped in. He threatened to kill us both."

Snow's expression darkened. "No... you don't think he...?"