Chained to the Enemy Alpha
Chapter 86: Buried Memories

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Buried Memories

Lily’s fingers trembled as she flipped through the documents bearing her father’s handwriting. Every harsh stroke and sharp curve reminded her of the man who had caused her so much pain. While these papers proved her father knew about the vault, they weren’t what they needed.

She placed the documents down with a sigh, her eyes scanning the bookshelves once more. If the answer wasn’t in these records, perhaps it was hidden elsewhere. Her gaze drifted across the room, searching for anything else that was unusual.

She looked at the empty spot where the accounting ledgers had been. She narrowed her eyes, reaching her hand out to touch the back panel of the shelf. She ran her fingers along the wood. She felt a small indentation that didn’t match the rest.

Her heartbeat quickened. She pressed it.

A soft click echoed in the quiet vault.

The back panel of the bookshelf slid open, revealing a hidden nook behind it. Lily gulped, her breath caught in her throat. In the nook sat a brown leather-bound notebook and several yellowed scrolls covered in cobwebs and dust.

This had to be what they were searching for! Filled with excitement, Lily ran to get Zayn. He was back facing her, hunched over a shelf he had cleared out. He was furiously flipping through the pages of a book in his hands.

She approached him quickly, tapping him on the shoulder.

Zayn whirled around, irritation flashing in his eyes. “What—” His expression softened instantly when he saw her excited expression. “I’m sorry. What is it, Lily?”

She pursed her lips, signally him to follow her. She brought him back to the secret nook she had found and pointed out the leather-bound book and yellowed scrolls. She also held up the account ledgers she had found, thinking they might be of use.

Zayn’s eyes widened in shock. He reached for the leather-bound book, flipping through it eagerly to see if it contained what they were looking for. A small smile formed on his face as he looked over at Lily.

Seeing the smile on his face confirmed her suspicions. She pushed the account ledgers into his hands while she looked through the scrolls. In it, she found maps with circled locations and specific instructions.

His expression changed from curiosity to triumph as he scanned the pages.

“This is it,” he said, his voice low and intense. “Records of every illegal deal your father made with other packs. Names, dates, amounts—it’s all here.”

She showed him the scrolls, showing a map of the packgrounds with circled spots.

His eyes narrowed as he studied it. “This looks like directions to something important.” He traced a line on the parchment with his finger. “These symbols might indicate the location of the vault.”

Lily’s gaze was fixed on one particular landmark drawn on the map. She recognized it immediately. It was where her mother was buried, the unmarked grave that she recently visited.

She gently tapped on the marked-out landmark.

Zayn looked at her. “Do you know where this is?”

She nodded. She signed.

‘This was where my mother was buried, in the unmarked grave.’

Zayn remembered how he had stood by Lily’s side, watching her mother’s funeral pyre lit in flames. He didn’t recall the exact location.

“Can you lead us there?” Zayn asked. free\we,bnovel.c o(m)

Lily nodded again.

“Good. Let’s gather everything else and get Ezra. We’ll head out immediately.”

Lily took the lead, guiding them through the dense forest. Her mind was swirling with emotion, not expecting to revisit the location so soon.

The afternoon sun filtered through the trees as they approached a small clearing. Lily slowed, her chest tight with emotion. She recognized the surroundings, the exact same marked out location on the map they had found. The charred patch of grass on the side indicated they were at the right place.

“Is this it?” Zayn asked, coming to stand beside her.

Lily nodded. She took another look at the yellowed map. She pointed out a narrow opening in the rocks nearby. Walking up to it, they noticed a cave entrance, partially hidden by overgrown vines.

Ezra stepped forward, pushing away the foliage.

“There are markings here,” he called out, brushing dirt from the stone. There were symbols carved into the rock face surrounding the entrance.

Zayn examined them closely, then at the map Lily held, “These match the symbols on the map. We’re in the right place.”

All three of them exchanged excited glances before entering the cave. The temperature cooled as they ventured deeper. Lily led them down a winding path until they reached a dead end—a solid stone wall with more symbols etched into its surface.

“This must be the door,” Zayn said, running his hand along the cool stone. He pressed against different sections, trying to find a mechanism. When nothing happened, he planted his feet firmly and pushed with all his strength.

The wall didn’t budge.

Ezra tried next, his muscles straining with the effort, but achieved the same result.

“It won’t budge,” Ezra growled in frustration.

Lily stepped forward, a thought forming in her mind. Perhaps this vault worked the same way as the secret vault they had found in the forest.

She placed her palms flat against the stone and pushed gently.

The wall slid open without resistance.

Zayn and Ezra exchanged shocked looks.

“It must be linked to your bloodline,” Zayn murmured.

The air was heavy with dust and age. Anticipation filled the air as light filtered into the cave. They were expecting to see mountains of gold and jewels everywhere. But the vault was emptier than anticipated.

There were several ornate chests littered across the vault, but most were open and empty.

Lily moved toward one of the few closed chests, lifting its lid carefully. Inside lay a collection of carved totems, similar to the one she’d found before. She lifted one, examining the intricate carvings.

“These hold significant monetary value,” Zayn said, taking one to study it. “Your father must have known their worth.”

Lily frowned, looking around the sparse vault. She refused to believe this was all her father had hidden away. Pulling out the map again, she studied it more carefully, noticing three other locations marked with the same symbol.

She tapped the map, pointing to the other markings and then gesturing around the half-empty vault.

Zayn caught on immediately. “You think the treasure was split between multiple locations? To avoid anyone finding everything at once?”

Lily nodded eagerly.

“That could be it,” Ezra agreed.

After thoroughly searching the vault, they gathered what treasures they could find. Ezra left first, sent ahead by Zayn to gather warriors who could help transport the treasures back to the packhouse.

“This place...it’s wear your mother was buried, right?” Zayn asked, voice quiet.

He was there when they burned her remains. But he wasn’t sure where her original burial site was.

Lily nodded.

‘It was an unmarked grave.’ She signed.

Zayn nodded, biting his lip before he asked another question.

“Have you decided where you’ll lay her to rest?”

He remembered how she cradled them in her arms, wrapped in a cloth bundle.

‘I kept her ashes in an urn. I want to find a day and a suitable place to scatter them to the winds.’

“Why scatter them?” he asked.

Lily looked into the distance before replying.

‘She’d been trapped here all her life as a Luna. I want to set her free.’

Zayn’s expression darkened with memory.

“I wish my mate and unborn child had received the same dignity. Their bodies were...” He stopped, unable to finish.

Lily touched his arm gently, her eyes filled with compassion.

‘I have something to show you.’ She signed.