My eyes fluttered open, greeted by dim shadows and the faintest glow of light creeping through a small, high window. Darkness pressed in around me, heavy and suffocating.
Everything hurt. My body felt like it had been weighed down by invisible chains. The mattress beneath me was rough, barely more than a thin layer of fabric stretched over wood.
I shifted slightly, wincing as pain flared through my leg. My gaze dropped to it—it was tightly wrapped in fresh, white bandages. The sight brought back everything: the trap, the beast, the river.
A shaky groan escaped my lips as I tried to push myself upright. My arms trembled with the effort, my muscles stiff and weak. "Where... am I?" My voice came out hoarse, barely louder than a whisper.
The room was barren—just me, the bed, a wooden stool, and a thick oak door that looked like it could withstand an explosion. The window was too small, barely big enough for my arm to fit through, let alone my body.
I forced myself to focus, to take in every detail of my surroundings. The faintest murmur of voices filtered through the walls. I froze, holding my breath to listen.
"She's a human," someone hissed, their voice sharp and biting.
"And humans bring trouble," another growled, their tone deep and hostile. "She should've been left to die."
My heart thudded painfully in my chest. They were talking about me.
I swallowed hard, ignoring the sharp ache in my throat and the panic clawing at my insides. My eyes darted around the room, searching for something—anything—I could use to defend myself.
The stool? Too heavy.
The floorboards? I pressed my hand against one, but it didn't budge.
I clenched my fists, frustration rising as I realized I had nothing.
The sudden creak of the door snapped my attention up. My heart leapt into my throat as a woman stepped inside.
She was tall and commanding, her sharp features and piercing gray eyes cutting through the dim light. Her dark hair was pulled back in a braid, and everything about her screamed authority.
"My name is Maeve," she said, her voice clipped and cold.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say—or if I should say anything at all. Her eyes pinned me in place, unblinking and unrelenting.
"I—" My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard. "Where am I?"
Maeve's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're somewhere you shouldn't be."
Her words were like a slap, but before I could respond, heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the door.
A man entered, and the air in the room seemed to drop several degrees. He was tall—broad-shouldered and intimidating, with icy blue eyes that cut through me like a blade.
"Liam," Maeve said sharply, her tone firm.
His gaze locked onto me, cold and unyielding. The disdain in his eyes made me shrink back against the bed instinctively.
"She's dangerous," he said, his voice flat and unapologetic. He wasn't talking to me. He was talking about me.
"I haven't done anything," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound steady.
His glare was enough to shut me up. "You're human. That's enough."
Maeve's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. But she stayed silent, her expression unreadable.
"She shouldn't be alive," Liam continued, his words as cold as the look in his eyes. "If the Alpha finds out—"
"He will," Maeve cut him off, her tone sharp. "And it's his decision, not yours."
The mention of an Alpha sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to ask what they meant, where I was, who they were—but the air in the room was too thick with tension, and I could feel their patience wearing thin.
Whoever these people were, one thing was clear: I wasn't safe here.
Liam's lips curled into a sneer, but he didn't reply.
I forced myself to sit up straighter, even though fear clawed at my chest, tightening its grip with every second. "Listen," I said, my voice steadier than I expected, surprising even myself. "I didn't mean to come here. I didn't even know this place existed."
Liam's eyes narrowed, his scowl deepening. "Then you're more of a fool than I thought," he snapped.
"Liam," Maeve warned, her tone sharp and icy.
Liam stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. I tried not to flinch, but the heat of his gaze pinned me in place.
"One word," he said softly, but his voice carried a menace that made my stomach churn, "and I'll make sure you regret ever stepping foot here."
My heart pounded, the sound roaring in my ears. I wanted to argue, to push back, but the weight of his threat silenced me. My throat tightened, the words dying before they could form.
"Enough," Maeve said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "We're taking her to Alpha Calder. He'll decide what happens next."
Liam shot her a glare, his jaw clenched, but he didn't argue.
As Maeve turned toward the door, Liam leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear.
"You don't know what you've done by coming here," he whispered, his voice laced with a dark promise. "Someone out there wants you dead—and it's not just me."
The weight of his words sent a chill down my spine, but I didn't dare respond.
=
The rough rope around my wrists chafed against my skin, the fibers burning with each step. Liam held the other end, his grip unrelenting as he dragged me forward. Every stumble sent a fresh jolt of pain through my injured leg, and my frustration boiled over.
"Can you at least slow down?" I snapped, biting back the urge to scream.
Liam glanced back at me, his expression cold and unreadable. "Keep moving."
I gritted my teeth, forcing down a retort. There was no point arguing. I had no energy to fight him, and even if I escaped, where would I go?
The forest finally thinned, and I felt the first pang of relief. But as we emerged into a clearing, my breath caught.
Nestled among the towering trees was a village unlike anything I'd seen before. Wooden huts blended seamlessly into the surroundings, their roofs covered in moss and vines.
Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, the smell of burning wood mixing with the damp air.
Before I could take it all in, I felt their eyes. Sharp, piercing stares from the villagers who moved between the huts. They stopped what they were doing as we passed, their gazes cutting through me.
The suspicion in their eyes was unmistakable, and it made my skin crawl.
"Why are they all staring at me?" I whispered, glancing nervously at Maeve, who had joined us sometime during the journey.
"Because they think you're a threat," she said bluntly, not even bothering to lower her voice.
"A threat?" I repeated, incredulous. "To them?"
"Humans aren't welcome here," she said simply, as if that explained everything.
I bit my tongue, holding back the urge to argue. The last thing I needed was to make this worse.
Liam tugged on the rope, pulling me forward. His grip tightened as we approached the largest building in the village, its thick beams and high, sloped roof standing out from the smaller huts around it.
The moment we stepped inside, the air grew heavier.
Villagers lined the walls, their murmurs falling silent as Liam dragged me through the hall. Their eyes followed my every move, their expressions hard and unkind.
At the far end of the room stood a man who could only be their leader. He stepped forward, his dark hair streaked with silver catching the faint light.
His green eyes locked onto me, sharp and unyielding, and I felt as though he could see straight through me.
Despite his relaxed posture, there was an unmistakable authority about him. I didn't need to be told who he was.
"Alpha Calder," Maeve greeted him with a respectful nod, her tone different—almost deferential.
I swallowed hard as his piercing gaze shifted fully onto me. My mouth felt dry, my tongue heavy.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice deep and even, carrying across the room with ease. "And why are you here?"
I opened my mouth, but the words came out in a rush, tumbling over one another. "I—I didn't mean to come here. I was lost. There was a... creature chasing me."
His eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "And you crossed into our territory."
"I didn't know it was yours," I said quickly, desperation creeping into my voice.
"Your ignorance doesn't excuse your presence," Calder replied, his tone cold and measured.
The weight of his words pressed down on me, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. I felt the room closing in, the stares of the villagers like daggers against my skin.
I hadn't meant to come here.
But now that I was, it felt like I'd stumbled into something far bigger—and far deadlier—than I could have ever imagined.