Chapter 6 6

~ Doris ~

The car ride felt like it lasted forever. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window as trees and houses blurred by.

Ryder drove quietly, his hands tight on the wheel. He didn't say much, just a few words like "We'll be there soon" or "Are you okay?" I nodded each time, but inside, my heart was pounding like a drum. Why did he pick me? It didn't make sense.

When we finally pulled up to his house, it was like stepping into a dream or maybe a fairy tale from one of those old books Henry used to read to me.

The building was huge, like a castle made of stone and wood, with big windows that sparkled in the evening sun.

There were flowers everywhere in the garden, red and yellow ones that smelled sweet. Tall trees surrounded it, making it feel safe and hidden.

Back at my old home, our house was small and dark, with creaky floors and walls that always needed fixing. This place was so fancy, I felt like I didn't belong. My clothes looked even worse here.

Ryder parked the car and turned to me. His eyes were kind, but his face stayed serious, like he was holding something back.

"This is your new home, Doris," he said softly. "Come on, I'll show you around."

He got out and opened my door, like a gentleman in a story. I stepped out slowly, my bare feet touching the smooth gravel path. It didn't hurt like the rough ground at the ceremony.

He clenched his jaw when he saw my bare feet.

For a second, he stepped a little closer to me. His hand even lifted slightly, like he wanted to pick me up.

But then he stopped.

His hand dropped back to his side, and he cleared his throat.

"We'll get you shoes tomorrow," he said quietly.

We walked up the wide steps to the front door. It was made of thick wood with carvings of wolves running under the moon.

Ryder pushed it open, and inside, wow, it was even more amazing.

The hallway had shiny floors that looked like they were made of marble, and a big staircase curved up to the second floor.

Lights hung from the ceiling like stars, and there were soft rugs that felt fluffy under my toes. I could smell fresh bread baking somewhere, and hear soft voices from other rooms, people lived here I guessed. But it was so quiet and clean, not like my old house where my stepmom always yelled and the twins left messes everywhere.

Ryder led me through the hall. "The kitchen is that way," he pointed. "You can eat whenever you want. No one will stop you."

His voice was gentle, but he didn't smile much. He seemed distant, like he was being careful not to get too close.

Was he regretting choosing me already?

My stomach twisted at the thought. "And over here is the living room. We have meetings sometimes, but you don't have to join if you don't want to."

The living room had big couches and a fireplace taller than me. Bookshelves lined the walls, full of books I'd never seen before. I wanted to touch them, but I kept my hands by my sides.

We went up the stairs. "Your room is right here," Ryder said, opening a door at the end of the hall.

I stepped inside and I gasped silently. The room was bigger than my whole old bedroom and the twins' combined.

A huge bed with fluffy pillows and a soft blanket in light purple, my favorite color.

How did he know?

There was a desk with paper and pens, and a window looking out at the forest.

A closet stood open but empty. It even had its own bathroom with a tub that looked like it could fit two people.

"This is yours," Ryder said, standing in the doorway.

He didn't come in all the way, like he was giving me space.

"If you need anything, just write it down or something. I'll assign someone to help you tomorrow."

His eyes met mine for a second, and I saw something warm there, but then he looked away.

"Get some rest. It's been a long day." He nodded and closed the door softly behind him.

I stood there alone, the room spinning a little. I sank onto the bed, the mattress so soft it hugged me.

Candy stirred in my mind. "This is our new home. It's nice, right? But I couldn't relax, doubts flooded in like rain.

What if Ryder only picked me out of pity?

Everyone at the ceremony laughed when Julius rejected me. They called me worthless. And now, the Alpha chose me? It felt like a joke, a cruel one that would end with me back in my old life, scrubbing floors.

My breathing got faster. I clutched the blanket, trying to calm down but memories crashed over me like waves.

I was five again, up on that high building with Veronica and Vanessa. They were laughing, saying it was a game. "Jump, dumb Doris!" But they pushed me. The fall... the wind rushing past, the ground coming up too fast.

Pain exploded everywhere when I hit. My body hurt, but my heart hurt more. After that, words wouldn't come out. I tried, but my throat closed up.

Doctors said it was in my head, from being so scared. Anna, my stepmom told everyone I was born that way, but it was a lie.

They made me this way.

Tears stung my eyes. I curled up on the bed, shaking. My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe.

Why did they do that to me?

The panic grew, making my hands tremble. I rocked back and forth, trying to push the thoughts away.

Minutes felt like hours. Finally, the shaking slowed, I wiped my face, feeling empty.

This room was pretty, but it didn't fix the hurt inside.

There were voices drifting up from the garden below.

I slowly moved toward the window and peeked through the curtain.

It was few of the maids from the house.

They stood near the flower beds, pretending to adjust the plants, but their heads were close together. Whispering.

"Can you believe it?" one of them muttered, her voice low but sharp. "The Alpha picked that mute reject?"

The other maid scoffed. "I heard she was rejected twice. Twice! And now she's Luna?"

They both laughed quietly.

"She's not worthy," the first one continued. "She doesn't even speak, how is she supposed to stand beside the Alpha? She'll embarrass him."

"I give it a month," the second maid said. "He'll realize he made a mistake."

Their words felt like stones thrown at my chest.

I stepped back from the window slowly, my vision blurring with tears.

Even here.

They still saw me the same way.

I hadn't even done anything yet.

Why did everyone hate me so easily?

My fingers tightened around the curtain.

Was this what being Luna would be like?

Smiles to my face but whispers behind my back.

Candy's voice was quiet but firm inside my mind.

"Let them talk. One day, they will bow.

But right now, all I felt was small.

I climbed back into bed, pulling the covers over my head.

This new life was scary. The house was beautiful, and I had a mate now but the pain inside me was still there.

Would I ever truly feel safe?

Candy's voice was soft in my mind. "Give it time, we're stronger than they know.

I closed my eyes and held onto her words.

I hoped she was right.

*****

I woke up suddenly not because of any sound, but because of that heavy feeling you get when someone is watching you.

My heart was already pounding before I even opened my eyes. I lay still, trying to convince myself it was just a bad dream until I heard it... a very soft scrape, like metal brushing against the window frame.

I forced myself to turn my head slowly toward the window.

Through the thin gap between the curtain and the glass, I saw him.

A tall figure dressed in completely black hoodie pulled up, black trousers, black gloves. He was standing maybe one meter from the window, perfectly still.

Moonlight caught the side of his body, and that's when I saw it clearly...the knife in his right hand. He was holding it low, pointing down, like he was ready to use it any second.

Because the window glass had that one-way tint from outside, he probably couldn't see in clearly. But from inside, with the room dark and the moonlight outside, I could see every detail of him like he was standing under a spotlight.

My whole body went cold, I couldn't breathe properly. I just stared, frozen, praying he hadn't noticed my eyes open.

He tilted his head slightly, like he was listening or deciding something.

Then he raised the knife a little, tested the window frame with the tip, very gently. The soft tink sound made my stomach drop.

I wanted to scream, but nothing would come out. I just kept staring at that knife, at his black.

And then... he just stopped, he lowered the knife, turned around slowly, and walked away like he had changed his mind or heard something.

Someone had come for me. In my new home and on my first night as a Luna.

He knew exactly which room was mine.