Chapter 3 The Kingdom Of Valnera

Hazel's pov

As if waking up in a strange room with a life that isn't mine wasn't enough-now I have to have sex with a man I don't even know.

A man who apparently hates his queen.

What could possibly be worse than this?

I bit my finger hard enough to hurt, trying to stop the panic crawling up my throat. My hands ran through my hair, again and again, like I could somehow brush the madness away. I sat down, stood up, sat again-but nothing worked. Nothing was calming me down. How could I even be calm in this situation?

The women were gone. It was just me now-me and my raging thoughts bouncing off the walls.

I'd told myself a thousand times this had to be a dream, but the more I said it, the realer it became. The feel of the silk against my skin, the cold air, the smell of flowers that weren't from anywhere near my college dorm-it all screamed real.

Finally, I sat back on the bed and buried my face in my hands. My eyes burned, but I didn't let the tears fall. What was the point of crying? It wouldn't wake me up. It wouldn't fix whatever this was.

No, I needed to think. I needed to figure out what the hell was going on.

I angrily wiped my eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up. Enough sitting around. Enough panicking.

I marched toward the massive double doors and shoved them open. The sound echoed through the wide hallway.

Two guards standing outside immediately straightened, their backs snapping like rulers. They both bowed low.

I just... stared at them.

They were dressed in all black from head to toe. Their faces were blank-like carved stone. Their eyes were sharp, watching my every move.

"What the..." I muttered under my breath, making a face that clearly said what the hell?

When I stepped forward, they instantly fell into step behind me.

I spun around. "Why are you following me?"

One of them didn't even blink. "King's order, my Queen."

King's order.

I turned back around and groaned. "Fantastic. Just fantastic."

They didn't answer. Not even a twitch.

I sighed and kept walking. My bare feet were silent on the marble floor as my eyes took in everything around me.

The palace-because that's what it had to be-was enormous. Every wall was carved with strange symbols. Chandeliers sparkled above my head, and long curtains the color of blood framed tall windows.

Every time I passed someone-a maid, a servant-they froze, bowed, and whispered "Your Majesty" before scurrying away.

I had never felt so out of place in my entire life.

None of them looked surprised to see me alive, but they did look terrified.

My stomach turned uneasily.

I walked for what felt like forever before stopping at a wide balcony that overlooked the world beyond.

The sight hit me like a punch to the chest.

A vast stretch of forest spread out below, endless and green. Trees so thick they looked like a living sea. Mist rolled over the canopy like waves, hiding whatever lay beneath.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I gripped the stone railing, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. "Okay," I whispered to myself. "Think. You went to bed. You woke up here. That doesn't just happen. But...maybe someone drugged you? Maybe this is some kind of experiment?"

I laughed softly, but it came out shaky. "Or maybe I've completely lost it. Great. Perfect."

The guards stood a few steps behind me, still silent. It was unnerving-like being shadowed by ghosts.

I turned to them. "Hey," I said, trying to sound casual. "Quick question-where exactly are we?"

The taller one hesitated, then answered, "The Kingdom of Valnera."

I stared at him. "I'm sorry-what did you just say?"

"Valnera, my Queen," he repeated, completely serious. "Hidden deep within the secret forest."

I blinked at him. Slowly. "No, no-like... what country. You know, on Earth. France? Mexico? The freaking North Pole?"

The other guard exchanged a glance with him before saying quietly, "We're somewhere in northern Italy, my Queen."

Italy.

Italy?

I turned back toward the forest, my heart hammering. Then I turned to them again, my voice barely a whisper. "Oh my God," I breathed. "I've been kidnapped."

They both stiffened, but I didn't care. My hands were trembling so hard I had to clutch the railing to steady them.

This couldn't be happening. I was thousands of miles from home-in another country-with people calling me queen and talking about blood rituals and kings who hated their wives.

This wasn't real. It couldn't be real.

But before I could scream or ask another question, a deep, low sound rolled through the air.

It wasn't human.

It was a growl.

Not the kind a dog makes-this was deeper, darker. It rattled through the ground beneath my feet and crawled straight up my spine.

I froze.

The guards didn't move. They just exchanged another one of those unreadable looks, like this was... normal.

My gaze dropped to the forest below-and that's when I saw it.

A massive black wolf stood at the edge of the trees.

My breath caught.

It wasn't just big. It was huge-easily twice the size of any wolf I'd ever seen in a documentary. Its fur shimmered under the bright sky, thick and dark, and its eyes... God, its eyes were golden. Intelligent. Cold. Watching.

For a second, I thought I was hallucinating.

But then it moved. Slowly. Gracefully.

And the people walking below? They didn't even flinch. A few bowed as they passed it.

What the actual hell.

My heart jumped to my throat. I stumbled back from the balcony, shaking my head. "Nope. Nope. Nope. That's it. I'm done."

Then, as if it heard me, the wolf turned its head-straight toward me.

Its golden eyes locked on mine.

And it growled again.

The sound vibrated through my bones.

I screamed. I didn't even realize I had until the guards tensed. Without thinking, I spun around and ran back the way I came-bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor.

I didn't care if the guards followed or if I looked insane. I just ran.

By the time I reached the room, my chest was heaving. I shoved the doors closed, pressed my back against them, and slid down until I was sitting on the floor.

My heart pounded so hard it hurt.

"What the hell was that?" I gasped, my voice shaking. "A wolf? A-no, that's impossible. That thing was huge. People don't-people don't bow to wolves!"

I pressed my palms to my temples, squeezing my eyes shut.

"I'm going crazy," I whispered. "I must be going crazy."

I laughed again, a broken, desperate sound. "Right? That's what this is. A mental breakdown. Hallucinations. Maybe I hit my head and I'm in a coma somewhere."

But the floor beneath me was solid. The air was cold. I could feel my heartbeat pounding against my ribs, and no dream had ever felt this real.

My breathing slowed, but my mind didn't.

I stood and started pacing, muttering under my breath. "Okay. Okay, let's think. Either I've been kidnapped, or I'm part of some super messed-up simulation. Or... this is real. Which it can't be. Because there are giant wolves and blood-drinking kings and people calling me queen-"

I broke off, staring at my reflection in a mirror across the room.

The woman staring back wasn't me.

She had my face-but softer. Paler. Her eyes looked sadder. Her hair was long and perfect.

And the crown of faint bruises around her throat made my stomach twist.

"What happened to you?" I whispered.

Silence answered me.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring into that mirror, watching this stranger who looked like me but wasn't. The air felt heavier. The walls seemed closer.

Outside the window, thunder rolled.

"What the hell is happening?" I whispered. My voice cracked, and tears I'd been holding back finally burned down my cheeks.

"Where...where the hell am I?"