Chapter 2 Between Two Worlds

Amelia

Being in the midst of wolves was something I could never get used to, even if I had been here for about two weeks now.

Living in the 'Otherworld,' as they called it, was also not something easy to do, especially living here as the wife of the most powerful Alpha in all of Shadow Brook-the Home of the Wolves.

I was still hoping that it was all a dream-a very long one, and I was going to wake up soon.

I couldn't possibly be living with wolves, not to talk more of being married to one-a ruthless one at that.

For crying out loud, I was just turning eighteen this year and had planned out my life already. This was my senior year, which meant I was going to graduate and leave that house soon enough. That was my plan. Graduate, turn eighteen, and leave.

But that didn't seem possible anymore, because here I was in another world-a supernatural one at that.

How did my life turn a whole three hundred and sixty degrees in just one night? How did I go from being beaten up by Lucy and Ashley to getting married to a werewolf?

Even saying it sounded unbelievable.

A knock on my door jerked me back to my horrific reality. One of Woodson's 'Moonmaids,' as he called them, walked in. She had a neutral look plastered on her face as her eyes met mine.

"The Ardent is back, and he wishes to see you," she informed me. Leana, if I wasn't mistaken, was her name. She had been tending to me ever since I got here, but she had never uttered more than a word. Other than to bring me food and ensure my needs were met, she never spoke to me, so it was surprising to hear her voice-smooth and silky.

"Where is he?" I asked, standing up from the sofa I had settled myself on ever since I got here. The room they had imprisoned me in was beautiful, to say the least. It was so big and unlike anything I had seen. My room back home could fit in three times as much.

The room was breathtaking, with high ceilings that gave a sense of grandeur. Soft, warm light filtered in through large windows draped in delicate, sheer curtains. The walls were a muted cream, adorned with intricate gold accents and a few elegant paintings of serene landscapes. A grand four-poster bed with a canopy stood at the center, its velvet bedding a deep, rich burgundy that looked soft enough to sink into, yet I couldn't gather the mind to lie in it.

Opposite the bed, a plush seating area with two sofas-one of which I had made my bed for the past two weeks. The floor was polished marble, with an ornate rug in hues of gold and red spread out beneath the seating. A large fireplace, its mantel carved with delicate designs, crackled gently in one corner, filling the room with a soft, comforting warmth.

To the side, a vanity table made of dark wood with an elaborate mirror caught the light. The room was undeniably luxurious, a place of comfort and beauty, but despite all its elegance, it felt more like a gilded cage than a home.

"I will lead you to where he is," Leana said, her voice still eerily calm. With that, she turned and walked toward the door. I followed behind, my heart thudding in my chest. The nerves finally kicked in.

I hadn't seen Woodson since he threatened me to marry him. After he kidnapped me and brought me into his world, he was called away and left me to stay in this unknown territory all by myself. He never spoke about the wedding, and I had been left in the dark about what exactly I was here for. Ever since I arrived, I hadn't left the confines of this room or seen another person-save for Leana.

I was terrified. What did he want now?

As we stepped into the hallway, I felt my stomach clench. I had walked these hallways before when I was first brought here, but in the chaos and fear, I hadn't taken in my surroundings.

Now, I did.

The hallways were vast, stretching endlessly in either direction. The floors were smooth, polished stone, reflecting the soft glow from the elaborate chandeliers hanging above. Their crystal designs sparkled with each flicker of the flames from the candles. On either side of the hall, tall windows framed with heavy, velvet curtains allowed streams of light to spill in, casting a warm golden hue over everything.

The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of battles and victories long past, each one a detailed masterpiece, rich with color and texture. Between them, sconces with flickering candles lined the corridor, adding a soft, inviting glow. Every few steps, ornate pedestals held delicate vases or sculptures, adding a touch of art to the already grand space. The ceiling above arched gracefully, with intricate molding and designs that seemed to tell a story if you looked closely enough.

A sinking feeling settled in my chest. How could I escape from a place like this? Even if I managed to run, where would I go? The sheer size of this world-this palace-was overwhelming.

Two young girls curtsied as we passed. "Your Grace," they murmured in unison before disappearing down another hallway. Their dresses were simple Victorian corset styles, cream-colored and short-sleeved, resting just below their knees. They each wore an armlet with a wolf emblem engraved on it-just like Leana.

I didn't realize Leana had kept walking until I saw her almost at the end of the hallway. I jogged to catch up, my legs shaky beneath me.

At the end of the hallway was a big, wide door. It had all sorts of intricate markings engraved on it, symbols I didn't understand.

Leana knocked twice and waited. I heard a faint click, and then the door creaked open. She stepped inside first, and I followed slowly, my skin prickling with fear.

My eyes met Woodson's immediately. His gaze was steady and unwavering. I took slow, cautious steps forward, my mind racing with the worst possible scenarios.

To his left sat the pale guy I recognized from that night-the night he took me. His sharp eyes gleamed in the dim light. But it wasn't him who unsettled me. It was the woman next to him.

She was stunning, with long, dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulders. Her eyes, piercing and cold, fixed on me with a look I couldn't quite place-was it disdain? Curiosity?

"Wow... she's really young." The pale guy commented, looking at me, making me bend my head to avoid eye contact with any of them. I felt like a little child standing in the center as they all studied me. The urge to run away from their piercing eyes on me magnified, as I could hear the thunderous beats of my heart in my ears.

Should I send them out?

My head shot up immediately to look at Woodson, whose eyes were already on me. He had spoken to me again...in my head.

"Are you mute? Don't you have questions?"

"Selene" the pale guy said, a warning in his tone. Woodson didn't still say anything; his eyes still fixed on me expectantly, like he was waiting for me. Waiting for me to reply to him.

"What! Its a question. She seems mute. I'm just checking.. You can't have a mute Luna to lead your pack now, can you?" There's a mockery tone in her voice, but she appeared innocent.

"Stop calling her mute," the pale guy replied, shaking his head. The back and forth continued, and I zoned them out, realizing Woodson still hadn't spoken, his eyes still on me.

My heart pounded as Woodson's gaze stayed locked on me, steady and unreadable. His question echoed in my mind, the weight of it pressing down on me, urging me to respond. But I couldn't.

I wouldn't.

Blink for yes. Don't blink for no.

His words hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken threat of reality. If I blinked, I would be acknowledging that this-everything-was real. That I was standing in front of a powerful, ruthless Alpha. That I was married to him. That I was trapped in a world I didn't belong to.

I couldn't blink.

I stared at him, my eyes wide and dry, as I fought against the primal instinct to close them, to shield them from the burning sensation that was beginning to grow. Woodson didn't move. His expression didn't change. It was like he was waiting for me to break, to give in, knowing that I couldn't hold out forever.

The pale man and the woman were still bickering in the background, their voices distant, drowned out by the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears. My throat tightened, and my vision blurred at the edges, but I refused to give in.

I couldn't blink. I wouldn't.

The corners of my eyes began to sting, the burning sensation intensifying with every second that passed. My eyes were begging for relief, for just one brief moment of respite, but I held on, forcing them to stay open.

Woodson's eyes remained neutral, but there was something in his gaze-an unspoken challenge. It was as if he knew exactly what I was trying to do and was waiting for the inevitable. He was playing a game with me, and I was losing.

My breathing grew shallow, my chest tightening with the strain of keeping my eyes open for so long. My vision wavered, the room around me shifting as tears welled up, pooling in the corners of my eyes. I swallowed hard, trying to focus on anything but the unbearable urge to blink.

It was no use.

My lashes trembled, the muscles around my eyes weakening as they struggled to keep open. And then, with a sharp, involuntary flutter, I blinked. Once.

It felt like defeat. A single tear slipped down my cheek, hot and betraying my resistance. My body had given in before my mind was ready to accept it.

I blinked again, this time a flood of moisture gathering in my eyes, the sting from before now accompanied by the bitter taste of resignation. I couldn't deny it anymore. This was real.

Woodson's expression remained as calm as ever, but I felt the shift in the air. He knew it too. His gaze, still unrelenting, seemed to say: I told you so.

"Could you both leave us?" Woodson's voice finally broke the tense silence, low and commanding. I noticed a shocked expression etched on Selene's face when he said that ."But K-"

"Please Selene. I'll see you soon." He looked at her with a look I could only describe as soft, and then I was overcome by shock. The shock at how gentle and pleading he sounded towards Selene. It brought me to the conclusion that she must be really dear to him.

There's a pensive look on her face for a moment before she stands up and begins to leave, not even sparing me a glance. The pale guy followed he behind, offering me a tight smile as he passed. The moment the door shut, the room felt impossibly larger. The air was thick, heavy with an unspoken tension between us. I stood there, my heart still hammering in my chest, unable to shake the sensation that I was walking into a trap, even though there was nowhere left to run.

Woodson remained seated, his gaze still fixed on me, unmoving. His expression, although calm, was unreadable, like a puzzle I couldn't quite decipher. His silence weighed on me, and I struggled to find something-anything-to say, but the words were caught in my throat.

The room, with all its elegance and grandeur, felt suddenly stifling. I wanted to turn and run, to escape this moment, but my feet wouldn't move. Every instinct screamed at me to flee, but I was trapped by more than just the walls around me-I was trapped by him.

He finally spoke, his voice as steady as his gaze, but now softer, almost curious. "You're afraid."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, one that carried an undeniable truth. My mouth opened to argue, to deny it, but I closed it again. He was right, and there was no use pretending otherwise. My fear was palpable, and I could feel it radiating off me.

I didn't know how to respond, so I didn't. Silence stretched between us, and with every second that passed, the knot in my stomach tightened. His eyes never left mine, and I felt like I was under a microscope, like he could see every thought I was trying so hard to keep hidden.

"I won't hurt you," he said after a moment, his tone soft, but there was something about the way he said it that didn't fully convince me.

I won't hurt you.

But you already have. He had hurt me the moment he tore me from my world, from my plans, from everything I had ever known. He had hurt me by bringing me here and chaining me to this nightmare. Like a monster. My mind screamed these thoughts, but I stayed silent.

But I have already heard your thoughts.

My eyes widened, astonished and creeped out at the fact that I was still hearing his voice in my head. The fact that it was real. How was he doing that? How was he talking in my head?

Woodson stood up then, slowly, his tall, broad form dominating the space between us. His movement was graceful, almost predatory, and I instinctively took a step back. His eyes flicked to my feet and then back to my face, the faintest trace of a smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Do you really think I'm a monster?" His voice was low, almost a whisper now, as if we were sharing a secret.

I stared at him, unsure of how to answer. He had called himself The Ardent, had paraded around as the most powerful Alpha in all of Shadow Brook, had taken me against my will-what else was I supposed to think? But looking into his eyes now, there was something more, something deeper that I couldn't understand.

"I don't know what to think," I finally admitted, my voice shaky. "You haven't exactly given me much of a reason to trust you."

Woodson took a step closer, and I felt my pulse quicken. He wasn't threatening, but there was an undeniable power in his presence that made it impossible to relax.

"You think trust is given, just like that?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "It's earned, Reve. And so is fear."

I swallowed hard; my throat suddenly dry. "And what have you earned, Woodson? My fear?"

His lips curled into a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps. But you'll see in time. Fear is just the beginning."

I didn't fully understand what he meant, but the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. There was a confidence in his words, an unsettling certainty that made me feel powerless. I hated that feeling, hated him for causing it.

"What do you want from me?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. It was the question that had haunted me since he brought me here, since the night when everything changed. What could someone like him possibly want from someone like me?

His gaze sharpened, a flicker of disdain crossing his face. "Do you have memory loss? It was only two weeks ago when I told you-you are my... wife." The way he said wife made my cheeks burn with embarrassment. There was disgust in his tone, disbelief, as if the very idea repulsed him.

"Yes... you're right," he continued, as though reading my thoughts. "I can't believe it either."

"Stop it!" My voice came out sharper than I intended, my hands clutching my head.

"What am I doing?" he asked, his expression unreadable. Yet, I could see it-the amusement lurking beneath the surface. He was enjoying this, toying with me like I was some game.

"Reading my thoughts! Stop it!"

"You've accepted that I can," he replied smoothly. "Good. But it's you who leaves your thoughts wide open. I'm just reading what's already there."

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling in my chest. I didn't understand what he meant, and at this point, I didn't care. All I wanted was to be free of this nightmare.

"Please, let me go," I whispered, my voice cracking with desperation. "I'm not your wife. I'm not fit to be anyone's wife. I turn eighteen in three weeks. I just... I want to go home." My voice broke as a tear slipped down my cheek. The weight of it all-the confusion, the disbelief-crushed me. I didn't belong here. I never did.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought I saw anger flash across his face. "You want to return to the place where they hit you? Abused you? Diminished you?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the fragile resolve I'd tried to build. "You prefer that world to this?"

"Yes," I whispered, my voice barely steady. "I'm not fit to be here. Please. I promise I won't tell anyone."

A low, humorless laugh escaped his lips, chilling me to the bone.

"Do you even have anybody to go back to?" he asked. The words hit me like a punch to the gut because they were true. I didn't have anyone. I was alone. Still, I would have chosen that over this.

"It's your will to return to the human world, isn't it?"

"Yes," I answered without hesitation, my voice firm despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

For the briefest second, his features hardened with anger, but then he nodded, stepping closer.

"Then your wish shall be granted."

In the blink of an eye, a figure I hadn't noticed before materialized at the edge of the room. Their hand touched my head, and in an instant, the world dissolved into darkness.