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.