Chapter 2

"Wake up," a voice jolted me from my sleep.

My eyes fluttered open to a blinding light streaming in from the doorway. It was like staring into the entrance of heaven.

Was I dying?

I squinted against the sudden brightness.

A large man-shaped shadow was striding toward my cell, and I retreated to the farthest corner of the tiny space-as if that would protect me.

I glanced around; I was definitely in a dungeon.

It was dark, cold, damp, and filthy, with rats scurrying around in search of food.

I'd learned to survive without food for days at a time, living on the streets and then in the forest does that to you-especially when wolves hunt down all the food humans rely on.

You adapt to a certain way of life, a way .I'd learned to survive without food for days at a time, living on the streets and then in the forest does that to you-especially when wolves hunt down all the food humans rely on.

You adapt to a certain way of life, a way I never imagined I'd have to.

I heard the large man unlock my cell, so this was it. He lumbered toward me and yanked me up by my left arm. I cried out,

"Please don't hurt me!"

He dragged me out of the dungeon, my fingernails scraping against the hard ground until they bled. Then, all of a sudden, I was bathed in sunlight and standing on damp grass. I was outside!

I scanned my surroundings, desperate for an escape route.

"Don't even think about running away," the man interrupted my thoughts,

"this will all be easier if you cooperate."

He had short, curly dark brown hair; he was incredibly tall, maybe six-five, and his body was a mass of muscles.

He was a giant. I knew I couldn't fight him, let alone outrun him.

I followed him quietly, taking in my surroundings and our destination.

After about a fifteen-minute walk through the forest in silence, we arrived at a towering building, a massive white castle, surrounded by several smaller buildings.

People were everywhere, going about their day, chatting, laughing as if everything was normal. Their unearthly beauty gave away their werewolf nature.

No one paid me any mind as I was led into the large building—it was as if they were aware of my impending fate.

As we passed, they glanced at me

I suddenlv felt self-conscious about mv appearance.

It had been ages since I'd been somewhere this grand. Id forgotten that people lived like this before everything happened. The world was now a shadow of its former self, yet here these werewolves were, living as if everything was perfect. Better than perfect...

We entered what appeared to be a massive living room. Whoever lived here was clearly wealthy. Every piece of furniture and item in this room screamed luxury.

The walls were a pleasant peach color, adorned with paintings of beautiful roses and wolves. Everything in this room was distracting and screamed royalty.

Now that we were alone, I stopped walking.

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded

"I don't need to tell vou that human " he sneered

"Unless you plan on carrying me the rest of the way," I retorted, "then yes, you do."

"Listen, human," he began, "I don't know what's going to happen to you, and honestly, I'm not the one who makes these decisions. I've just been told to bring you to the servant quarters."

"Who does make the decisions then?"

He paused and sighed.

"The King," he finally admitted, "our Alpha..."

The room started to spin.

Panic surged through me.

My fate was in the hands of a stranger.

What was going to happen to me?