Chapter 4_Arrival

“What is this place?” I whispered, my voice shaking as my eyes darted around. The car had slowed, then stopped, and I realized I was no longer on familiar streets. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their leaves shimmering silver in the fading light of dusk. The air smelled faintly of earth and something wild and alive.

Rowan’s hands remained steady on the wheel. “This is the pack territory,” he said calmly, as if stating the obvious.

“The pack… territory?” My voice wavered, disbelief making my throat dry. “I… I thought I was going to… I don’t know… a penthouse, or an apartment… somewhere normal. Not… not this…” My hands gripped the seat tightly.

Beyond the car window, my eyes widened in horror. Wolves—massive, regal, some with silver and black fur, prowled openly, moving among men and women holding swords, spears, and banners. Figures in flowing robes chanted quietly near the edge of a courtyard. Their presence radiated authority and danger. Wolves and humans together, aligned in some order I could barely comprehend. The reality hit me like a punch. I had been thrust into a world of power, dominance, and creatures I had always thought existed only in stories.

I pressed myself against the door, trembling. Sweat prickled along my spine, my heart hammering. “Please… don’t kill me! Why… why bring me here? Those… those are wolves! I… I’m sorry! I—I’m all my parents have left! I have nothing! Please!”

The memories came crashing back: my parents, their laughter, their absence, the coldness of my aunt, the nights on the streets, Damon’s cold hands and colder promises. I shivered, sliding slightly in my seat. “I… I…” my voice broke. “My parents died when I was five… my aunt hates me… my… my boyfriend, he…”

A flashback struck me suddenly, and I froze. Damon’s warning, his cold words echoing in my mind: “Do not say you were my girlfriend. Do not speak. Do not resist.” A chill ran down my spine. My lips trembled. The pieces fell together in a horrifying clarity that my boyfriend… had rented me out. He didn’t want me. My hands clenched over my face as tears burned my cheeks.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. The absurdity, the cruelty, the helplessness of it all crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Rowan’s deep, even laughter cut through the storm of my panic. I froze, startled, my eyes snapping to him.

“Ha!” he said, chuckling, his voice warm yet booming. “Nobody’s hurting you, little one.”

“What?” My voice trembled as I stared at him. “Nobody… what do you mean? They’re all… they’re all wolves! And swords! And… magic or whatever this is!”

Rowan’s laughter softened to a smile. “I promise you… nothing here will harm you. You are under my protection. You are safe. For now, you need only listen, obey, and breathe. That is enough.”

I swallowed hard, trembling, my chest tight. The forest seemed alive, whispering secrets I could not comprehend. My palms were slick with sweat, my knees weak. I had survived hunger, abuse, and the streets, but this… this was something different. This was a kingdom unlike anything I had imagined, and I was its newest, most vulnerable guest.

He reached for the car door and opened it with deliberate care. “Come on,” he said. “Time to go inside. Move quickly, but safely.”

I slid out, my legs unsteady, my eyes scanning the vast courtyard. Wolves padded silently beside humans. Spears glinted in the dying light. A figure in a silver robe bowed near a fountain, and another raised a banner high above the ground. The sheer scale of it made my chest tighten. I could barely believe I was here, alive, walking, yet feeling like a pawn on a chessboard too large and terrifying to comprehend.

Rowan led me toward the castle, his stride confident, sure. The path twisted through manicured gardens, the scent of pine and stone filling the air. “You will meet no one today,” he said over his shoulder, noticing my wide-eyed panic. “You are here to settle in. Learn your place. Eat. Rest. Freshen up. That is all.”

“Eat… freshen up…” My voice was hollow. My mind was a storm of fear, disbelief, and mounting nausea. I had imagined an apartment, or maybe a small room somewhere mundane. Not this massive, sprawling castle rising from the forest floor, banners flying, wolves and humans alike moving as if choreographed by some unseen hand.

Rowan called quietly as we approached the great doors. “Maids!”

Several young women appeared, curtsying automatically. “This way, Mrs. Smith,” Rowan said firmly, gesturing for them to lead me inside. “These women will attend to you while you settle in.”

One stepped forward, a poised woman with sharp but kind eyes. “I am Martha,” she said. “Head maid here. You may call on me for anything you need.” She gave a small, respectful nod.

Two younger women stepped beside her, both curtsying. “I am Lila,” said one, “and this is Esme. If you require assistance like clothes, food, or anything else, you may call for either of us at any time.”

I nodded shakily, unsure what to say. “I… thank you,” I whispered.

I stumbled along behind them, my eyes wide, sweat running down my temples. Every step was a sensory assault. The polished floors gleamed too perfectly, the tapestries whispered of power, the scent of herbs and leather was overwhelming. My hands shook uncontrollably as the maids guided me upstairs.

Before disappearing behind the final doorway, I paused, glancing back at Rowan. “When… when do I meet… Mr. Smith?” My voice was a mixture of terror and curiosity, small against the vastness around me.

Rowan looked down at me, calm as ever. “Tomorrow.”