Chapter 2

Anastasia POV

I kept closing and opening my eyes, hoping it was just a nightmare, but it seemed this nightmare had become my reality.

I had been sitting in that wooden wagon for what I believed to be two days, since I had seen the sunrise twice since we left my pack.

My wrists were bound with metal chains, and the wagon jolted violently as it traveled over the rough roads until every bone in my body seemed to scream in pain. The smell of old wood mixed with the blood staining my clothes made me feel sick.

Everything had happened terrifyingly fast. Two days ago, I was living among my family and my pack, knowing exactly where I belonged...Now I was chained, my fate unknown.

I had never imagined my life would end up like this, watching my family be slaughtered before my eyes and being taken prisoner. I was supposed to be living the happiest days of my life at this moment with Isaac, whose fate I didn't even know. Was he still alive, or had he been killed along with the others...?

"What are they going to do to us? Are they going to kill us?" Melissa asked.

She was one of the girls from my pack who had been taken with me in the same wagon, along with Eliza.

Her voice trembled, and her red eyes darted around fearfully, as though searching for some hope of survival within this nightmare.

Eliza turned toward her and whispered sadly, "I hope they kill us and get it over with. Our families and our entire pack have been wiped out." Her head lowered as she spoke, and a silent tear slipped down her cheek. It seemed she had lost all desire to resist after everything that had happened.

I listened to the conversation in silence, but finally decided to speak after remaining quiet ever since we boarded this cursed thing.

I slowly closed my eyes, and the words left my lips coldly. "If they wanted to kill us, they would've done it already. I still don't know why they separated us, but I heard a name mentioned. I think it was Alexander. He must be responsible for what happened to us, and it looks like they're taking us to him."

Silence settled for a few moments after my words.

The only sounds were the creaking wheels and the pounding hooves of the horses pulling the wagon.

The wagon suddenly stopped, throwing our bodies forward. Our shoulders slammed into one another, and the chains around our wrists rattled sharply.

The guards' voices rose. "Get them down."

I lifted my head with difficulty and looked through the bars of the wagon.

I couldn't see much, but I caught sight of towering walls and numerous men with massive builds spread throughout the area.

Only a few moments passed before a guard shouted, "Move. Now." He yanked the metal chain connecting me and the others.

I nearly stumbled as he dragged us forward, but I fought to keep from falling in front of them.

We stopped before a gate that rose dozens of meters into the air, forged from iron.

It resembled a massive barrier protecting the place, impossible to breach.

There were also dozens of other wagons, and many shackled women like us were unloaded from them. The girls lined up in long rows.

Some cried openly, while others looked stunned, as though their minds still refused to accept what had happened.

The entire scene was bleak and terrifying.

I remained standing and slowly raised my head, studying the place as the gate began to open.

I was shoved hard from behind and nearly fell again, but I managed to steady myself. I clenched my teeth and struggled to regain my balance.

A tremendous metallic creaking sound echoed as the giant gate began moving, pushed backward by several men.

The place looked like a colossal castle. A vast empty stretch of land lay before it. The trees were carefully arranged, flowers filled the grounds with vibrant colors, and sunlight reflected off the dancing waters of the fountains.

While everyone was focused on the gate, a luxurious carriage approached.

A voice suddenly rang out across the area as people stepped aside to clear a path for it."The wife of King Alexander. Everyone bow."

Immediately, the soldiers, servants, and guards lowered their heads, Even the terrified girls bowed in obedience.

The guard standing behind me hissed angrily in a low voice."Lower your head, prisoner."

I completely ignored him and looked at the luxurious carriage carrying this Alexander's wife.

It was different from the others. Its dark wood had been polished to perfection, decorated with gleaming silver carvings, while three guards stood around it.

The guard I ignored kicked the back of my knees with his boot.I staggered, but I didn't fall.

The carriage moved again after one of the guards carefully inspected it.

It passed in front of us, crossed through the gate, and entered the castle.

A rough hand suddenly seized my arm violently. "You stupid girl! Didn't you hear what I said? Why didn't you bow?" His fingers tightened painfully around my arm.

I slowly turned toward him and smiled coldly. "I heard you. I just didn't like it."

The words came out calmly, deliberately provocative.

His eyes widened in shock as though he had never expected such a response. "I..." The words froze in his throat.

He seemed unable to believe that one of the prisoners had dared answer him that way.

At that exact moment, before he could continue, a woman's voice rang out as she approached and passed through the gate. "Leave her, Zak."

Everyone immediately turned toward her.

She appeared to be in her late fifties, wearing a black dress embroidered with silver thread.

Her hair was neatly arranged, and her features were stern yet dignified.

The guard instantly stepped back and obeyed without uttering a word.

He moved behind her, folding his hands and lowering his gaze, though he was clearly struggling to contain his anger.

Only moments ago, he had been prepared to punish me himself. Now he stood with his head lowered like a child being scolded by a teacher. That woman clearly held a very high position here.

She approached me until she stood directly before me.

She studied my face for a long moment before lifting my chin with one hand. "What is your name?"

I raised an eyebrow defiantly and replied sarcastically, "Why? Do you want to be friends with me?"

The woman stared at me for several seconds.I couldn't tell whether she was annoyed or surprised.

Before she could continue staring, another carriage arrived, and at the same moment one of the girls from inside the castle hurried toward us.

As soon as she reached us, she bowed respectfully to the woman. "Lady Mirav, Nyxara, the Black Moon Seer, has arrived to see the King's Mother."

Mirav nodded and gestured toward one of the guards. "Very well. Tell her to come down here and head inside with this guard."

The name sparked my curiosity, so I looked toward the carriage.

As soon as the girl reached it, the carriage door slowly opened.

A tall, thin woman stepped out. Her skin was pale and deeply wrinkled, her hair completely white. She leaned on a cane and wore a black cloak.

She looked terrifying at first glance... It wasn't only her appearance that sent chills through me.

It was the way she moved. Her steps were slow, yet they carried a strange confidence that made everyone instinctively move aside.

Even the guards who had seemed frightening moments earlier lowered their eyes fearfully when she passed.

She walked toward us, her gaze fixed on Mirav.

Her face remained completely expressionless as she continued forward, leaning on her cane.

When she stopped directly in front of us, she looked around calmly.

Then, the moment her eyes met mine...

Her eyes widened suddenly. She staggered backward several steps in shock.

The cane trembled in her hands, and for a moment she nearly lost her balance.

Her eyes turned completely white. All color vanished from them, leaving behind nothing but a terrifying whiteness.

Then she whispered in a horrifying voice, "Impossible... you..."