Chapter 2: THE MEETING

“Move along,” barked the guard behind her. She was a little bit frightened off because she thought the council are never done with her.  The guards voice was sharp, his nudge just as harsh. Irwin stumbled forward, catching her footing as they passed through the towering iron gates of the Shadowclaw stronghold. 

Her heart raced, each beat heavy with dread. She knew she was walking straight into the den of wolves. The eyes of the pack members followed her every step, glaring, and unwelcoming. She could feel their disdain burning into her.

" The hybrid", they whispered. 

"The outsider. "

"The one chosen to marry Alpha Dorian." The whispers continues.

They moved deeper into the stronghold, the path winding toward the main hall. The stone walls loomed high above her, casting long shadows that seemed to close in on her. She could feel the weight of it all. The stares. The whispers again continued. The sheer hostility. 

“Is that her?”

“I don’t like this one bit.”

“She’ll bring trouble.”

Irwin clenched her fists, but she forced her feet to keep moving, her stomach tightening with each passing second. She could feel the guards on either side of her exchanging glances. Their silence was loaded with contempt. Not a single word of reassurance or even acknowledgment.

This place reeked of power, cold and unyielding.

The guard to her right gave her a glance, then looked away. His contempt was obvious, and Irwin swallowed back the bitter taste of her nerves. Cain, the only council member who had spoken with her earlier, had now left her in the hands of these guards. They were leading her straight to Dorian.

The thought made her shiver.

When they finally reached the main hall, Irwin’s breath hitched. The room was vast, but it felt suffocating. Wolves lined the space, their gazes sharp, filled with disdain. She was an outsider, an unwelcome guest in their home.

And then she saw him!

Dorian stood at the far end of the hall, waiting. He was taller than she had imagined, his figure imposing, every inch of him radiating authority. 

His dark hair fell just over his forehead, framing a face that was all sharp angles and fierce intensity. But it was his eyes cold, black, and unreadable that sent a chill down her spine. They were locked on her, unwavering, as if he were assessing a threat.

Irwin’s mouth went dry.

“So, this is her?” His voice cut through the silence like a blade, deep and full of disdain. “The one I’m supposed to marry?”

Irwin flinched. His tone was biting, as if she was nothing more than an inconvenience, a burden he had no choice but to bear. 

She took a step forward, trying to steady her breathing. “Yes,” she managed, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m Irwin.”

Dorian’s lips curled slightly, but there was no warmth in his smile. It was just a flicker of something dark and unreadable. He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. 

“You don’t look like much,” he said coldly, his gaze raking over her, inspecting. “I expected... more.”

Irwin stiffened, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt like prey under his gaze, like he could see every weakness she had, every doubt and fear.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she muttered, a flash of defiance creeping into her voice despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Dorian raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her tone. “Disappoint me?"he echoed, his voice low, dangerous. “You haven’t even begun to understand what disappointment means.”

She swallowed hard, refusing to let him see how his words rattled her. “Maybe I’ll learn, then.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, but his eyes remained cold. “You’re here because you have no choice,” he said, taking another step toward her. “Not because you belong here.”

Irwin clenched her fists, trying to hold her ground. “I didn’t ask to be here,” she shot back. “But it seems neither did you.”

For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and tense. Dorian’s gaze hardened, and for the first time, Irwin thought she saw a flicker of something like anger behind his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“You think you can talk to me like that?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Irwin’s pulse quickened, but she held her head high. “I don’t see why I would not. It seems you already hate me.”

His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, invading her space. “Hate you?” he murmured, his voice like ice. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”

“Maybe not,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “But I can see it in your eyes. You don’t want this. You don’t want me.”

Dorian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced over at the guards still standing near the entrance, then back at her. His gaze burned with something unspoken, but he turned away, dismissing her with a cold wave of his hand.

“Take her to her quarters,” he ordered the guards, his voice devoid of emotion. “We’ll deal with the rest tomorrow.”

Irwin stood frozen, watching as Dorian walked away without another word. The guards stepped forward to escort her, but she barely noticed them. Her mind was spinning, her thoughts tangled already.