Chapter 2:

"Let me go!" I yell, thrashing against his iron grip as he drags me out of the car.

The car has finally stopped and we find ourselves somewhere I definitely don't know. I have never been out of my pack walls before, so for all I know, I just might be in a new universe.

So many questions passed through my head during the lond drive.

Who is he?

Why did he save me?

Did he save me?

What are his intentions with me?

Anytime I tried to voice them out, all I got was a low growl, so I came up with this silly idea of keeping quiet and protesting when the car finally stopped.

Well...here I am, flailing my arms around, hoping that they move too fast for him to grab on each one.

The cool night air rushes against my face, but all I can focus on is his unyielding strength.

My feet barely touch the ground before he lifts me effortlessly, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of feathers.

"Put me down, you lunatic!" I beat my fists against his broad back, squirming to break free.

He doesn’t even flinch. His only response is a low growl that sends a shiver down my spine.

"I said put me down!" I scream again, clawing at his shirt.

"If you don’t shut up, I’ll throw you in the nearest ditch," he snaps, his voice cold and biting.

"Go ahead, do it! You can’t just—"

"Enough!" His voice booms through the night, silencing my protests for a moment. "Do you ever stop talking?"

I glare at the ground, biting back a retort as he marches forward. The smell of earth and flowers wafts through the air, and despite my fury, I can’t help but notice the beauty of the estate around me.

The garden is vast, with towering hedges and vibrant blooms that seem to glow under the moonlight.

But I’m too busy struggling to take in much more. "You have no right to—"

"You’re not in a position to demand rights," he cuts me off sharply.

"Who even are you?" I hiss. "What gives you the audacity to—"

"You’ll find out soon enough," he growls, tightening his hold on me as I nearly slide off his shoulder.

We pass through a grand hall, the stone walls lined with intricate carvings and banners I don’t recognize.

The space is silent, save for the echoes of his heavy footsteps and my continued protests.

"What in the moon is going on? And who is this?" A voice rings out, sharp and curious.

I twist my head to see a tall man approaching us, his golden hair catching the dim light. He looks between me and my captor, his expression unreadable.

"A rogue," my captor says. "Found her wandering near the borders. Thought she might have answers."

"A rogue?" The other man raises a brow, his gaze settling on me. "She doesn’t look like much of a threat."

"I’m not a rogue!" I snap, glaring at both of them.

"Quiet," my captor orders as he smacks the back of my thigh, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I'm stunned for a split second, but the shock wears off and I growl. "Who made you king of the world?" I shoot back.

The golden-haired man smirks, clearly amused, but he quickly masks it. "You know the rules, Prince Caspian. No disturbances at this hour. Your father won’t be pleased if—"

"I’ll handle it," Prince Caspian?–so that’s his name—cuts him off. "Go back to bed, Ethan."

What kind of a name is Prince Caspian though?

Ethan hesitates but eventually nods, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he disappears into the shadows.

Caspian resumes his march, and I resume my protests.

"You can’t just kidnap people! Do you know who I am? My uncle is—"

"Save your breath," he interrupts. "You’ll need it for the interrogation tomorrow."

"Interrogation?" I repeat, my voice rising. "I haven’t done anything wrong!"

All that has ever happened to me are bad things! And it just keeps getting worse?!

"Keep yelling, and you’ll wake the entire pack," he warns, his tone icy.

Pack.

The word sends a jolt through me. My struggling falters as realization dawns. "This is a pack house," I whisper.

He doesn’t respond, but his silence is answer enough.

The sudden realisation sends a bolt of fear through me. I was a plague in my pack, and even then, they knew who I was. But here?

What's going to happen to me here?

"What pack?" I demand, my voice shaking. "Who are you people?"

Again, no answer.

We finally reach a room, and without ceremony, he shoves the door open and steps inside.

The space is bare, with only a simple bed and a small table. He drops me onto the floor with zero grace, and I land with a thud.

"Hey!" I glare up at him, rubbing my sore arm. "You can’t just—"

The door slams shut, and I hear the click of a lock.

"Coward!" I shout, banging my fists against the door. "Let me out!"

No response.

My anger immediately gives way to exhaustion, and I sink to the ground, my back against the door.

"What have I ever done wrong?" I ask the silence.

Everything since the day my mother died seven years ago, has been going wrong in my life.

Not only did I become the maid in my pack, I also became the punching bag and the reason behind any misfortune.

I got rejected by my mate tonight, even now as I think about it, it seems fair. Did I really think Darius would mate with me?

He's the Beta's son! Of course he would never.

Just when I thought I could escape and be on my own, here I am. Prisoner in some fancy pack.

For the first time, I allow myself to feel the full weight of it all. The humiliation. The pain. The hatred.

Yes, hatred.

I hate my pack.

I hate the way they’ve treated me. I hate the way they’ve made me feel like less than nothing. And most of all, I hate that I ever thought I belonged with them.

My wounds throb, a stark reminder that I’m human in a world of wolves. Unlike them, I don’t heal quickly. Every scratch, every bruise is a reminder that I'll never be as strong.

The world turns hazy and my eyes find the bed. I begin to crawl towards it, but I give it up because the room is too big and it only seems like the farther I go, the farther the bed is.

I find a comfy spot on the soft rug and take in a breath. Even the air here is fancier than moon haven.

Where exactly am I?

I close my eyes, debating on the answer and before long, the darkness takes me.

****

Sunlight streams through the window when I wake, and for a moment, I forget where I am. But then I see the ornate furniture, the high ceilings, and the luxurious décor.

This room isn’t as bare as I thought last night. It’s beautiful.

The sound of a key turning draws my attention to the door. It swings open to reveal a stunning girl about my age with piercing green eyes and an air of authority.

She takes one look at me and scowls. "Get up. Breakfast is ready."

I blink at her, still groggy. "What?"

"You heard me," she says impatiently. "Clean yourself up. You look like you’ve been dragged through the woods."

"I was dragged through the woods," I mutter, pushing myself to my feet.

Her eyes narrow as she notices my wounds. "You’ll be given time to clean up. But let me give you a piece of advice. When you face the Prince later, tell the truth. He doesn’t tolerate liars."

I freeze, her words sinking in. "The Prince?"

She smirks, clearly enjoying my confusion. "You don’t even know where you are, do you?"

"A fancy pack?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Goldencrest," she answers, her tone dripping with pride.

Goldencrest?!

All packs around the world are answerable to Goldencrest! How did I wind up here again?

Her brows twitch at the stunned expression on my face. "Well, it's the pack that governs all packs," she adds, mistaking my shock for lack of knowledge. "The pack that consists of all the strongest Lycan royal houses."

Her gaze sharpens. "And you had the audacity to cross our borders."

I can’t breathe.

The Prince.

The man who kidnapped me last night...Prince Caspian?

He’s the Prince of Goldencrest?