CHAPTER 5: INTRODUCED

“You will thank me for this someday.”

The words of the Alpha lingered in her head for hours. She tried to think about them and analyze every single word he said but couldn't understand anything. He was just irrational!

After he left, she had no choice but to lay on the bed. The Alpha really locked the door. She was loathing him until her eyes felt heavier, and she dozed off to sleep.

When her eyes opened, another unfamiliar ceiling greeted her sight. Earlier, she woke up seeing white surroundings. And now, her eyes were blessed by a wood ceiling.

She got up only to realize she was once again in another room. This one looked like a hut; almost everything was made up of woods, soothing to the eyes, and a nature motif.

There was a cabinet, a shelf, and a pile of unorganized books on the side of the bed where she was lying. On the other side, there was an old violin placed on a small table. The light here was yellowish, almost like a fire lamp.

There was no window, so she had no idea what the actual place looked like. It was too quiet in there; solemn and sacred. If only this was her house, then she bet she could stay in this room longer.

But the idea of that Alpha telling her that this was his territory bothered her.

She wondered what this room was and why she was transferred here.

She didn’t notice that somebody transferred her here. Was her sleep so deep that she couldn’t wake up easily?

Her body felt comfortable and light compared to earlier. Her head wasn’t throbbing anymore. But she still had this bandage on her right leg.

She wondered what time it was. Was it already evening? She hoped she wouldn't shift into her werewolf form. She never liked that feeling she had to bear with every time she was shifting. And also, she was too tired of chaining herself just to make sure she wouldn’t hurt anyone.

A knock on the wooden door got her back to her senses.

She sat on the bed and put the other strand of her hair behind her ears.

A man in a black shirt and faded jeans came in and nodded at her when he found her eyes.

“Good evening. It’s dinner time. Should you want to eat now?” he sounded caring yet his eyes told otherwise.

Unlike Matias, this man wasn’t that tall and masculine. Was he also a werewolf? How about the lady earlier, was she also a werewolf? Or… was she in his wolf pack? Probably, yes.

“I haven’t eaten anything since morning. But I’m not hungry. Should I go outside, instead? I’d like to breathe some fresh air.”

He had a ghost of a smile on his lips, “Alpha Matias commanded that you should stay inside.”

How could he plaster a smile on his face like that as if he was telling her a piece of good news while she was here---pissed off?! Uh, creatures here were annoyingly insane and weird!

“Could you at least explain to me why you all lock me up in a room as if I am imprisoned?”

She couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her tone.

She was just tired of bearing with them! She needed valid reasons and explanations!

“Pardon, Miss. But only Alpha Matias can explain the whole thing to you.”

She let out an exaggerated exhale as she rolled her eyes in the air.

“Where is he?”

She stood up and was about to head to the door, but this man immediately stopped her from exiting.

“He won’t like it if he found out you’re trying to escape. So, please, stay put and wait for him to come back.”

“I’m tired of hearing those excuses! I don’t even know why I just woke up locked in a room, and everybody’s telling me not to leave, and that Alpha told me I’m his property and this is his territory and---”

“Because that’s the truth, Miss.”

She wanted to grab a handful of her hair! She was losing her mind.

“Please, just let me go. You can’t get anything from me. I’m just a homeless lady, seeking freedom. I don’t want to be a slave of your pack. I don’t have any skills anyway. I’m useless.”

She sounded like a kid begging for someone to understand her.

She was about to add more heartfelt words to her sentence to change the man's mind when a familiar figure showed up, looking so stern and madly dangerous.

“Leave this to me, Hakken.”

'So this young man named Hakken. Sounds interesting,' she thought to herself.

“Sure, Alpha Matias.”

She stepped one foot away when Hakken left her sight. Matias scanned her from head to foot the moment he fully entered the room.

“I’m sending you dinner. How do you feel now?”

Wow. Suddenly, he turned into a soft one; caring and concerned. He couldn’t deceive her!

“I don’t want to eat, and I’m not feeling okay staying in this place. All I want is to leave.”

It was a half-lie since she had also felt more comfortable staying in this room than the first one.

“Should I have to reiterate my words?”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“No need. I’m sick of hearing the same thing.”

“Good. Because I won’t repeat it anyway.”

He’s so clever. She wondered how he managed to shift into his different personalities so smoothly. He sure had mastered it.

“Could you please talk to me sincerely? Answer me, why did you bring me here? Are you planning to make me one of your slaves? Or are you going to sell me? Come on, explain everything. I need answers!

He smirked as he was listening to her nonstop questions.

“Fine. Follow me and I’ll tell you.”

Internally, she felt like her world slightly brightened up when he said that but she kept her feelings to herself. He shouldn’t find out that she felt relieved.

He gestured to her. She gulped as she followed him. She finally saw the surroundings. The fresh air greeted her skin. It was already evening; so cold and solemn.

She looked up to the sky and saw the bright night skies. Stars were scattered above. Fortunately enough, there was no shadow or traces of the moon. She was glad to know that.

Fire lamps were also scattered every three meters in the path walk. She noticed how spacious this place was. She just realized the hut-like room she was in earlier was the only room standing in that area. It was surrounded by tall trees and plants.

From afar, she could see the wall fences; huge and looked so massive. She could also see a wide field on the other side. It looked like a training ground. She wondered why this place looked secluded.

She was so sure that if she tried to escape, they would easily catch her. To be locked inside a room was the least in her liking. So she wouldn’t bother running away… just for this moment.

Plus, she would like to know more about this place. She was curious, all of a sudden.

She walked barefoot as they continued heading to where she didn’t know where. She saw some people --- she had no idea if they were also werewolves--- bowed their heads down to Matias, showing respect. Matias would just nod at them.

At last, they walked to the staircase-like path. When she looked back, she also saw there were people there.

As they continued walking, people in black clothing followed them closely, and Matias maintained a brisk pace, leaving her no choice but to keep up without waiting for her.

"Why do they look like they are worshiping you?" she asked as soon as she caught up with him.

"They're not. Silly. They're just doing their responsibilities, not worshiping me. I am not a God."

But he's too arrogant, and now he's acting humble and decent-minded now? She was confused.

She kept her mouth shut when they finally reached the center of another wide field, which was smaller than the one she saw earlier.

Suddenly, people wearing black formed a circle around them, their stern expressions making her nervous. She gulped when one of them stared at her seriously.

Oh, she doesn't want to be prey!

"Everyone, gather around," Matias commanded.

In a blink of an eye, they were surrounded by more people, almost all of them wearing black clothes.

This looked more like a cult. She found it amusing that she was inside a territory of a wolf pack, and the Alpha was right beside her. But was this dangerous for her, considering she was a stranger?

Should she be worried, then?

"Aurelia."

She was astounded when she heard him utter her name.

She hadn't revealed any details about her identity or her name. How did he know it?

"To have your questions answered, I am formally introducing you to our wolf pack. The numerous, the strongest, and the most powerful werewolves in the North are ruled by none other than me; Matias Atkin."

She was left speechless. She already knew they were werewolves, but hearing it from him surprised her even more.

"We're formally welcoming you to our land, Valle de La Muerte."

If she was surprised earlier, she didn't know what more adjectives she could use to express her feelings at the moment.

"Valle de La Muerte..." She mumbled.

The Valley of Death.