Chapter 8

• Ayla
• The heavy oak door swung inwards with a soft groan, courtesy of Jude, his presence a constant, unwavering shadow at my side. I stumbled forward, my eyes wide with bewildered awe. Pinching my arm for the tenth time in the last hour felt futile.
• This wasn't a dream.
• I was truly here, trapped in a reality ripped straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. Part of me wished my story was like a Disney story then I would not be going through all of this.
• In a book, the prince or Alpha would fall in love at first sight but I knew Rex was just waiting to snap my neck.
• I was clouded with confusion because at first I was thinking of new ways to modify the lie I planned to tell in the dungeon, then the next minute, I’m in a fancy looking room.
• The room was breathtaking. Sunlight streamed through towering arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. A massive four-poster bed, draped in velvet and lace, dominated the space. It was a far cry from my humble, slightly messy room in New York City.
• "This is where you will be in the meantime, Ayla," Jude's deep voice rumbled, breaking my reverie. He stood stiffly, his shoulders squared, radiating an unsettling mix of protectiveness and suspicion.
• Beside me, the healer, a wiry man with kind eyes and hands that looked accustomed to being around werewolves, offered a hesitant smile. "If you would permit me, I should check for any injuries."
• Check for injuries? Me? The absurdity of it all nearly choked me. Wasn’t I supposed to be a spy? Did something change? I’ve never read if a spy receiving medical treatment in any of my fantasy books.
• "Sure, go ahead," I mumbled, still dazed. The memory of the running through the forest and falling over and over flashed through my head and I winced.
• The healer's touch was gentle as he examined the long, angry scratches that marred my arms and legs. He frowned. "These are… not too serious. But given your nature as a werewolf, they should be healing rapidly." He glanced at Jude, a question flickering in his eyes.
• "Are you experiencing any pain, young lady?" He asked me.
• "They sting," I admitted, "a whole lot. I think they’re infected too. They should be. Are they supposed to heal on their own?"
• He nodded slowly. "Ordinarily, yes. The regenerative properties of a werewolf are quite remarkable."
• Werewolf. It was a word I'd only ever read in books, watched in movies. I wasn’t one obviously so my injuries would last the full cycle of healing.
• How had I gotten here?
• Why me?
• The silence that followed was broken by the heavy thud of footsteps approaching the room. Jude stiffened, his eyes snapping to the doorway.
• Rex.
• The sheer presence of him was enough to make the air thick and difficult to breathe. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, his posture radiating raw power. He was magnificent, terrifying, and undeniably… gorgeous.
• My eyes trailed down to his shirt and I noticed the red patches on it. My mind immediately went to that other spy. He was probably dead. I imagined Rex stabbing the spy or torturing him to death and a shiver ran down my spine. The man had told me to play my cards right but knowing I could die made me terrified.
• That could be my fate. In fact that should be my fate but instead I’m here with a healer. I didn’t know if I should be terrified or grateful but either way I couldn’t control the suspicious look I threw at Rex every second.
• He gave Jude a curt nod, a silent communication passing between them. Jude inclined his head respectfully and, with one last lingering glance at me, slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with the Alpha.
• The healer bowed deeply. "Alpha Rex." He then repeated his earlier assessment. "The wounds are not that severe, but as a werewolf she should heal fast. Unless She's not..?."
• Rex's eyes, which I wanted to be absorbed in, narrowed. "Examine them regardless. She is still bleeding."
• The healer hesitated, but obeyed, carefully probing the edges of the wounds. His brow furrowed in confusion. "This is… confusing. The cuts are not so deep, but there is no accelerated healing. Nor do I sense any magical powers from her."
• "No magic? So she’s not even a witch?" Rex's voice was a low growl.
• "None, Alpha. I can detect no magical residue, no enchantments, and no wolf form either. Nothing that would explain this… anomaly."
• My heart pounded in my chest. The healer had unintentionally guessed it right. I wasn’t a werewolf which was why my injuries were taking time to heal. I didn’t have any magical powers in me either. I was just human, a simple human.
• "Perhaps…" I began, my voice trembling slightly, "perhaps it's because I'm not… from here."
• Both men stared at me, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.
• "I mean," I stammered, trying to formulate a coherent explanation, "I'm from another… place. Another world, maybe? I don't know how I got here, but I just appeared in the forest. I'm not like you."
• The silence that followed was deafening. Rex's gaze was intense, burning into me, searching for any hint of deception. The healer, on the other hand, seemed genuinely intrigued.
• "Another world?" he whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. "Such a thing is possible?"
• “Again with the rambling? What happened to losing your memory?” Rex asked sarcastically and my mouth snapped shut. I knew my lie would come back to bite me hard.
• “I’m being honest. I”
• “Save it.” He said cutting me off.
• Before either of them could respond, a familiar wave of dizziness washed over me. The room began to spin, the vibrant colors blurring into a swirling vortex. It was the same sensation I'd experienced when I first arrived in this strange, new reality – a sickening lurch, a feeling of being pulled apart and reassembled.