I took in a deep shaky breath and followed, I noticed Clara's steps getting slower, maybe so I could catch up. I didn't want to, but I knew if I wanted answers, I would have to befriend this… Omega, My steps hastened as I caught up. The stairs curved up into darkness, our shadows stretching long and thin against the walls. The butler's footsteps echoed steadily ahead, precise and unhurried, like a clock ticking in an empty hall.
He stopped at a long corridor lit only by two flickering wall lamps. The air was different here, softer somehow, scented faintly with soap and candle wax."This floor houses the domestic staff," he said without looking back. "Your quarters are at the end of the hall. Supper is served at eight. You will be assigned duties in the morning. Do not wander without reason."
Before we could speak, he was already walking away, his silhouette swallowed by the dim light.Clara and I stood there in silence for a few seconds, our suitcases by our sides. Then, she turned to me with a small, nervous smile.
"Come on," she said.
The hallway stretched endlessly, the wooden floor creaking under our steps. The sound felt loud, almost too loud
Finally, she stopped before the last door. A faint murmur of voices came from inside, laughter, and soft conversation. Clara knocked lightly.
A voice answered, warm and polite, "Come in" Clara pushed the door open before the speaker could finish.
Inside, the room glowed with a comfortable warmth. A small hearth burned in the corner, filling the air with the scent of pine. Six narrow beds lined the walls, each neatly made, though two bore signs of life: a shawl draped over one, a half-braided ribbon on another.
Four faces turned toward us.
A young woman with dark curls sat cross-legged on her bed, a brush in one hand. Her amber eyes brightened with curiosity. "Oh, new girls." She smiled, wide and mischievous. "Welcome to the pack." The others groaned at her pun.
"Nyra," Mireen muttered, shaking her head.
"I'm just saying," the curly-haired girl said, unbothered. "It's not every day the Manor brings in fresh blood." Her gaze flicked to me, lingering a moment too long. "Especially human." I stiffened before I could help it. The word still carried a strange weight in this house. A woman at the far corner looked up from mending a uniform. Her hair was streaked with silver, her eyes calm and kind." Nyra," she called out softly. "Be nice." Nyra rolled her eyes good-naturedly and went back to brushing her hair.
The older woman turned to me then, offering a small, motherly smile.
"I'm Mireen," she said. "This is Nyra, Eira, and Lila."
The names matched the faces quickly: Nyra, the playful one, long perfect legs, amber eyes, just like Clara, but not nearly as big; Eira, tall and composed, folding towels with military precision, her gaze sharp and steady, her green eyes swept over me, then immediately back to what she was doing, she didn't smile, barely acknowledging my presence, almost like I held such little significance, maybe I did; I made a small mental note to avoid this one, and Lila, round faced and plump, shorter than the rest, lounging near the hearth with a smirk and a mug in hand.
"Another human," Lila said, her voice low and amused. Her lips stretched wide, almost to her ears, her brown eyes swept over me, accessing me "Finally. I was starting to think I'd die surrounded by fur." "Lila!" Nyra gasped, laughing, but I caught the glint of something true behind the humor. Clara gave a small nod. "This is Athena," she said, almost protectively. "Nice to meet you all," I managed. My voice sounded steadier than I felt. Mireen motioned toward a small bed by the window. "You can take that one, dear. It's the warmest spot. I nodded and pushed my suitcase to the bed. As I began to unpack, I felt eyes drilling holes into my back. I turned around and as I suspected it was Eira, she looked on, her gaze not cruel, but not friendly either. The kind of look someone gives when they're trying to decide if you're worth trusting.
"You'll get used to it," Lila said after a moment, breaking the tension. "The silence. The rules. The... occasional weird noises in the night." She sipped her drink like she'd said nothing unusual. Nyra leaned closer, her tone playful. "Don't scare her on her first night.""I'm not scared," I lied. Lila smiled faintly, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "You're braver than most." I felt like I had finally found my voice, "how did you know I was human?", I asked, directed at the two girls in front of me, they looked at each other as if deciding who was going to speak, "your eyes", said Lila with a smile, these wolves, they usually have colored eyes, anything with brown is probably human", Nyra playfully hit Lila on the arms on the mention of "these wolves", they giggle and decide to give me space to unpack, "Wolves"?, The word kept repeating in my head, I could feel my world spin, I had taken in too much information in just one day, I sat on my bed, the sheets white, and soft, I suspected something, but knowing… knowing I was living among them sent shivers down my spine, but so far they seemed nice and welcoming except that Eira, she seemed to not like me, or maybe she didn't like the fact I was human, "human", the word suddenly sounded like an insult, Clara was unpacking, fortunately, her bed was beside mine, strangely I felt safer around her than anyone. For a while, the room was filled with the gentle rhythm of nightly routines, fabric folding, soft chatter, the sound of fire breathing low. When the candles were finally dimmed, we all climbed into our beds. The soft creak of wood and the rustle of blankets filled the stillness. "Get ready for tomorrow Clara and Athena" our head snapped to where the voice came from, it was Mireen, "tomorrow, you'll be meeting the Alpha for your assessment", she said softly "he doesn't let just anyone into his house", I nodded a yes, Clara followed suit, I assumed the "Alpha" was the man who had the greatest authority in this house, "how does it go?", Clara asked, her voice shaky, I imagined she was nervous about meeting the Alpha, as was I, "You'll see, it's different for everyone, but If you get it wrong, you'll be thrown in the dungeon" It was Nyra this time, "Don't listen to her" Lila smiled, You'll only be thrown if you're found to be a traitor. "That's enough girls" cooed Mireen, "Don't scare the girls, and leave them to get enough rest for their big day" Everyone tucked themselves in, except, Eira, she had been sleeping ages ago, not caring about the conversation. I lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, listening to the muffled sounds of the manor beyond the door, distant footsteps, I looked to my side, Clara had also fallen asleep, I had hoped she'd be awake at least to strike a conversation, but I guess, I'd need sleep myself.
Sleep came slowly, the sound of Clara's muffled breathing, the whispers of the wind outside, the rustle of the leaves hanging from the trees, Then everything went still.
I was standing in the woods
The woods outside the mansion, away from its high walls and protective fences, Tall skeletal trees stretching to the sky, vines scattered throughout their trunks, the moon seemed brighter than ever, I was barefoot, still in my ivory colored night gown, the wind carried a chill, raising the hairs on my skin as it gushed past, mist curled at my feet, the air smelt of rain and wetness, then I saw it, the fumes, those black fumes, my pulse quickened, I moved, unwilling, my feet betraying me, I walked towards the fumes, zombified, then I suddenly stopped, the fumes seemed to engulf me at this point, choking me, making it hard to breathe, the air around me thickening "Athena", the sound came from behind me, that voice, I knew it, I turned around, my eyes steady, Then I saw them,
Those Red eyes
I squinted, trying to take in the figure in front of me, tall, slender and unmoving, this woman, her hair was jet black, dancing with the wind, and following its path, I wanted to scream at her, ask her who she was, why she was showing up in my dreams, but deep down, I wanted to know why I wasn't afraid. I tried to talk, but no sound came out of my lungs. I squinted to see what she looked like, but I couldn't, black midst covering her face. Then she reached out, pale slender fingers, trying to touch me "you shouldn't be here"...
I jerked awake, cold sweat soaking my sheets, my heart hammered so loud I feared it would wake the others, It was nearly daybreak, the sky a shade of deep blue hues, I sat up, head in my hands, It felt more vivid, more real, I could still feel the shiver of wind, the feel of dirt against my feet, I was close.
I had to get into that library,
I had to get the answers,
I had to pass the test,
I had to face that Alpha,
I was finally home…