Cassia's POV
I looked around to see wolves. They were everywhere.
"May the gods help me." I sighed.
We were escorted to the grand palace, and I swore it was too far. I started to feel my head spin.
Finally, the grand palace appeared ahead, its dark stone towers stretching high into the sky like jagged fangs. Massive silver banners hung from the walls, each bearing the crest of Supreme Alpha Hadrian Valerian, was a snarling black wolf with golden eyes. Sighs, werewolves and their pride.
My eyes were locked on the man waiting for me.
Lord Darius Rael.
My breath hitched. This was the man I was supposed to marry.
I forced myself to keep my chin high, to show no sign of weakness. But as my boots touched the stone pavement, I felt thousands of a hundred gazes burning into me.
He led me towards the stairs as we went up.
The werewolves were watching with somewhat pity? Disgust?
Some stood along the palace steps, others lined the courtyard, warriors, nobles, and servants alike.
Their expressions ranged from curiosity to outright disdain. "A human? This must be a joke." A few whispered among themselves, not even bothering to lower their voices.
"She won't last a month."
"Why did the Supreme Alpha agree to this? No disrespect but this is stupid."
"I wouldn't even mate with a dog, talk more like a filthy human. It's a disgrace to us don't you think?"
"Yes, she doesn't even look like a princess. She looks like some of the beggars I see on the streets."
Every word stung, but I refused to react. I had spent my entire life fighting against wolves, and now I was expected to live among them?
No. To be ruled by them.
I hated this. I hated all of them, but most of all, I hated my father for sending me here to be caged like a prisoner.
I swallowed the bitterness… I believe there was nothing I could do and then I turned my focus back to Darius. His expression remained unreadable, but as I reached the base of the stairs, he finally spoke.
"Welcome to Varyon, Princess Cassia."
His voice was smooth and felt controlled. Too controlled without a smile.
Something new I had to get used to.
I mean back in my kingdom I was literally the princess of smiles and hugs.
"My Lord," I responded, keeping my tone as cold as his.
His eyes flickered over me briefly before he turned away. Without another word, he climbed the palace steps.
I waited for an invitation to follow, but it never came. Biting the inside of my cheek, I lifted my skirts and followed him, my heart hammering against my ribs.
The palace halls were breathtakingly massive, lined with towering pillars and golden sconces. Faint candlelight flickered against the black stone walls, making the long corridors feel haunted. I wanted to feel scared but instead I felt like an intruder.
Servants and nobles stopped in their tracks as I passed, some rolled their eyes at me. They were judging me… I felt it in the way their noses twitched. They inhaled my scent as if trying to confirm what they already knew.
I was not one of them. I was prey in a den of wolves.
Darius led me through the halls in silence, his strides long and effortless, while I struggled to keep up in my heavy gown. After what felt like an eternity, we reached a massive set of double doors carved with intricate wolf sigils.
Without pausing, he pushed them open and stepped inside.
The room was a grand council chamber, with a long table stretching through the center. Seated around it were powerful werewolf nobles, men and women dressed in dark robes embroidered with gold.
The moment I entered, the conversations halted, and a heavy silence fell over the room.
The man at the head of the table, older and grizzled with streaks of silver in his black hair, leaned forward. His golden eyes glowing at me, I could feel it, his presence was commanding. He was Supreme Alpha Hadrian Valerian.
"So," he mused as his deep voice deep sounded. "This is the human princess."
The way he said it… like I was something foreign, something unnatural, it made my skin crawl. "I expect more but she is… normal I think." He rolled his eyes and others laughed. I looked at Darius who let out a little chuckle beside me.
An insult but all I could do was smile.
"I am Princess Cassia of Lysoria, Your Grace." I forced myself to meet his gaze.
"Yes, I know who you are. The question is, uhm… do you know why you are here?" His lips curled, but it wasn't a smile.
"To fulfill the treaty and bring peace between our people." I lifted my chin.
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Peace?" He glanced around the table, as if amused. "Tell me, Princess. Did your father explain what this marriage truly means?"
My fingers clenched at my sides. What was he implying?
"The treaty states that I am to marry Lord Darius," I said carefully.
Hadrian's gaze flickered toward Darius, who remained silent at my side. "Yes, a convenient arrangement." He leaned back in his chair. "But let me make one thing clear… you see your presence here is not a gift. It is a test. Your father was stupid before so you're his test."
A cold chill ran down my spine.
"Test? What kind of test?" I echoed.
"To see if a human can truly belong in our world," he said simply. "To see if you can survive it. If you do, then your kingdom would be worthy."
I had fought in battles, faced death, and lived through the betrayal of my own father. And yet, as king Hadrian's golden eyes bore into mine, a different kind of fear settled in my bones.
I wasn't just an outsider.
I was an experiment.
Hours later, after being dismissed from the council, I was finally escorted to my chambers.
The room was beautiful but suffocating, with a massive canopy bed, fur-lined chairs, and a balcony overlooking the mountains. But it wasn't home. It never would be. I didn't want to be here.
I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my temples. My thoughts were a whirlwind, King Hadrian's words, the nobles' cold stares, Alpha Darius' indifference.
Something wasn't right.
"She is here, just as the treaty demanded,"
Voices drifted through the door, and I stiffened.
"And the Alpha Prince? Does he know?" another voice asked. Why did they have to talk outside my room?
"Not yet," the first voice responded. "But when he does, we may have a bigger problem." I held my breath. Would this person kill me on the spot?
The Alpha Prince?
My pulse pounded in my ears. Why did it sound like my presence here would be a problem for him?
Whoever he was, I had a sinking feeling that our paths would cross soon.
And when they did… I doubt I'd pass my father's so-called test.