1 - Another World, another what?

My eyes fluttered open, the cold seeping into my bones the first thing I registered. Blinking away the sleep, I frowned. This wasn't my comfy bed. This... this was a room made entirely of cold, smooth metal, with thick bars separating me from the outside world!

My ankles felt strangely heavy, and a glance down revealed them chained to the floor, like something out of a movie.

A throbbing ache pulsed in my forehead, making me wince. What happened last? Memories flooded back in a rush – the airplane, the scary noises, people screaming, then… darkness!

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo of fear and confusion. Did we crash? Was I dead? But where were the fiery underworld and creepy demons?

"Maybe I'm alive?" I whispered, dazed, checking myself for gruesome injuries. Thankfully, just a few bumps and bruises.

Then, I saw a guard. A guard standing outside the bars, his face unreadable. Relief washed over me. At least someone was here! I scrambled to my feet, brushing off my clothes that were too dusty for a decent night's sleep.

"Um, excuse me," I began, voice a nervous squeak. "Where am I?"

The man just stared. No answer. Okay, maybe a little gruff, but at least he was there, right? Deep breath, stay positive.

My voice came out a little stronger this time, "Hey! Still no answer? Where am I?" The guard guy just gave me another eyebrow raise, like he was judging my geography skills. Rude!

Maybe he was mute? Or maybe he was like one of those fancy vending machines at the mall that needed a special card to work.

Sighing dramatically, I plopped back down on the cold floor, leaning against the metal wall. My brain was officially on overdrive, trying to figure out why I was alive, yet stuck in what felt like a giant metal can.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a mountain of a man walked in. Even the guard guy bowed a little, which totally put this newcomer in the "important dude" category. I scrambled to my feet, suddenly feeling like I should curtsy or something. Judging by the way everyone was treating him, this guy was clearly in charge.

He stopped a few feet away, the dim light making it hard to see his face clearly. Ugh, thanks to all those late-night study sessions for cramming finals, my eyes weren't exactly eagle-sharp anymore! He spoke in this deep voice that sent shivers down my spine, not in a bad way, but definitely in a "wow, that's a powerful voice" way.

"Is the prisoner awake?" His voice was deep and boomed around the tiny cell, making my stomach do a nervous flip.

"Yes, Beta," the guard said. Beta? Okay, that was a new one. Maybe it was some kind of fancy security code or something?

"Hi there," I chirped, trying to sound friendly despite the knot forming in my stomach. The big dude scanned me head-to-toe, making me feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. Ugh, I must look awful – all dusty and sweaty. How long had I even been asleep?

"May I ask who you guys are?" I blurted out, "And where I am?" He couldn't possibly hurt a harmless college student like me, right?

"Those are questions we should probably be asking you, miss," he drawled. "Who are you, and what are you doing on our turf? Don't tell me, a spy?"

Spy? Turf? My brow furrowed in confusion. "A spy? Seriously? And what turf exactly? Do I look like a James Bond wannabe?" I shot back, trying to sound tougher than I felt.

"True, not exactly the picture of a secret agent. But most packs wouldn't send a weakling for recon. Maybe you're an escaped… slave? Though, it's weird I can't pick up any scent from another pack on you."

Slave? Pack? My head spun. Did I land in some weird historical reenactment or something? "What… what pack?" I stammered, completely lost. This guy was speaking a language I didn't understand. Panic started to bubble up in my chest.

The man sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright, alright," he said, his voice softer now. "Where are you really from?"

Taking a deep breath, I tried to piece it all together. "I… I was on a plane," I stammered, "going home to Santa Catalina. I was coming back from Switzerland." His brow furrowed even deeper. This clearly meant nothing to him. My heart plummeted. Where in the world – or maybe even off-world – had this crazy plane crash taken me?

"Ugh, seriously?" I mumbled after he didn't answer. Spilling everything at once probably wasn't the best idea. Taking a deep breath, I tried a more measured approach. "Look, I really don't remember much. There was a plane, some trouble, and then... nothing. I woke up here."

Beta raised an eyebrow that practically reached his hairline. "An airplane? Sounds like some fantastical story," he scoffed. My jaw dropped.

"Fantastical story? You've never seen a plane? It, uh, flies. Through the air?" I stammered, gesturing vaguely with my hands. He just smirked, that infuriatingly amused look back on his face. Great. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with a guy who thinks airplanes are fairytales. This was officially the worst day ever.

"Well, you seem to come from a very... interesting place."

Interesting? More like terrifying! "So, can I, you know, leave now?" I asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not. You stay here until the Alpha decides your fate." He turned to leave, his broad shoulders brushing past the cell door.

Deflated, I slumped back against the cold wall. Everything felt wrong. This place, these people – they were like something out of a history book, not real life. Exhaustion finally took over, and my eyelids fluttered shut, my thoughts swirling in confusion as I drifted off to a restless sleep.

***

The metal door screeched open, jolting me awake. Beta sauntered back in, a tray in his hand. "Thought you might be getting peckish," he announced, setting the tray down with a clatter.

Peeking over the edge, I saw what looked like roasted meat and some strange, colorful fruits. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since... well, since whenever I'd passed out on that plane. Still, caution gnawed at me.

"This isn't poisoned, is it?" I blurted out, eyeing the food warily.

Beta threw his head back and smirked, a booming sound that echoed in the small cell. "Poison? If we wanted you gone, it wouldn't be so fancy. More like a heart-ripped-out-and-fed-to-the-vultures kind of deal."

My stomach lurched. Vultures? This guy wasn't exactly putting my mind at ease with his barbaric metaphors. Still, the rumble in my belly was getting hard to ignore!

"And no love potions in there either, right?" I tacked on hesitantly, spearing a piece of the meat with a cautious finger. It smelled good, at least. Honestly, who cared about good food when you were stuck in a dungeon?