The Wolf Within Her

Chapter 6- The Other Woman

I didn’t remember when I fell asleep.

All I knew was that when I opened my eyes, my body felt stiff and sore, like I had been lying in the same position for too long. The cold floor beneath me hadn’t changed. If anything, it felt colder.

The ropes were still there. Tight around my wrists. Tight around my ankles. The cloth in my mouth still pressed against my lips, making it hard to breathe properly.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring at nothing.

I had hoped…

I had really hoped that when I woke up, everything would disappear. That this would turn out to be some kind of terrible dream. That I would open my eyes and find myself back in my old room, back in Silvercrest, back in a life that at least made sense.

But the pain in my wrists was real.

The dryness in my throat was real.

And the silence in this room… it was real too.

This wasn’t a dream.

This was my life now.

I shifted slightly, wincing as the rope dug deeper into my skin. My body protested immediately. Even the smallest movement felt like too much.

I turned my head toward the window as the morning sun slipped through the curtains, the light hitting my face. I squinted, trying to adjust, but it only made the headache building behind my eyes worse.

I hadn’t even had time to fully take in everything when I heard a voice.

Right outside my door.

A woman’s voice.

“Where is the worthless girl who thought she could steal my man?”

My body went completely still.

The tone alone was enough to send a chill through me. I hadn’t even seen her yet, but I already knew one thing—she wasn’t someone I wanted to deal with.

The door opened before I could prepare myself.

She walked in like she belonged there. Like the room was hers, like the space around her existed just for her.

My eyes followed her immediately.

She was beautiful. There was no denying that. The kind of beauty that demanded attention without trying. But there was something else too… something sharp in her eyes, something cold.

Her gaze landed on me, and for a second, she just looked. Taking in everything—the ropes, the gag, the way I was sitting helplessly on the floor.

Then she smiled.

Not kindly.

Never kindly.

“So this is her,” she said, walking closer. “The one who thinks she can take what belongs to me.”

I couldn’t respond. Even if I wanted to, the cloth in my mouth made sure of that.

She stopped right in front of me, her eyes meeting mine.

“I am Lucy,” she said, her voice calm, almost proud. “Daughter of Alpha Roderick of the Obsidian Pack.”

My heart skipped.

Obsidian.

Even in Silvercrest, everyone knew that name. A ruthless pack. A powerful one. The kind that didn’t lose battles. The kind that didn’t forgive easily.

She tilted her head slightly, studying me.

“I was the one who was supposed to marry Mario,” she continued. “We were promised to each other since childhood.”

My chest tightened.

Her words settled heavily in the room, leaving no space for doubt.

“You?” she added, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t even compare.”

I looked away, but it didn’t make her words hurt any less.

“You’re wolfless,” she said, almost like she was stating a simple fact. “Do you really think you can stand beside him as his Luna? Do you really think you belong here?”

Each word hit harder than the last.

“Sooner or later,” she went on, her voice dropping slightly, “you’ll be cast out. And when that happens… you won’t survive out there. Wolves don’t show mercy to the weak.”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight.

I didn’t want to believe her. I didn’t want to let her words get to me.

But they did.

Because deep down… I already knew how the world saw me.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, the door opened again.

Mario walked in.

The moment he saw her, something changed.

“Lucy, You are here?” he said.

His voice was different.

Lighter.

And then… he smiled.

A real smile.

I froze.

I hadn’t seen that expression on his face before. Not when he brought me here. Not when he spoke to me. Not even when he ordered me to be tied up.

But with her… it came easily.

Lucy turned to him, her entire expression softening instantly. “I just arrived,” she said, her tone almost playful. “I thought I should come and see your… wife.”

There was something in the way she said that word. Something mocking.

Mario didn’t respond to that. He just looked at her, then nodded slightly.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s talk outside.”

Lucy didn’t hesitate. She walked to his side and slipped her hand around his arm like it belonged there.

Like she belonged there.

They turned toward the door together.

Then, just before stepping out, Lucy looked back at me.

That same smile.

Sharp.

Certain.

Like she had already won.

The door closed behind them, leaving me alone again.

I stayed where I was, my eyes fixed on the door long after they had gone.

I had expected… something.

At least for him to notice.

At least for him to say something.

To remove the ropes.

To take the gag off.

Anything.

But he didn’t.

He saw me exactly like this… and still walked away.