THALIA POV
"What are you?"
The man's voice rumbles through my broken body like thunder. I can't answer. Can't breathe. Can't think past the pain screaming through every inch of me.
He crouches down, moving with the deadly grace of a predator. Up close, he's even more terrifying. His eyes glow amber like a wolf's, and when he tilts his head studying me, I see fangs. Actual fangs where human teeth should be.
"You're not beastkin," he says slowly, like he's solving a puzzle. "You smell... wrong. Weak. Fragile."
"Please," I gasp out. Blood fills my mouth. "Help... me."
He goes very still. For a long moment, he just stares at me with those impossible glowing eyes. Then he does something I don't expect.
He reaches down and gently touches my broken arm.
I scream. I can't help it. The pain is too much.
He jerks his hand back, shock flashing across his face. "You're really hurt," he says, and he sounds almost... surprised? "Most beings in the Beastworld heal faster than this."
"I'm not... from here," I manage between sobs. "I don't... know where here is."
The man—creature?—sits back on his heels. His silver-white hair catches the light from the two moons above. "You're human," he says, and it sounds like an accusation. "Actual human. From the other world."
"Earth," I whisper. "I'm from Earth. A man... he pushed me through some kind of machine and I ended up here and I'm dying, aren't I? I'm dying."
"Probably," he says bluntly. "Your arm's broken. Multiple ribs. You're losing blood. And you don't have the healing abilities we do."
Fresh tears pour down my face. I survived Cassius's betrayal only to die alone in an alien world. It's so unfair it makes me want to laugh, but I'm too tired.
"Why did you come to my territory?" the man asks. "Are you a spy? A weapon sent by enemies?"
"I didn't choose this!" My voice comes out stronger than I expect, fueled by rage instead of pain. "I was supposed to present my research today. I was supposed to change the world, make it better, stop wars before they started. Instead, the man I loved drugged me and stole everything and threw me away like garbage because I was the only person who could prove what he did."
I'm rambling now, words spilling out between sobs. "Four years. I gave him four years. I trusted him with my passwords, my research, my heart. I was going to marry him. And he looked at me with dead eyes and said I was convenient to manipulate. That I made it easy."
The man's expression shifts. The coldness cracks just a little.
"He threw you into a dimensional rift?" he asks quietly.
"He said anything organic gets torn apart in the void between worlds." I laugh bitterly, then choke on blood. "Guess he was wrong. I made it through. Just in time to die anyway."
Silence stretches between us. The crimson grass rustles in a wind that smells like flowers and danger. Somewhere in the distance, something roars.
"You should kill me quickly," I whisper, closing my eyes. "Please. I don't want it to hurt more than it already does."
"I'm not going to kill you."
My eyes snap open. The man is standing now, towering over me. His face is set in hard lines, like he's made a decision he'll regret.
"My name is Kael Thornpaw," he says. "I'm alpha of the Silver Moon wolf pack. These are my lands, which makes you my responsibility now."
"Why?" I ask, confused. "You said I was weak. Useless."
"You are weak," he agrees, then does something shocking. He bends down and carefully, so carefully, scoops me into his arms. I scream again as my broken bones shift, but he holds me steady against his chest. "But you didn't beg. You didn't offer me jewels or power or information to spare your life. You just asked me to make your death quick."
He starts walking through the crimson grass, carrying me like I weigh nothing.
"That tells me you have honor," he continues. "And the man who betrayed you? He had none. I know what it's like to be thrown away by someone you trusted. To be used and discarded."
Something in his voice makes me look up at his face. There's pain there, old and deep.
"I don't understand this world," I whisper. "I don't understand you."
"You will," Kael says. "If you survive the night. My healer can set your bones, but healing is up to you now."
We break through the trees into a clearing. Ahead, I see caves carved into a massive cliff face. Firelight flickers from inside them. Shadows move—people, I think, but not quite.
"One more thing," Kael says, his voice dropping to a growl. "In the Beastworld, females are rare and precious. You're under my protection now, which means if anyone tries to hurt you, they answer to me. Understand?"
I nod weakly. I don't understand anything about this world, but I understand protection when I hear it.
He carries me into the largest cave. Inside, people—no, beastkin—turn to stare. They're all beautiful and deadly looking, with eyes that glow different colors and features too sharp to be fully human.
"Alpha," one of them says, stepping forward. He has brown fur marking his arms and concerned gold eyes. "What is that?"
"A human," Kael says shortly. "Get Myra. Now."
The man runs off. Others crowd closer, whispering.
"A human? But they're myths..."
"She smells so strange..."
"She's dying. Look at all that blood..."
Kael snarls and they back away quickly. He carries me to a pile of furs in the corner and lays me down as gently as possible. I bite my lip to keep from screaming.
"Stay with me," he orders, crouching beside me. "Don't die yet."
"Bossy," I mumble, feeling consciousness slip away. "Didn't even... ask my name..."
"What is your name?" His amber eyes hold mine.
"Thalia," I whisper. "Thalia Vex."
"Thalia." He says it carefully, like he's tasting each syllable. "That's a strong name. You'll need that strength now."
An older woman with silver-streaked hair rushes in carrying bags of supplies. She takes one look at me and gasps. "Oh, child. What happened to you?"
"Betrayed," I manage. "Broken. Thrown away."
"Not anymore," Kael says firmly. "She's pack now."
The woman—Myra—starts working on my arm. The pain explodes white-hot and I scream until my voice gives out.
"Sleep," Myra says gently, pressing something to my lips. "Drink this. It'll help."
The liquid is bitter but warm. Within seconds, darkness pulls at my edges.
"Will she live?" I hear Kael ask from somewhere far away.
"Maybe," Myra answers. "If she's strong enough. If she wants to."
Do I want to? After everything Cassius did? After losing my research, my future, my entire world?
Yes, I realize with sudden fierce clarity. Yes, I want to live. I want to survive this. I want to become strong enough that no one can ever throw me away again.
But as I sink into darkness, one question haunts me:
How do you survive in a world where you're the weakest thing alive?
"Her heartbeat's slowing," Myra's worried voice says.
"Thalia!" Kael's hand grips mine. "Don't you dare die in my den. Fight!"
I try to answer, but the darkness swallows me whole.
And in that darkness, something inside me begins to change.