Chapter One — The Girl Who Lived Indoors
I woke up before the sun fully rose. The sky outside my window was soft grey, with a faint golden light creeping over the rooftops. I lay there on my bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the birds singing in the distance.
Another morning. Another long, empty day.
I pulled my blanket closer around me, trying to hold onto the little warmth it gave. But nothing really felt warm anymore — not in this house. Not in this life.
My name is Ayla. I am seventeen years old. And I have never been free.
I’ve lived all my life inside these walls, locked away like a hidden treasure… or maybe a secret my father wished would stay forgotten. My mother died when I was five. After that, my world became smaller. The gates closed. The doors stayed shut. And my life became nothing but silent halls, cold stares, and long, lonely days.
My father is Elder Kiran — the head of the elders. People say he’s a great leader, wise and fair. But I know the truth. He’s a man who cares more about power than people. A man who sees weakness in everything soft. Including me.
I sat up slowly and pushed the blanket aside. My bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. I crossed the room, pulling my long robe over my shoulders as I went to the window.
The old oak tree stood in the middle of the yard, its thick branches reaching toward the sky. I often stared at it for hours. It was the only living thing that seemed strong enough to stand against this world. I sometimes liked to pretend it waved at me whenever the wind blew.
I pressed my palm against the glass, wishing — as I did every morning — that I could step outside and stand under that tree. That I could touch its bark. Feel the grass under my feet.
But I couldn’t. And I knew I never would.
A soft knock came at my door.
“Come in,” I said quietly.
Mira walked in, carrying a silver tray with my breakfast. She was an older woman with soft brown eyes and hair tied in a neat bun. She had been here since I was a child. In this house filled with sharp words and colder hearts, Mira was the only gentle one.
“Good morning, my lady,” she greeted with a warm smile.
I gave her a small nod. “Good morning, Mira.”
She placed the tray on the table by the window. Bread. Cheese. A cup of warm tea. The same every morning. The food was always good, but it never tasted like anything anymore.
Mira looked at me for a moment, her eyes soft with worry. “Your father said you’re not to leave your room today. The elders have gathered for a meeting.”
I sighed. I wasn’t surprised.
“I wasn’t planning to leave,” I answered, sitting down by the table.
“You should eat while it’s still warm,” Mira said gently.
I gave her a faint smile. “I will. Thank you.”
She patted my shoulder before walking toward the door. I watched her leave, wishing she didn’t have to. Mira was the only person who spoke to me like I mattered. The only one who still saw me.
Once she left, the room felt even quieter.
I picked up a piece of bread and tore it slowly, my fingers playing with the soft edges. My eyes drifted back to the window.
Voices floated up from downstairs. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could tell from their sharp tones that it was serious. It always was. The elders loved their meetings — loved making rules, talking about punishments, and holding power over everyone in the village.
They called it “order.”
But I knew it was control.
I hated them. I hated how they smiled in front of the people but crushed them behind closed doors. I hated how they sat in their big chairs, speaking like gods over men. And most of all… I hated how they turned my father into a man I barely knew.
I took a small bite of bread and chewed slowly. The voices grew louder, then softer again. I wondered what they were planning now. Another rule? Another punishment? Another lie?
I set the bread down. I wasn’t hungry anymore.
My thoughts drifted — as they often did — to my mother.
I could still remember her soft hands brushing my hair, her sweet voice singing me to sleep. She used to tell me stories of places beyond the village, of seas that danced under the moon, of skies so wide you could get lost in them.
“Be strong, Ayla,” she would say. “Even a flower can grow in a cage.”
I didn’t understand back then. I thought she was just saying pretty words. But now… I knew. She saw what this life would be. She knew I would be locked away, just like she was.
But she still smiled. She still held me close.
I missed her more than words could ever say.
The day she died, I stood beside her grave, holding my father’s hand. I cried until my chest hurt. My father didn’t cry. His eyes were dry. His face was cold. It was like he had buried his heart along with her.
After that, everything changed. He stopped looking at me like a father should. He became a stranger who gave orders and locked doors.
I often wondered if he blamed me for her death. Or maybe… he just didn’t care.
I leaned back in my chair, hugging my knees to my chest.
I felt anger rise quietly inside me — like a slow-burning fire. Not the kind that rages out loud, but the kind that sits deep in your bones and refuses to leave.
I wasn’t angry because I couldn’t go outside.
I was angry because they made me believe I wasn’t meant to.
I stood up and walked back to the window. My fingers brushed against the latch. I stared at it for a long moment. How easy it would be to open it… to climb out.
But I didn’t.
Because even if I opened the window, the guards would be there. The gates would still be locked. My father would still be watching.
And I would still be a prisoner.
I closed the window gently and rested my head against the glass.
Maybe I was a coward. Or maybe… I was just tired of hoping.
The voices downstairs rose again. I pressed my ear slightly against the wall, trying to listen. I caught only a few words — “threat,” “danger,” “alpha.”
Alpha.
I frowned. That was a word I didn’t hear often. I had read about alphas in old books — leaders of wolf packs, strong men feared by all. Some said they were nothing but stories. Others believed they were real.
Why would the elders be speaking about an alpha?
A strange chill ran down my spine.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. It was probably nothing. Just more talk about power and fear. The elders loved making enemies even where there were none.
I sat back on my bed and pulled my knees close again.
But something about that word stayed with me.
Alpha.
I stared out the window once more, the wind swaying the branches of the old oak. And for the first time in a long while… I wondered if maybe something was coming
.
Something that could break this life apart.
Something that could finally set me free.
Or destroy me completely.