I remained seated in the chair, my arms and legs bound tightly. After an eternity, the door suddenly flew open and a cheerful girl entered. However, her smile quickly faded when she saw me still tied up.

"Oh no, I'm sorry! Let's get you out of those ropes," she exclaimed as she closed the door. And with impressive speed and accuracy, she untied me.

"Hi there! I'm Beta Valerie, what's your name?" She let out a cheerful chirp. I massaged my aching wrists and finally got to my feet.

"Thanks. I'm Reyna." Despite trying my hardest to remain mad, I couldn't resist her contagious smile and felt myself returning it.

"I've never met a human before! Oh, how did you get here? No one's ever come here! You smell strange!"

"Um I don't know, I sorta just walked!"

"Just walked?" Valerie cocked her head at my statement, a grin spreading across her face as giggles spilled out. Before I knew it, we were chattering away, lost in playful banter.

After a while, she pulled me into a bathroom and ordered me to take a shower and change my clothes.

"Here! I hope these will fit, I'll be just outside if you need anything!" 

After an incredibly bewildering introduction and a night filled with even more confusion, it was evident that things remained shrouded in uncertainty. As I stood there, I let the warm water wash over me while I tried to process everything. I felt the painful sting of the hot water pouring over my injuries from last night. My cheek still burned and tears pricked my eyes.

The walls were closing in around me. My heart pounded with terror. I had to get out of this place. Home—if I could just make it home, I'd be safe. But how? They were everywhere, blocking every exit. I was trapped in this nightmare and there was no escape. I had to find a way before the madness consumed me completely.

As I put on the clothes Valerie gifted me - a box pleat skirt and a black dress shirt - I was pleasantly surprised at how perfectly they fit.

When I emerged from the bathroom, I spotted her sitting in the chair, patiently awaiting my return. 

"Hello!" I smiled

At the sound of my voice, she leaped up from her perch and bounded towards me, her arms outstretched. I barely had time to brace myself before she crashed into me, wrapping me in a fierce bear hug. I staggered back a step but soon regained my balance, chuckling as I returned her enthusiastic embrace.

 "Wow! You're so pretty!" She exclaimed.

With an eager smile, Valerie plopped down beside me and offered to untangle my messy hair. I accepted, and we giggled together as she worked her magic, gently brushing out every knot. 

"You beat up Khris? That's awesome! How in the world did you get so good at fighting?" She bounced excitedly, eyes shining with enthusiasm as she awaited my response.

"My father always said knowledge of self-defense is a virtue. He began teaching me how to fight when I was just a child," I remarked with a knowing smile, downplaying my expertise with an air of quiet confidence.

"Well, how about that! Looks like you'll be a super handy helper around here. Sweet!"

She continued to brush my caramel-colored hair until it was perfectly straight before she tied it up into a Dutch braid bun.

"Helper?" 

"Yup! The Alpha himself wants you to join our pack's army. I know this all sounds crazy - believe me, I was just as shocked when I became a Beta. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Our numbers have dwindled from the constant battles, and we seriously need reinforcements. This war has been raging for far too long. Now it's time for us to turn the tides! With you by our side, we just might stand a chance. I won't lie, it's dangerous out there. But together, we can take back what's ours!" 

Valerie noticed my pensive expression and suggested we discuss it later. For now, she'd finish my hair.

"I love your looks!" she giggled, her icy eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Thank you! Your hair looks absolutely stunning," I replied, taking a moment to appreciate her long, flowing golden locks. We continued to exchange compliments for a while, and at that moment, all of my worries melted away. It was such a joy to spend time with such a  girl.