Every house, except for the shaman's, looked solidly built. I could even see dark-gray brickwork in some walls, and the large windows were decorated with intricately crafted stained glass that stood out beautifully against the darker façades. The roofs were covered with sleek black tiles that gleamed faintly under the sun.

There were no fences between the houses, only clusters of bright, exotic flowerbeds filled with plants I didn't recognize. The road wasn't asphalt, but paved with smooth, sturdy stone tiles that looked almost polished.

Everything around me was fascinating-a strange blend of eras that somehow worked together. It was as if bits of different centuries had collided and learned to coexist in harmony. I would have found it all exciting... if I weren't terrified of what was going to happen to me.

"What's going to happen to me?" I asked, panic rising as I darted my eyes from one villager to another, searching for even the slightest sign of help. But they only stared back, curious and unbothered, clearly not planning to intervene.

The man said nothing, simply kept dragging me forward-until suddenly, a young brunette girl jumped in front of us, clutching some kind of fluffy abomination in her arms. I couldn't even tell what kind of creature it was-it had four hairless ears and a ridiculously furry body covered in dark red fur. Honestly, it looked like someone's nightmare pet.

The girl herself was breathtakingly beautiful, just like everyone else here, with bright pink eyes and full lips the color of fuchsia. Judging by the way her brows furrowed, though, she wasn't too happy at the moment.

"Light of my eyes, who is this girl?" she asked in a thin, sharp voice, glaring daggers at the brute who was dragging me toward what I assumed was their leader.

"Oh, Míko," the man said cheerfully, "this girl is the solution to all our problems. I'm taking her to your father. Thanks to her, we'll finally be able to start a family-and you'll be mine."

"Really?!" Míko's expression lit up instantly. She smiled-one of those flawless, radiant smiles that could melt glass-then giggled, bouncing in place with giddy excitement.

She threw her arms around her lover, gave him a quick, happy kiss, and skipped away, hugging that bizarre red creature to her chest.

Meanwhile, I wasn't exactly sharing in her joy.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I demanded, staring at the brute in shock. And only now did I notice-he wasn't bad-looking at all. Tall, broad-shouldered, his dark tan skin contrasting beautifully with those ruby-red eyes and well-defined muscles.

"It means exactly what it means," he snorted without even looking at me. "You'll find out soon enough. What's your name?"

"Oh, thanks for asking!" I snapped back, dripping sarcasm. "Isabella. Or Iza."

He wrinkled his nose. "Ugh. What a name. Won't do. Around here we don't have such names - you'll be Naziza."

"What?!" I gasped. Well, excuse me, local critic of names!

"And what's your name then, genius?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Dildan," the brunette announced proudly, straightening his back as if he'd just said something glorious.

There was a second of silence-and then I completely lost it. A wild fit of hysterical laughter burst out of me. Oh, he definitely had a sense of humor! Except... apparently, he didn't, because he wasn't laughing.

"Wait- you're serious?!" I choked out between laughs. "Oh my god, that's- that's perfect for you!" I wheezed through tears, barely able to speak.

"Are you out of your mind?" he asked, clearly not understanding what was so funny. "Since you're not from here, you should know-I was named after one of our greatest rulers! An unmatched warrior and brilliant strategist!"

"I don't doubt it for a second," I managed, trying to compose myself. "With a name like that, how could he not be great?"

Honestly, I was laughing to keep from crying. Because as we approached a massive black two-story mansion with a wide veranda, my nerves twisted tighter with every step. A few girls, maybe eight or ten years old, were playing there-brunettes with sweet pink eyes, all staring at me with innocent curiosity. Dildan greeted them, and they cheerfully waved back.

We stepped inside the elegant house, and a tall, broad-shouldered man came to meet us. After a brief greeting, he sat down in a large armchair, his commanding presence filling the room. Dildan and I stood before him.

"I'm listening, Dildan," the man said, his deep brown eyes scanning me like an x-ray. "What brings you here, and who is this girl?"

That piercing stare made my skin crawl. There was something in it-aggression, hostility, and a cold sort of judgment that set my nerves on edge.

"Manar, this is Naziza," the brute began, completely ignoring my real name. "We found her wandering through our lands while patrolling the borders. She's a foreigner-and still untouched by any man. That might help us solve the situation with Miko."

First of all - what kind of "situation with Miko" are we talking about?

And second - what does he mean, "untouched"?!

But I don't dare to voice either question when I notice how the chief's gaze changes. He no longer looks hostile - there's curiosity in his eyes now, almost interest.

"You're right, Dil," the leader says thoughtfully, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "She'll be perfect!"

"For what exactly will I be perfect?" I finally find my voice.

"As a candidate to become our king's bride," the ruler announces, and my jaw nearly drops. "Each year, from every settlement across the kingdom's lands, one maiden is chosen as a potential queen for our ruler. For many years now, our king, Karadeylis, has failed to find himself a wife. This time, the scouts of brides chose my daughter, Miko. But you'll replace her. You're young, beautiful, and pure - there should be no problem with the substitution."

"And what's wrong with your daughter becoming queen?" I ask, completely failing to grasp the panic in his voice. I mean, any girl would dream of such an opportunity, and here they act like it's a tragedy.

I notice Dil tense up, letting out a displeased growl, but Manar cuts him off.

"I love my daughters dearly," he says, his tone softening. "And Miko does not wish to share the fate of a queen. She and Dildan are in love - their wedding was already planned before the king's scouts arrived and chose her."

"Well then," I suggest reasonably, "maybe the king won't like her. Maybe they won't have anything in common, and Miko will come back home. I assume there are several candidates, right? So why all the panic?"

"That's for you to deal with now," Manar snaps sharply, his tone rising with authority. "Miko stays here and will be married in a month. Dil, take Naziza to Alaya and assign guards so she doesn't run away. If the werewolves get wind of her, they'll snatch her - and our whole plan will be ruined."

"Werewolves?!" I stare at the men, wide-eyed, certain I've misheard them - but they continue their discussion as if my horrified outburst never happened.

"Let Alaya take care of our guest and make her presentable," the pack leader said with a grimace, his eyes flicking with clear disdain to my short Minnie Mouse pajama set.

"Hey! Does anyone plan to ask me whether I want this?!" I burst out, my voice trembling with outrage. "This is literally a crime - a violation of my rights!"

Both men stared at me in stunned silence for a second, then exchanged glances - and suddenly burst out laughing like a pair of wild horses.

Great. Just great. So much for human rights. Clearly, this place has never even heard of them. A bunch of savages!

The only small comfort was that, for now, they seemed to need me alive and intact - no one was going to attack or kill me. But the future... that was another story. Something was definitely off, and I didn't have to be a genius to realize they weren't telling me everything.

If only I could run... but where to? I didn't know this world at all - its people, its customs, or even which way was safe.

Dil led me out of the chief's house and down the street to a small, cozy-looking home. In front of it, a dark-haired woman in her fifties was busy tending to a flower bed.

"Alaya, this is Naziza," Dil announced in his usual curt tone. "Manar ordered you to get her ready for the king's scouts' arrival. Until then, she'll stay with you. Keep an eye on her - the guards will be here soon."

He said it sharply, leaving no room for discussion. The woman - with the most stunningly blue eyes - looked me over with a mix of curiosity and sympathy.

"All right, Dildan. I understand," she replied quietly, brushing the dirt off her hands and offering me a kind smile. She gestured toward the house. I followed her obediently, while Dil whispered something to her before leaving.

As soon as we stepped inside, a warm, homey smell of baking and something delicious reached my nose, making my stomach growl in betrayal. The interior was cozy and comforting - it actually felt like home.

"My name is Alaya," the woman said with a gentle smile. "And you must be starving. Let's fix that first."

She guided me to a big wooden table in the kitchen and began bustling around. I couldn't help but notice something that looked suspiciously like a refrigerator. It turned out to be a small chamber - when Alaya opened it, a chill breeze brushed my legs. So maybe this world wasn't as primitive as it looked. I wondered... did they have electricity too?

A few minutes later, she placed before me a meal that smelled heavenly - though I had no idea what it was made of - and a steaming cup of what looked like tea.

"You're definitely not from around here," Alaya said kindly, sitting across from me and watching my cautious curiosity.

"No, I'm not," I admitted, deciding it was better not to go into detail that I wasn't just from another region... but from another world. Who knows, maybe they'd burn me at the stake for that.

"Well, if you don't want to tell me where you're from, I won't insist," Alaya said softly, watching me with understanding. "Just know this - I won't judge you, and your secrets are safe with me. For now, eat and regain your strength. I'll go prepare a room for you."

With that, she disappeared somewhere deeper into the house, and I turned my attention to the food.

It looked like some kind of stew - I even recognized bits of potato, carrot, and onion. But there were also strange vegetables I'd never seen before, and meat that almost tasted like beef, though it was sweeter and softer. It was delicious, and I couldn't help but feel genuinely grateful to the woman.

When Alaya returned, I immediately told her how good it was. She smiled warmly - not the pushy kind of smile, but the kind that made you feel safe. I couldn't stop wondering how someone so kind could live all alone in such a large house.

"This will be your room," Alaya said as she led me to one of the doors.

Inside was a small, cozy chamber with another door leading to a bathroom. Everything looked a little different from what I was used to, but the general idea of how it worked was clear enough.

"Freshen up. I'll bring you something clean to wear," Alaya said gently, her smile reassuring, before quietly leaving me alone.

After wandering through fields, forests, and gods-know-what bushes, a bath sounded like pure heaven. Without wasting a second, I stripped down and headed toward the large basin. But as I stepped forward, something caught my eye - a huge mirror in the corner, reaching from floor to ceiling.

When I saw my reflection, I froze.

Who was that girl staring back at me?

Standing completely naked before the mirror, I nearly gasped. My breasts looked fuller, my stomach was flat and toned, and my legs - long and flawless, like a model's. My skin was much paler than before, smooth and glowing, and my hair... my hair was now a soft, luminous lilac color, flowing down like silk.

But the real shock came from my eyes. They used to be blue - ordinary, human blue - but now they glowed like two bright topazes, shining with strange light.

If I looked closely, I could still recognize my features beneath the changes, but it was as if someone had photoshopped me to perfection and added a dozen beauty filters.

And the strangest, most wonderful part?

I looked at least ten years younger.

The girl in the mirror looked no more than seventeen or eighteen - youthful, radiant, ethereal. My face was smooth and flawless, my expression almost otherworldly. And then I noticed the delicate markings on my skin - faint, intricate patterns that shimmered slightly under the light, adding a mysterious beauty to this... new version of me.

What a transformation! Absolutely unbelievable!

After finally stepping into the bath, I was surprised to find there weren't any bottles or soaps anywhere. But the water itself had a light floral scent, pleasant and delicate.

Perhaps they mix some kind of cleansing essence directly into the water, I thought - because after washing, my skin and hair felt perfectly clean and fragrant, soft as silk. No shampoo, no body wash, yet somehow I smelled like a blooming meadow.

When I stepped back into the room, wrapped in a towel, I found Alaya sitting quietly on the bed, waiting for me.

"Here, Naziza," she said gently, pointing at a neatly folded stack of clothes. "These once belonged to my daughter, Sariya. I hope they'll fit you. This room used to be hers as well."

Her lips curved into a faint, sad smile.

"Will your daughter be all right with that?" I asked cautiously. The last thing I wanted was for someone to come storming in later, screaming and ripping the dress off me because it wasn't mine.

"Don't worry," Alaya said softly, her gaze dropping to the floor. "She... she's no longer with me. And most likely, she's not even alive anymore."

Her voice broke, and she pressed her lips together, trying to hide the grief that flooded her eyes.

"Oh, Alaya... I'm so sorry," I whispered sincerely. "I didn't mean to pry. What happened to her? Did the werewolves take her?"

I don't even know why I asked. The question slipped out on its own, as if some instinct urged me to. I could feel this was something important - something that mattered.

Alaya gave a weary, hollow smile.

"No. Werewolves only take a girl if they sense she's their fated mate," she said quietly. "My daughter... she was chosen as one of the king's potential brides."

Her voice trembled on the last word, and the sorrow that washed over her made my chest tighten painfully.