The air in the cavernous hall was thick with the scent of fear and something else – a metallic tang that made Helen’s stomach churn. Her head throbbed, a dull, relentless ache, a constant reminder of the brutal abduction that had brought her here. She pushed down the voluminous skirt of her ruined wedding dress, the white fabric a stark contrast to the rough stone floor beneath her. Zip ties bit into her wrists, and thick ropes secured her ankles.

Beside her, a girl named Donna, a 'Snow White' with bright, hopeful eyes, whispered about the 'Devil' and the honor of being chosen. Helen’s own heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She was a 'Tiger Lily,' a mixed coat, an outcast even in her own family, and now a virgin sacrifice. The irony wasn't lost on her.

One by one, the other women were pushed through the heavy wooden door, only to be violently thrown back out moments later, rejected. Tears, babbling, even screams echoed through the hall. Helen watched, a cold dread seeping into her bones. Then, it was Donna's turn. A roar erupted from behind the door, and Donna was sent sprawling, her arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

Before Helen could react, she was thrust forward, stumbling through the imposing threshold. The darkness inside was absolute, save for the faint glow of what she imagined were the Lycan’s eyes. Chains rattled, a menacing sound in the silence. "Hello?" she whispered, her voice barely a tremor in the oppressive gloom.