Moonlit Deceit

Chapter 3

Valerie’s pov

1stirred, slowly emerging from the depths of unconsciousness. The world around me was a blurry haze as I blinked, trying to clear my vision. As my senses gradually returned, I realized I was lying on something soft, and I had this feeling of warmth all over me, which was rather strange because I was used to waking up cold.

I took in my surroundings as my face contorted in confusion at the unfamiliar surroundings. Unlike mine, the room was adorned with muted colors and patterns that seemed almost soothing. Sunrays filtered through the curtains, casting gentle beams across the floor.

With a soft groan, I sat up but noticed an uncomfortable feeling on my left arm. I looked down and saw a bandage on it. I frown removing it completely. My gaze swept through the room, my heart skipping a beat when I realized that none of this was familiar – the furniture, the décor, none of it matched my room or any of the rooms in the pack. I began panicking, having this feeling of being lost.

“Where am I?” I spoke quietly but to no one.

Then, in a sudden rush, everything came flooding back—the plan to sell me off, the fear and determination that had driven her to escape.

“What if-what-if they found me? Is this one of the men's houses?”. I began to panic, and my breathing became labored as these thoughts kept going through my head.

I was brought back to reality when I heard the sound of a car door shutting outside. I hurried from the bed, peered through the room window, and saw a man getting out of a car, but from what I could see, he looked more fragile than the men I saw back at the pack house.

Not wanting to let my guard down, I searched the room for anything I could use to defend myself. I saw a baseball bat on the shelf and picked it up.

I waited anxiously as I heard him climb the stairs up to the room, muttering something. The doorknob turned, and he walked in. I wasn’t expecting the girlish scream that left his mouth as soon as he saw me directly in front of the door with a bat to his face.

“Jesus Christ!” he screamed, dropping the items he held in his hand.

“Who are you, and where the hell am I?” I yelled the bat in a swing position in my hand.

“You scared me,” he stated. He places his hand on his chest to calm down from the initial shock.

“I won’t ask you again,” I said, clutching the bat tighter.

“Calm down, woman.” he raised his hand in a surrender position. “My name is Damian, and you are in my house”. He replied, bending down to pick up the items that had fallen.

I stared at the door, listening for any sound indicating another presence in the house. “Where are there?” I asked. When I heard nothing,

He looked at me in confusion. “Where are who?” He asked.

“The people you work with the three men”. I responded, unsure of my question.

He stared at me as if I had grown another head. “I don’t understand; I have no idea what you are talking about,” he said.

I stared at him and realized he was telling the truth; either that or he was good at lying. I changed the conversation without wanting to dwell on that topic any longer. “How did I get here?” I asked him.

“Could you please drop the bat and sit down?” he asked as he picked up the last item from the ground.

I raised the bat to show him I meant business.” Start talking”. I warned.

I watch him walk past me further into the room. He sat down on one of the chairs in the room and urged me to do the same. But when I stood, he sighed and began, “I found you passed out on the ground by the edge of the forest," he explained in a soft yet steady voice. "You were in pretty bad shape, and I couldn't leave you there.”

I could sense the sincerity in his voice. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Well, you have been out for about a week,” he replied.

“Sorry, what,” I asked again to be sure I heard him correctly and not my ears playing tricks on me.

“You have been asleep for about five days since I found you,” he shrugged.

“Five days,” I yelled.

My mouth widened in disbelief at what I just heard. I have been asleep for five whole days. My mind wandered to the pack; what would they be doing now? Would they notice my absence by now and be happy I’m gone? What of Alpha Ryder? Has he sent the scouts after me? I could only imagine how furious he would be right now.

“Yeah, you were pretty much in bad shape. I called Grace and had her fix you”.

“Who’s Grace?” I asked wearily.

“Grace is my sister. She is a doctor”. He replied. “Speaking of Grace, I need to call and inform her you are awake”. Damian said.

“Did you tell anyone else?” I asked him.

“No, I didn’t,” he replied. “There is no one to tell anyways besides the officials, and I didn’t think you would want that”.

I nodded my head, grateful for his thoughtfulness. “Good, let us leave it that way; I would soon be out of here anyway”. I said, lowering the bat and staring outside the window.

Turning back to face him, I caught him staring at me. I raised my eyebrow questioningly, but he looked the other way, avoiding my gaze.

“I need to inform Grace you are awake”. he said

I watched as Damian called his sister to inform her about my state. “Are you hungry?”. He asked after he was done with the call.

As if on cue, my stomach made a rumbling sound as if to remind me I hadn’t eaten in days. I blushed in embarrassment making, making Damian chuckle.

“I would take that as a Yes,” he said, standing up and holding his hand out for me.

I stared at his hand hesitantly before sighing and taking his arm, earning a smile from him.

“We would have to go shopping for new clothes for you.” He said.

Then I looked down at what I was wearing and saw that I was in his clothes. My face widened in horror. I looked up at him. “Did-did you….”

His face widened in realization as he quickly defended himself. “Oh no, I didn’t; Grace did all that.” He said.

I sighed in relief and nodded at his response

“Although I wouldn’t have minded,” Damian said, shrugging.

I blushed at his statement and playfully punched him as we walked to the kitchen together.