Bound by Lies

chapter 5

I groaned as my eyes fluttered open. The soft rustling of leaves and the faint scent of fresh pine filled my senses, but everything felt... different. Where was I? Why wasn’t I in the forest anymore?

I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest, and I winced, pressing a hand to my forehead. The pain in my back and shoulders was unbearable. I felt as though I had been through a war, and I had barely survived it.

“Easy, you’re safe now,” a soothing deep voice said, and I turned my head to see a man sitting beside me. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and his dark hair fell over his intense blue eyes. His gaze was warm, but there was an edge to it like he was trying to gauge my every move.

“W-Where am I?” I croaked, my voice dry and weak.

“You’re in my pack’s territory,” he said, his tone calm but authoritative. “I’m Alpha Kael. We found you in the forest, barely alive. You’ve been unconscious for nearly two days.”

I blinked, trying to process the information. How did I end up here? How did I survive running through those dangerous woods for hours? And why did this Alpha seem so concerned?

“Thank you…” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He nodded, but his expression hardened. “What happened to you? How did you get so badly injured?”

I swallowed hard, the memories of the past few days flooding back. My heart ached at the thought of what I had just gone through, the rejection, the betrayal, the pack turning on me. My own father, my stepmother... and Zane.

“Please, don’t hurt me,” I begged, my voice shaking. “I’m innocent. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just… I just want to survive.”

Alpha Kael's eyes softened for a moment as he studied me. His gaze was piercing but not unkind. He seemed to sense my desperation, my fear. Slowly, he nodded.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, his voice firm yet reassuring. “But I need to know why you’re here, alone, and half-dead.”

I took a shaky breath and began to explain. The words poured out of me like water rushing from a broken dam. I told him everything, about my life in my old pack, how I had been betrayed, how I had been falsely accused of treason, and how I had been rejected by Zane. I told him about the stones thrown at me, the running, and how I had ended up in the forest, barely able to go on.

“I’m not a traitor,” I finished, my voice cracking with emotion. “I didn’t do any of the things they said I did. I swear, I just want to live in peace. I didn’t mean any harm to anyone.”

Alpha Kael listened quietly, his expression unreadable. He didn’t interrupt me, and that made me feel slightly better as if he believed me, at least a little. When I finished speaking, there was a long silence. He was studying me as if trying to decide something.

Finally, he spoke. “You’re welcome to stay here,” he said, his voice calm but authoritative. “We don’t tolerate betrayal in our pack, but I sense your sincerity. You’ve been through a lot. My pack will help you heal, and I won’t turn you away.”

I felt a rush of relief wash over me. “Thank you,” I whispered, feeling the weight of my pain slowly lifting. But there was still one thing that weighed heavily on my heart.

“I’ll make sure you’re safe here,” Alpha Kael continued. “And as for the rest, we’ll figure it out together.”

He stood up and extended a hand to me, helping me sit up properly. “I’d like to introduce you to my pack members. They’ll take care of you while you recover.”

As Kael helped me to my feet, I noticed other wolves in the room, watching me with curiosity. They were all different, from tall and muscular to shorter and leaner, but they all had an air of strength and respect about them. None of them seemed hostile, though some eyed me warily, unsure of my story.

“This is Riley,” Kael said, pointing to a tall, dark-haired man who was standing off to the side. “He’s our Beta. And this is Sera,” he gestured to a woman with silver hair and a friendly smile. “She’s our healer.”

I nodded politely, still overwhelmed by everything. They all seemed kind enough, but I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider, like I didn’t belong here. These were strangers to me, yet they had taken me in when my own pack had cast me aside.

“You’ll be safe here,” Riley said, his voice deep and reassuring. “We’ll help you get back on your feet.”

Sera nodded as well. “I’ll make sure you get proper care. You’ve been through a lot, and you need time to heal.”

I nodded gratefully, but my mind was still spinning. There was so much I didn’t understand, and I was still processing everything that had happened.

Over the next few days, Alpha Kael and the pack helped me recover. They treated me like one of their own, showing me kindness and respect, something I hadn’t experienced in so long. I felt guilty for the way I had been treated before, but at the same time, I was beginning to feel like I was finally where I was meant to be.

But something strange started happening between me and Alpha Kael. He began to act differently around me, his presence more intense, his gaze lingering just a little longer than usual. And I could feel it too, a pull, a connection that I couldn’t explain. It was as if something inside me was calling out to him, urging me to trust him, to be near him.

One evening, as I was sitting in the common room with Sera, Kael came in and sat beside me. There was a strange tension in the air, and I felt my heart race in response.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” Kael began, his voice low. “And I think the Moon Goddess has made her will known.”

I looked up at him, confusion clouding my mind. “What do you mean?”

He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts and then spoke again, his voice almost a whisper. “Isla, I believe you’re my mate.”

The words hit me like a tidal wave. My heart stopped, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Could it be true? Was it really possible?

But before I could say anything, I felt faint. The overwhelming emotions and exhaustion from the past few days were too much for me, and everything around me went black.

---

When I woke up again, I found myself in a different room, my body resting against soft pillows. Alpha Kael was there, watching over me with a concerned expression on his face.

“You fainted,” he said gently, his hand resting on mine. “But you’re safe now.”

I tried to sit up but quickly realized my body wasn’t quite ready for that. I looked up at him, my heart still racing. “Kael, what you said earlier... about being mates… I don’t want that.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean? The bond is there. I feel it.”

“I can’t accept it,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. “I don’t want a mate anymore. I’ve been hurt too much, and I don’t want to go through it again.”

Kael’s face softened with understanding, but I could see the pain in his eyes. “Isla, please.”

“Please, you don’t understand,” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “Do me a favor and erase my memory. Forget that we ever had this bond.”

His expression faltered, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he simply nodded, his face a mask of sorrow.

“I can’t forget you, Isla,” he whispered. “But I will respect your wishes.”

And with that, I closed my eyes, the weight of my request heavy in my heart. Would he erase me from his memory? Would I be able to forget him too?