An Omega Reborn in Blood

CHAPTER SEVEN

SERAPHINA

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the warm sunlight filtering through a small wooden window.

I blinked several times, my eyelids feeling heavy and swollen. A strange scent hit me right then; it was the smell of faint smoke and old blankets. It was nothing like the filthy air of the dungeon or the muddy forest.

Right then, a strange feeling washed over me. I wasn't outside anymore.

Forcing my head up, I looked around the room in complete confusion, wondering where I was or how I ended up here. I was lying on a soft mattress with a handmade quilt pulled up to my chest.

The room was small and cozy. There was a small fireplace in the corner, and a simple wooden bedside table holding a glass of water.

A home. A cottage.

My mind spun as I tried to recall how I ended up here. I racked my brain until the memories came crashing back all at once.

I remembered the cold rain pouring down on me after Beta Harold let me escape because he claimed that he was guilty and wanted me to leave because Alpha Malakai planned to execute me in a few days. I recalled the three rogues appearing out of nowhere, their nasty scent filling the air.

I remembered how they'd plan to abuse me sexually and even though I was starving and could barely breathe, terror had forced my shaky legs to move. I couldn't let them lay their filthy hands on me because I knew what rogues did to helpless, vulnerable females. They didn't have mercy. No matter how you plead with them not to hurt you, they'll never listen.

I had run with every bit of strength left in my body, with a burning ache to survive. They didn't try to hurry after me. Instead, they walked slowly behind me because they were certain that they'd catch up with me because I was weak.

And that turned out to be their greatest mistake.

Then, I remembered the red border post. Crossing that line into human land had felt like a huge piece of my soul had been ripped out of my body. My wolf, who had protected and helped me endure the harsh tortures in that dungeon, went completely silent.

She was gone. Forever. Just like my mother. Will I ever be able to get over that particular action?

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes as that empty feeling hit my chest all over again. I was truly on my own now.

I was truly alone.

Finally, I remembered reaching the road, seeing a blue sedan sputtering through the fog, and begging the old man for help before my knees gave out and everything went pitch black.

I shifted on the bed, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my ribs and back. I stared down at my body and realized that I wasn't in my torn clothes anymore. Instead, I was in an oversized cotton gown. My wounds have been stitched.

I couldn't stay here. I didn't know if this place was safe. Almost everyone in our Pack and neighboring Packs knows about Seraphina, the murderer, who had murdered the Alpha and his Luna for revenge.

Who knows if I'm in another Pack? What if they try to send me back to my Pack to face the same judgment that I'd escaped?

With that thought in mind, I swung my weak legs over the edge of the bed and pushed off the mattress to stand up.

But the moment my feet touched the wooden floorboards, my head spun violently, and my knees buckled under me.

I'm still weak. Just like that time in the dungeon.

Before I could hit the floor, the wooden door to the room swung open.

A woman with soft, kind eyes walked in holding a tray. Her jaw dropped when she saw me struggling to stay on my feet. She immediately set the tray on a small table and rushed to my side.

"Hey! No, no, don't try to get up," she said gently, catching me under my arms and helping me lie back down on the mattress. She pulled the blanket back over my legs. "You shouldn't be standing at all. You've been completely unconscious for three whole days."

Three days.

I wasn't even surprised. My body had been through pure hell in that dungeon, and running from those rogues had drained every last drop of energy I had left. It was a miracle I was even alive. Other people in my shoes would have died.

The woman pulled a plastic chair closer to the bed and sat down, looking at me with concern.

"I know you must be terrified and wondering where you are," she said softly, a soft smile plastered on her face. "My husband was driving back from town when he found you lying on the side of the main road. You were covered in mud, blood, and bad bruises. He couldn't just leave you there, so he put you in his car and brought you straight to our home."

I didn't say a single word. I just sat there, clutching the blanket with my weak fingers, staring at her cautiously.

My heart was beating fast against my ribs. In my experience, people who acted nice usually wanted something from you.

"What's your name, dear?" she asked in a calm voice.

Panic hit me instantly.

I couldn't tell her that my real name was Seraphina. What if they found out who I was? What if Alpha Kai sent word across the borders, looking for a fugitive Omega named Seraphina?

What if these people were just pretending to be good so they could hand me over for a reward?

Different questions ran through my head.

I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes fixed on her face. "Sophie," I lied, my voice raspy and dry. "My name is Sophie."

The woman smiled kindly, not suspecting a thing. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Sophie. My name is Martha. I'm going to bring you some warm soup in a little bit. You just lie back and rest for now, okay?"

She stood up, patted my hand gently, and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

I leaned my head back against the pillow, staring at the brown ceiling.

Normally, I would have used my wolf's sense of smell to sniff out who Martha really was; to check if she was a human or some dangerous creature hiding behind a nice smile.

But there was no wolf inside me anymore. No sharp senses, no scent checking, nothing. I was totally blind to the world around me; like a mere mortal.

Will I ever feel Lara's presence inside me again? The one thought that filled my head right now was to go back, cross that border, back into the werewolf land, to confirm if she'd come back to me. But that would mean signing up for my death.

I was still deep in thought, worrying about what to do next, when the door creaked open again.

An old man walked into the room. He had grey hair, a weathered face, and wore a simple button-up shirt. I recognized him immediately; he was the driver of that beat-up blue sedan, the man who had given me a chance at life again.

"My wife told me you were awake," he said, holding the door frame.

I nodded my head slowly, keeping my body tense under the sheets.

He took a few steps into the room, keeping a respectful distance. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I whispered, my voice still faint. "Thank you for saving me."

The old man nodded, but his eyes grew serious as he looked at the bandages wrapped around my arms and chest.

"If you don't mind me asking... What on earth were you doing out in the woods at that time of night? In that condition?"

My stomach tightened instantly.

Questions meant danger. He was prying into my past, and I couldn't afford to answer him. What if they were terrible people posing as genuine people?

No! I can't go back to that hellhole anymore. I've been through enough.

"I... I need to leave," I said quickly, trying to shift my legs toward the edge of the bed again. "I shouldn't be here. I have to go. Thank you for saving me. I'll never forget your kindness.”

The man quickly raised his hands in defense, stepping back to show he wasn't a threat.

"Whoa, easy. Don't panic," he said apologetically. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry or make you uncomfortable."

He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a sigh. "I only asked because if the local council leaders find out there's a stranger staying in my house without an ID, they'll start asking a lot of tough questions. But don't worry about that right now. You're safe here."

He gave me a reassuring look before turning toward the door. "Just lie down and rest, Sophie. We'll talk later."

He stepped out and shut the door, leaving me alone in the quiet room with my racing thoughts.

But I couldn't help but feel like something bad is lurking around the corners.