THE LUNA HE LEFT BEHIND

Episode 2:Who Am I

Soraya’s POV

Darkness

That was all there was at first. Thick, heavy and suffocating, I felt like I was drowning in it.

Then came a sharp, blinding pain right behind my eyes. My body screamed and couldn't move.

“She’s still alive,” a voice shouted.

“Get her back to the Castle, now.” Another voice thundered.

I wanted to speak to tell them to leave me alone, but my lips didn’t move. I gave up, and I passed out again.

I woke up to blinding lights, I felt warm, and I could feel the heat soaking into my bones. The scent of pine, something herbal, something faintly metallic like blood.

I opened my eyes.

Wooden walls, a high ceiling with a chandelier above. Somewhere far away from home

Where is home?

The question made my throat tighten. A flicker of memory: A man's face couldn’t recognize, his cold eyes, and his harsh voice flashed in my head. I flinched immediately.

“Hey... hey, don't move too fast.” A voice warned me.

I turned slightly; a woman with short brown curls and warm eyes sat beside my bed, holding a bowl in her lap.

“Where... Where am I? I asked.

“You are safe, darling,” she said gently. “I’m Imani." Kaeln brought you last night. You were unconscious and bleeding badly.”

“Kaeln? "Who the hell is that?” I asked impatiently.

The name rang no bell; I furrowed my brows.

“My head…” I whispered, reaching up instinctively.

“Don’t touch it. You hit your head on a rock; it was a bad concussion. But no fracture, thank the moon.”

“Who...” my voice cracked. “Who is Kaelen?”

Imani paused, looking at me as if she was trying to choose her words carefully.

“He’s the Alpha of this place.”

Place?

I tried to sit up, but pain laced through my side. I winced, biting down a groan.

“Careful,” she said, placing a hand on my shoulder, holding me down.

“You were attacked by rogues; you are lucky Kaelen’s patrol found you. Another hour out there, and you’ll be...”

Imani didn't have to finish her sentence; I knew I would have been killed.

The images came jagged in pieces, running growls, claws and blood. The cold stone smashing against my skull.

Everything was a blur.

“I don’t remember anything,” I whispered.

Imani looked at me. “Nothing at all?”

Imani didn’t press. She handed me a cup of water. I slipped it slowly, my hands trembling.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

A man walked in.

He was strikingly handsome with gold eyes and an athletic build. He was dressed in black with only his face being exposed, and his silver hair was messy, like he had run a hand through it one too many times.

I didn’t know him, but something in me reacted instantly. Not fear, not attraction, just awareness.

His gold eyes locked on mine.

“You are awake,” he muttered lazily.

I nodded, unable to look away.

He didn’t smile. He just studied me like I was some unsolved puzzle.

“How do you feel?”

“Sore, dizzy”

He nodded. "Well, that’s expected. You were nearly torn apart.”

I swallowed hard. “Thank you... for saving me.”

His gaze flickered towards Imani. She stood and gave him a subtle nod before stepping out.

Now it was just us.

“I found you near the border. You had a dagger and some herbs on you. That told me you weren’t just some clueless wanderer.”

“I... I don’t remember any of that.”

“No name, no pack?”

I hesitated.

“No.”

His jaw flexed.

“Any idea why six rogues would try to kill you?”

“I wish I did.”

There was a silence between us, not heavy, just cautious.

Kaelen walked towards the window, folding his arms. “This isn’t a place most people stumble into by accident.”

“Where am I?” I asked.

“Shadow claw territory.”

The name meant nothing to me, but the way he said it felt important.

“I didn’t mean to trespass.”

“Maybe not,” he murmured. “But fate doesn’t care about intentions.”

I glanced down at my hands. They were bandaged and bruised. MY fingernails still had dried blood beneath them.

“I fought back, didn’t I?” I inquired.

He looked over his shoulder. “Yes, you did; you got one pretty bad in the leg. that was impressive for someone half dead.” Kaelen commented.

Kaelen turned back fully, walking closer to me. He stopped at the edge of the bed, his gaze dropping to my throat and then to the faint mark just below my collarbone.

“You were marked by your mate,” he said quietly. “It’s faded.”

“I don’t have a mate, or I don’t remember having one,” I muttered.

I touched the spot instinctively. So that was real.

“That means the bond was severed. "Were you rejected?” he asked.

“I really can’t remember,” I said, quietly refusing to meet his gaze.

Kaelen didn’t say anything for a long moment; he stepped back, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You can stay here until you heal. The guards and maids will attend you. "No one will bother you unless you want them to.” Kaelen muttered.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” he added.

I was speechless, so I nodded gently.

Kaelen turned to leave, and I shouted. "Wait.”

“Do you still have the dagger I was holding?” I asked.

“No, I don’t; it must have gotten lost in the fight,” he said hurriedly.

“Okay...” I replied, but a part of me felt he was lying to me.

“Uh... What should I call you?

He turned and raised a brow but answered.

“Kaelen,” he said again. “Alpha Kaelen." And you?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

“I... "I don’t know.” I replied in defeat.

Later that night, I pretended to be asleep when I heard whispers outside the door. “She didn’t remember a thing. Imani said quietly.

“Good,” Kaelen replied. “Let’s keep it that way for now."

My heart pounded.

Why?

Why does he sound like he knew exactly who I was?