She woke to warmth.
Soft blankets.
A quiet room.
The steady beep of a monitor.
Her body ached. Her chest felt hollow. Her throat was raw.
And then it hit her.
The forest.
The rejection.
The cold.
Ryker.
He said he accepts me.
Her breath caught. She blinked against the dim light, heart pounding.
“Easy,” came a gentle voice.
El turned her head. Lira sat beside her, holding her hand.
“You’re safe,” Lira said softly. “You’re in the pack hospital. Ryker brought you in himself.”
El’s lips parted, but no sound came.
“He had to step out for a minute,” Lira added. “Pack business. But he’ll be right back, El. He hasn’t left your side since he found you.”
Tears welled in El’s eyes. She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what to feel.
Lira squeezed her hand. “He was terrified. He t
