CHAPTER 004
1584 Words
I was groaning as I tried to move after waking up with a sharp pain in my head. A bright light instantly blinded me as my eyes flickered open. Every part of me screamed in agony as my body ached. I moaned once more and tried to sit up, but my arm felt heavy, as if it were covered in tight bandages. The light gradually dimmed, and my eyesight corrected itself.
The scent of vanilla and wood filled the room. I didn't feel completely safe, but it felt comfortable. My heart continued to thump in my chest. I noticed him as I slowly turned my head. Across from me, a man sat with his gaze fixed on mine. They were silver, and in the dark room, they glowed dimly. My heart raced at the sight, and I froze, taken aback by his presence.
"Little wolf, are you awake?" I gasped in surprise at his deep voice.
I sat up too soon, and every time I moved, my body protested. As I looked around and realized I was in a strange place, my breath caught in my throat. My arm hurt so much that I was unable to concentrate on him.
The man got up and walked over to me. His steps were deliberate and quiet, as if he were accustomed to moving confidently. He gently pushed me back down onto the bed with his outstretched hand.
"Avoid moving too quickly. He lowered the back of the bed so I could sit up just enough to see him clearly and said, "You're still hurt," in a calm, soothing voice.
As I relaxed against the bed, I felt the tension slowly go away as I tried to steady my breathing. Although he exuded authority, there was something about him that gave me confidence—at least for now.
"Where am I?" "Where am I?" I asked, my voice hoarse and feeble.
After examining me for a moment, he responded. "I'll let you know soon enough. Could you please introduce yourself first? Why were you attacking Strays in my territory? Aren't you a member of the Twilight Clan?
I blinked as I tried to think. I nodded slowly, though my mind was cloudy. "Yes, I belong to the Twilight Clan."
The man never took his eyes off me as he sat in a chair near the bed. I felt vulnerable and strangely protected all at once as I felt the weight of his stare. He was almost too much to handle.
"How long have I been away?" I asked, attempting to ignore the pain in my arm and concentrate on the discussion.
"Two days," he replied in a composed tone. I discovered you in the woods two days ago. Ever since you passed out, you have been unconscious.
Two days. I couldn't believe it. Everything that happened before I arrived raced through my mind. I escaped the Strays, the Twilight Clan, and then this man.
I tried not to stare too long as I glanced at him once more. He looked impressive. His presence was... commanding, and he was tall. His black hair framed his face and his silver eyes seemed to pierce right through me. His powerful, muscular physique gave him a dangerous appearance. Although I couldn't see any markings on him, it was easy to determine that he was an Alpha. Despite wearing a simple outfit, his demeanor gave me the impression that he didn't need to prove anything.
"Two days? That's absurd." I whispered. My body was exhausted from whatever had happened, and I felt weak.
His voice pierced my mind. "You didn't simply pass out from fatigue. You were seriously injured. You were almost killed by the Stray who attacked you. You fought like no one I've ever seen. He stopped and looked at me intently. "How did you manage to survive, Emma Hughes?"
The mention of my name made my stomach knot. I knew I had no choice but to relive it even though I didn't want to. That was my eighteenth birthday. The day before, I learned that I was Alpha Liam's mate. The Twilight Clan had mistreated and used me, treating me like a servant. I didn't even feel a connection to him. My spirit animal was weak. useless. I ran because I could no longer stay there. My best friend, Connor, assisted me in getting away. I managed to escape the Twilight Clan with his help, as he provided me with some cash and a phone in a bag. Even though my voice wavered, I persisted. "The Strays were pursuing me." Everything after that is a blur. I tried to outrun them, but I thought I was finally safe when I saw the clearing.
The man's eyes were keen as he leaned forward. Did Connor assist you? Is he a Twilight Clan Second?
With a constricted throat, I nodded. "Yes, Dylan and Connor were helpful to me. They are my only remaining family.
He arched an eyebrow when he heard about the two Betas. Although I wasn't sure why, I could feel some tension. "You're telling me that you turned down Alpha Liam and fled with the assistance of his betas?" His face darkened as he paused. "What gives me the impression that the present is more than just an escape story?"
I sighed, feeling the pressure of his gaze as I stared down at my bandaged arm. "It's... difficult. However, I'm not a spy or anything. All I'm trying to do is stay alive.
He laughed softly, then loosened up a bit. "I assumed so. Why are the Strays pursuing you? Why are they pursuing you?
"I don't know. Perhaps it's because I'm still alive. However, I've never been significant enough for anyone to give a damn. I bit my lip and stopped. " Up until now, I suppose."
He leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes as he took in what I had said. "How do you feel about being in my territory here?"
I paused. It was terrifying to think of being so cut off from my entire world and the Clan I had grown up in. "I don't know. I would rather not get here, but. My voice was hardly more than a whisper as I glanced up at him. "It's preferable to being with Liam back there."
His eyes grew softer, as though he knew more than he was admitting. "And what are you going to do now?"
"Now? I have no idea. I suppose I'll have to learn it quickly. I took a moment to swallow, then looked him in the eyes once more. "What will you do with me?"
With his hands clasped behind his back, the man, whom I now knew as Ryan Steele, rose from his chair. "I don't let people go until I've heard their story. I'm not a fool, though. I'm intrigued by you, Emma Hughes. He took a step toward me and looked at my face. "Please stay with me. I'll take care of you until you recover. I'll look after you."
His words made me shiver. Even though I had no idea what he meant, I trusted him because of the sincerity in his voice. I still had many questions, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him just yet.
I flinched in agony as Rowan stepped back and then removed the bandages from my arm. His fingers probed the wound gently as he examined it.
"No progress yet," he muttered, mainly to himself. "Your wolf isn't awake, is she?"
I gave a headshake. "No, I haven't heard from Luna yet. She's still too frail due to her recent illness.
After muttering a curse, Rowan looked back at me with a look of frustration in his eyes. "You've experienced a lot. You'll be alright, though. I'll give my Clan Healer, Amanda, a call. She can provide you with a pain reliever. He gave a small smile. "I would do it myself, but it would hurt too much."
Though my mind was racing, I nodded. Now what was I going to do? What was Rowan's true desire for me? Was there something more going on here, or was I just another way to fill a void?
Before I had a chance to consider it further, the room's door opened and two men who were equally as intimidating as Rowan entered. They shared his height and muscularity, but their expressions were different—one calm, the other more inquisitive.
"Alpha," one of the men said, his voice respectful but firm.
"Yes, Kai?" In response, Rowan moved away from the bed to meet them.
Kai, the man, looked over his shoulder at me. Although his eyes were amiable, there was a hint of curiosity in them. After a brief but professional conversation between the two men, Rowan turned back to face me.
"Relax, Emma. I will be away for a while to attend to some matters. I'll see to it that Amanda gets back to you shortly." As he approached, his hand lightly touched my chin and raised my head. "My name is Rowan. Don't stress over the formalities.
I muttered, "Thank you," as I turned my head away, my cheeks flushed.
Rowan gave me a gentle smile and turned to go. "Take a nap. I will return shortly.
I let my body fall back into the bed as he left. I still didn't understand many things, but for now, I could only wait for the answers.
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