The Alpha's Denied Mate

Chapter 3

The first thing I felt was pain.

My head throbbed, my throat was dry, and every muscle ached like I had just run a marathon.

Then I opened my eyes.

This was not my bed.

This was not even my apartment.

I shot upright so fast my vision blurred. My hand gripped the edge of the mattress as my heart pounded against my ribs.

I was in a small, unfamiliar room that smelled faintly of antiseptic and something else. Something earthy. Something wild.

“What the hell…” I whispered, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

Flashes of last night slammed into me. The growls. The wolves. The fight. The man.

“No.” My voice shook. “No, that did not happen. It is impossible. People do not just turn into wolves.”

My breathing quickened, panic crawling up my chest.

That was when the door opened.

Two people walked in. A tall man with broad shoulders, and a woman dressed in black, her posture stiff and her expression unreadable.

I stumbled back against the bed.

“Who are you?!” The words tumbled out sharper and higher than I meant. “Where am I? What did you do to me?”

The woman raised an eyebrow but did not move closer. “You are safe.”

“Safe?!” I laughed, but it came out hollow and shaky. “I was attacked by wolves that were way too big to be normal, and then you” I jabbed a finger at the man “you turned into a human right in front of me! What are you people?!”

The man did not answer. His face was calm, detached, like my panic meant nothing.

“Oh my God.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Am I dreaming? Am I dead?”

“You are not dead,” the woman said flatly.

“Then tell me what is going on!”

She hesitated for the first time, her gaze flickering toward me. Then she said, “You crossed the border of BloodMoon territory. You were attacked. We brought you here.”

I stared at her. “BloodMoon territory? What does that even mean?”

Instead of answering, she turned to the man. “Inform the Alpha she is awake.”

Alpha.

The word slid through me like ice water, and I did not even know why.

“Wait. No.” I scrambled to my feet, backing toward the corner. “You are not just leaving me here! You cannot throw cryptic things at me and walk out. I deserve to know what the hell is going on!”

For a heartbeat, her expression softened. Barely.

“You will have your answers,” she said at last. “When the Alpha comes.”

And then she left, the door clicking shut behind her.

I stood there, hands shaking, staring at the door like it might grow teeth and bite me.