The Alpha's Forgotten Daughter

Blood and Questions

Chapter 7

Blood and Questions

I didn't remember leaving the treatment room.

One moment, I was standing beside the rogue's bed.

The next...

I was outside.

Rain clung to my hair.

Cold drops slid down my face.

I couldn't tell where the rain ended and my thoughts began.

The star.

The words echoed through my mind like footsteps in an empty hall.

Not a star.

The star.

As though he'd spent his life searching for it.

Searching...

For me.

The thought made my stomach twist.

The front door opened behind me.

I didn't turn around.

I knew it was Mara.

She stood beside me beneath the overhang, saying nothing.

For a while, we simply listened to the rain.

"I don't understand," I whispered.

"I know."

"No..."

I shook my head.

"I really don't."

Mara remained silent.

I laughed quietly.

A broken sound.

"I've spent my whole life trying to understand why I never quite fit."

I stared out into the gray afternoon.

"I thought maybe it was me."

My throat tightened.

"I thought maybe I just wasn't enough."

Mara finally looked at me.

"Oh, Aria."

Her voice broke my heart.

"If only you knew."

I turned toward her.

"Then tell me."

The plea slipped out before I could stop it.

"I deserve that much."

Mara opened her mouth.

Closed it again.

Pain crossed her face.

Real pain.

"I can't."

Frustration surged through me.

"Or you won't?"

She looked away.

Neither answer made me feel better.

The door burst open.

A young warrior hurried outside.

"Mara."

She turned immediately.

"The rogue is awake."

Every muscle in my body locked.

"He keeps asking for someone."

Mara frowned.

"For who?"

The warrior hesitated.

Then looked directly at me.

"For Aria."

Silence.

Even the rain seemed to stop.

Mara's face drained of color.

"No."

The word came out instantly.

Firm.

Protective.

The warrior blinked.

"He won't speak to anyone else."

"I said no."

Before anyone could argue...

The Alpha stepped outside.

His eyes moved between the three of us.

"What's happening?"

The warrior bowed slightly.

"The rogue refuses to answer questions."

The Alpha frowned.

"He keeps asking for Aria."

The Alpha looked at me.

Something unreadable passed through his eyes.

Then...

"No."

Exactly the same answer Mara had given.

I stared between them.

"What is going on?"

Neither answered.

Of course.

The Alpha looked toward the treatment room.

"If he's conscious, I'll question him myself."

"He won't talk."

"We'll see."

Without another word, he disappeared inside.

I stood frozen.

Mara rested a hand lightly on my arm.

"Stay here."

"I don't think so."

"Aria."

"No."

The word surprised both of us.

I rarely argued with Mara.

Today...

I was tired of listening.

"I've spent nineteen years standing outside conversations that were about me."

I met her eyes.

"I'm done waiting."

Before she could stop me...

I walked back inside.

The treatment room had grown quiet.

Most of the wounded slept.

Only the rogue remained awake.

The Alpha stood beside his bed.

Two warriors guarded the door.

The rogue ignored all of them.

The moment I entered...

His head turned.

His eye found mine instantly.

Relief washed across his face.

Not fear.

Not anger.

Relief.

"There you are..."

His voice was rough.

Barely more than a whisper.

The Alpha stepped between us.

"You'll answer my questions."

The rogue smiled.

A tired.

Knowing smile.

"I don't answer to you."

The Alpha's jaw tightened.

"You broke into my territory."

"I came looking..."

His gaze never left mine.

"...for her."

Every heartbeat inside my chest stumbled.

The Alpha's voice became dangerously quiet.

"Why?"

The rogue remained silent.

Until I took one cautious step closer.

Our eyes met.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then...

Very softly...

He whispered,

"They told us you were dead."

Everything inside me went still.

The room disappeared.

The voices.

The rain.

The fire.

Only those five words remained.

They told us you were dead.

Dead.

Not hidden.

Not missing.

Dead.

I stared at him.

Unable to breathe.

Unable to think.

Because for the first time...

I realized the mystery wasn't just who I was.

It was why someone had wanted the world to believe I had never survived at all.