THE ALPHA'S LURE

CHAPTER 5

SIGRID'S POINT OF VIEW!

My voice is barely a whisper but I manage to ask, “What is *Blood of Ulvenbane*?”

His frown deepens while his blood-red eyes focus intently on me. Your brother claimed that you could distinguish different plants from one another.

My head shakes as I desperately try to form words but my mind remains blank. The confusion clouds my mind. “I don’t remember...”

A deep breath enters his lungs as frustration briefly crosses his face. The *Blood of Ulvenbane* results from feeding Wolfsbane with our blood. The plant's leaves exhibit a distinct red coloration. It’s rare. Only someone who has been instructed would understand it because children don't possess that knowledge. Your brother’s story doesn’t add up.”

I blink repeatedly as I attempt to understand the words but remain unable to clear the mental haze. “Oh.”

He moves nearer as purpose fills the surrounding air. “I will keep searching for whoever harmed you until I find them, SIGRID.” His voice becomes unyielding. The person responsible will face the consequences for your pain. His voice makes it sound as if this matter affects him on a deeply personal level. You need to get medical attention for your infection as soon as possible.

I don’t respond. The notion that my brother betrayed me leaves my mind spinning. Why hadn’t I seen it before? Why hadn’t anyone else noticed?

“Come.” He beckons. “I’ll show you to our bedroom. Go ahead and take a shower before we proceed to see the pack's healer.

Frozen to the spot, I hesitate. Did he just say *our* bedroom? The plan was for me to share his sleeping space? Was this part of the contract? Being his wife meant I no longer had full control over my body.

The thought sends a shivery sensation down my spine.

Standing near the entrance he keeps his attention focused on me while he waits.

I push myself to move ahead while trying to suppress the fear gripping my chest. I feel secure at least because he's not staring at me inappropriately. The idea of spending the night with him in the same room makes me feel uneasy. I can barely stand the idea.

I walk beside him through the hallway while my bare feet make no noise against the cool floor. An eerie silence envelops us as we continue past one room after another. While Alpha Leif talks about the rooms his voice feels distant to me because my mind is preoccupied elsewhere. I can’t focus on his words. Sharing a bedroom with him occupies my thoughts completely. Is he going to expect me to sleep beside him? Touch me? How much of this experience serves as a harsh reminder of my inevitable destiny?

Every room in this house matches the massive size of his bedroom. The king-sized bed leans against the wall. Heavy drapes reach around the bed and are secured back at the wooden posts. This space offers no privacy as I cannot find a second to breathe alone. The shower is open to the room with just a thin divider separating them. A small room holds the toilet to the side yet there's still an open feeling in that space.

I stare at the bed. It’s big enough to hold two people. Too big. And then... there’s the shower. I look back at him and notice he’s already observing me. He moves closer.

I sense his warm breath against my skin that feels alarmingly close. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispers with a rough tone. I lack olfactory abilities to detect him but he can sense your emotional state. Don’t worry.”

His words stay suspended in the atmosphere yet fail to calm my fears. He’s right, though. The rapid beating of my heart continues despite my inability to control it.

He unlocks the shower door and activates the water flow. As soon as he turned on the shower water the room filled with steam that fogged up the glass. The flowing water creates a strange sense of calm that does not diminish the nervousness building in my stomach.

He tells me to take my time as he steps away. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. You can stay in the towel for now and I’ll return with some clothes.

I nod, unable to speak. It’s ridiculous, but my throat is dry. He waits one full minute before proceeding towards the door.

As he grasps the doorknob he asks "One last thing." SIGRID should speak more according to his clear command despite his gentle voice.

He left me in the bathroom with the mist and the sound of the running water. My heart continues to pound against my ribs but I release a trembling breath. What is he expecting from me? He expects me to express appreciation for his permission to take a shower? The shower experience feels luxurious while simultaneously reminding me of my restricted freedom.

I move into the warm water while doing my best to forget about the pain in my side where I was wounded. The soap emits a sweet aroma that feels unexpectedly luxurious and yet remains unfamiliar to me. As the hot water washes over my body I scrub my hair while the pain from my injury fades away for a moment. This shower experience is completely new to me.

The silence, the space, the relief... Everything seems unreal as though I'll soon awaken to my previous prison existence of isolation and coldness. Perhaps this reality is actually possible. Maybe this moment marks the beginning of a new path.

The brief moment of peace I experience ends with the sound of a cough. I freeze.

"SIGRID, are you done?" Alpha Leif speaks with unexpected volume.

I hadn’t heard him come back. Why did I not hear the alarm along with everything else? My pulse spikes.

I yell "Coming!" while I rush to shut off the water. I move outdoors while the moist towel sticks to my skin and immediately wrap it around me.

By the door Alpha Leif stands with folded clothes in his grasp. His face shows no clear emotion while he maintains his gaze on me.

He tells me my previous clothes have been removed from the inventory with an odd tone in his voice that puzzles me. Our options for your size are limited but I managed to find something for you. Try these on.”

I step into the soft navy blue joggers and matching sweatshirt he handed me. These clothes provide warmth and they feel nicer compared to everything I've ever worn before. I'm unable to dismiss the sense that he's observing me more intensely than necessary.

“I’m sorry. He delivers the news with a slight frown as he informs me there's no underwear available. “They should be here tomorrow.”

I give a silent agreement while attempting to overlook his intense gaze. My sweatshirt and joggers slide on easily yet the towel remains stuck to my body. I remove the towel swiftly from my body while avoiding his gaze and concentrate on dressing myself.

I finish dressing and mutter "There" under my breath as I adjust my clothes. These garments fit tightly but my exposure has now ended.

Alpha Leif spins and heads for the door while announcing "Let's go." For a brief moment I pause as my thoughts continue to whirl before I follow him. I have no idea what more I can possibly do.

My feet move at a rapid pace so I can match Alpha Leif’s extended steps as we walk through the house. The house is quiet again, eerily quiet. When we arrive at the *Healer’s Hall* I need to make myself remember that being strong is essential. Raven is the doctor assigned to provide assistance to me. She’s supposed to fix me. I need that.

A woman with dark hair in a loose bun glances up from her task while inside the hall. She smiles at Alpha Leif. “SIGRID must be who I’m looking for,” she says while maintaining a smooth yet inquisitive tone.

I look down, not meeting her gaze. “SIGRID, this is Raven,” Alpha Leif says. Raven will tend to your injury.

Raven gives a soft smile. SIGRID receives a warm greeting from Raven who shows a hint of curiosity in her voice.

I give some sort of reply although uncertain about what to say and she appears to not care.

Alpha Leif moves aside to allow me to approach Raven who begins treating my injury. “What seems to be the problem?” she asks with an almost too casual tone that suggests this is routine for her.

I swallow hard. “A wound,” I whisper.

“A wound? Raven detects concern in her voice as she questions why there is no healing.

My voice barely escapes me as I say, “I don’t have my Wolf.” The admission feels like a personal betrayal because it reveals a fundamental flaw in myself.

Raven’s gaze softens as she hears this. “Your Wolf is... locked away?”

Alpha Leif moves forward next with a more assertive tone. Leif explained that she had her Wolf bound during her childhood. That’s why her scent is so strange. It’s... not what it should be.”

My eyes lift toward him as my heartbeat momentarily halts. Bound? My Wolf was *trapped*?

Raven studies my face and applies gentle pressure to the edges of my side wound with her fingers. “This infection isn’t recent. The wound has been left untreated for at least seven days. You’re lucky it hasn’t gotten worse.”

I'm uncertain about how much time has passed since the start. “Everything... everything’s blurred.”

“SIGRID,” Alpha Leif’s voice cracks like thunder. “We need the truth. Don’t hide anything from us.”

The intensity in his voice causes me to flinch and instinctively move away from him. His anger, the way

As his eyes grow darker he reveals internal turmoil. I know what he’s expecting. I cannot figure out the way to deliver what he needs from me.

The truth remains elusive to me at this moment. I’m unable to provide information I don’t have at this moment.