Cal’s POV
The sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant was the first thing to hit me when I regained consciousness. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I forced them open. Blinding white lights glared down at me from the ceiling, and slowly, my surroundings came into focus: a pale blue curtain, a stark white wall, and the steady beeping of a heart monitor beside my bed. I was in a hospital. The crisp white sheets, the firm mattress, and the faint smell of alcohol clung to the air. My body ached like I’d been hit by a truck. I tried to sit up, but pain exploded in my ribs, and I let out a sharp cry. Lucky for me, that’s when a nurse walked in with a food trolley. Her steps were soft and deliberate. She wore a white coat and had the kind of warm, motherly face that made my throat tighten unexpectedly. “You’re awake,” she said, her voice low and soothing. A small smile of relief played on her soft, full lips. “You’re lucky to be alive, dear. The guards brought you in just in time.” I parted my lips to respond, but I couldn’t—my throat was dry and my lips were cracked. She noticed and helped me sit up a little, then handed me a cup of water from the food trolley. I drank it desperately, savoring every cool drop like it was gold. “I see someone was really thirsty,” she smiled warmly. “Well… you need to eat something to regain your strength,” she added, placing a tray in front of me. Soup, bread, and a cup of warm tea. “Take your time. I’ll be back shortly.” She walked out of the room, and I stared at the food for a long moment before reaching out for the spoon and taking a mouthful of soup. It was tasteless, but warm. The bread was soft enough not to hurt my aching jaw. I chewed slowly, putting effort into each bite. When I finished, the room fell silent again. And in that silence, my mind wandered. The realization hit harder than before. My father… the way he screamed. The way Damon tore him apart like he was nothing. Tears slipped down my cheeks before I realized it, and I wiped at them angrily, but they kept falling. And my mother? What if she didn’t make it? What if she never came back like she promised? What if I really was alone now? My mind was a mess of tangled thoughts—grief, fear, confusion. I didn’t even know where I was. All I remembered was fainting at a border. Then, a soft knock on the door drew me back to reality. Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and two tall guards stepped inside. They were dressed in black with silver accents, the emblem of a wolf howling at a crescent moon stitched onto their chests. My heart dropped. They found me. “Come with us,” one of them said, his voice cold and steady. I struggled to sit up. “W-Where are you taking me?” “The Alpha has summoned you,” the other one responded, his voice void of emotion. My throat tightened. Alpha? My mind instantly flew back to Damon. Had he already found me? Or was this just some twisted trap? They each grabbed one of my arms and yanked me up. “Please… I didn’t do anything,” I cried, trying to pull back. Panic surged through me, but they were too strong. I had no choice but to go with them. The palace corridors were silent and grand, but cold. Stone walls, towering pillars, and ancient tapestries whispered secrets as we passed. We reached a tall door engraved with symbols I couldn’t read. With a low creak, the door opened. And there he was. Sitting high on the throne, cloaked in authority, was a man with sharp, commanding eyes. His aura was suffocating—not violent, but thick with dominance. His scent was intense, a mix of earthy pine and cool rain. The second my eyes met his, my world slowed. A sharp pain twisted in my chest. Not physical—emotional. Raw and consuming. I tightened my lips, trying to hold back a scream. Then I felt it. Something moved deep inside me. My wolf—silent for so long—suddenly stirred. The feeling was foreign but familiar, like I had just found a missing piece of myself. My wolf clawed at my insides. Mate. I froze. For the first time in my life, my wolf stirred in recognition. But I held myself still. I had never felt this bond before, not even by mistake. And now, when I least expected it—when I didn’t want it—it came crawling at me. I should have felt joy… maybe even relief. But all I felt was fear. Just when I thought I might finally find peace. But peace never lasts—not for people like me. I turned my face away, pretending I felt nothing. My wolf struggled against the walls I’d built around her, but I couldn’t let her win. I had to stay hidden. I had to stay safe. The man didn’t react either, and that was a relief. His face was unreadable, but I knew he felt it too. And just like me, he chose silence. He parted his lips to speak, but paused—like he was searching for the right words. The silence in the room grew thicker. His gaze roamed over me. Not with lust—no. It was something else. Something sharp and unreadable, like he was trying to see beneath my skin, to tear past every wall I’d ever built. But one thing didn’t go unnoticed: the way his fingers twitched—like he wanted to reach out but something held him back. The head of the guards spoke, drawing his attention slightly. “Alpha, she was found just outside the east borders. The doctor said she suffered from dehydration, minor head trauma, blood loss, exhaustion… she’s lucky to be alive.” He stood from his throne and walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps. “What’s your name?” he asked. His voice was deep and firm. The kind of voice that dared you to lie and promised you’d regret it. But I couldn’t tell the truth. My lips parted, but my mind scrambled for safety. One wrong answer and everything could fall apart. I couldn’t say Cal. It was too risky—especially now that Damon would be searching for me. Saying my real name could get me killed. “Laila,” I whispered, my voice rough. “My name is Laila.” He stared at me for what felt like forever, like he could see through the lie. But he didn’t question it. “Alpha Ryker,” he finally said. “Ruler of the Blackmist Pack.” I nodded in respect. The name meant nothing to me, but the power behind it told me this was not a place I could afford to make mistakes. “You’re not from around here,” Ryker said, his voice calmer now. “I was… running,” I whispered, just as a tear slipped down my cheek. “That’s all I can say.” He stepped even closer, and before I knew it, he lifted my face and brushed the tear away with his fingers. The contact sent shockwaves through me, and my wolf lunged forward, desperate to reach him. But I shoved her down. He folded his arms and narrowed his gaze. “You crossed into my land unconscious and bleeding… from Damon’s territory. That makes you a mystery. And I don’t like mysteries in my land.” “I’m not a threat,” I said softly. “I just want to disappear.” He didn’t respond immediately, but something flashed in his eyes—caution… or maybe pain. Then he turned to the guards. “She stays in my palace once she gets better. I want her under my watch until we know who she is and what she’s running from. Take her back to the hospital and ensure she gets proper treatment.” He looked back at me with one last glance. “Get well soon.” My heart dropped. The palace? That was too risky for me—but I had no strength to argue. Not when I had nowhere else to go. After all, the only thing standing between me and Damon was this stranger… and the mate bond neither of us dared to speak of. As Ryker turned to leave, I felt it again. The pull. Stronger this time. Mine. I clenched my jaw as the guards led me out of the throne room. I didn’t want to belong to anyone.
