Chapter 3

~Anwen’s POV

Was I dead?

That was the first question that crossed my mind when I opened my eyes. I stared at the strange ceiling above me, unable to remember where I was. Everything around me was quiet, and the bed beneath me felt softer than anything I had ever slept on.

Was this what death felt like?

I slowly turned my head, taking in the beautiful room. Long curtains covered the tall windows, and expensive furniture stood against the walls. There was no smell of dirt, no sound of guards, and no cold wind blowing through broken wooden walls.

I was no longer in that horrible barn.

But where was I?

Then I remembered everything. The cliff,  Kael and Seraphina, the arrow piercing my chest, and the ocean swallowing me.

My eyes widened as I suddenly sat up. “Nooo!”

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, forcing a scream from my lips. I fell back against the pillows, pressing my hand over the thick bandage covering my wound.

Then, the door suddenly opened. I turned my head, my heart pounding as a tall man walked into the room. He was extremely handsome, with dark hair, sharp features, and eyes as bright as silver under the light. His black shirt fitted his broad shoulders, and there was something powerful about the way he carried himself.

He stopped when he saw me awake. "You're finally awake," he said, approaching the bed.

I immediately pulled the blanket closer to my body. "Who are you?" My voice came out weak. "Where am I?"

He noticed my fear and stopped a few steps away. He said with a smile, "My name is Lucien Veyr. I'm the Alpha of the Silvermoon Kingdom."

Another Alpha.

My stomach twisted with fear. I had barely escaped one Alpha who had destroyed my life. 

Was I about to fall into the hands of another?

"How did I get here?" I asked, watching him carefully.

"I found you near the shore," he explained. "You had an arrow wound in your chest and had lost a lot of blood. My healers worked hard to save you."

I stared at him, struggling to believe what I was hearing.

"You've been unconscious for several days," he continued. "I honestly wasn't sure you would wake up."

“Several days?”

My breath caught as another thought struck me. "My baby!" I cried, trying to reach for his hand. "Please, tell me my baby is alive!"

Lucien's expression softened. "Your baby is fine. It's a miracle that both of you survived. You had lost so much blood, and with such a serious wound, we feared we might lose you both. What surprised me most was that you didn't even go into labor despite everything your body went through."

The moment those words left his mouth, I broke down.

I covered my face and sobbed, my whole body shaking with relief. My baby was alive. Despite everything Kael and Seraphina had done to us, my little one was still alive.

"Thank you," I whispered between sobs. "Thank you for saving us."

"You don't have to thank me." His voice was gentle. "You both need time to recover."

For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that things might finally get better. Perhaps the Moon Goddess had not abandoned me after all.

But I had learned a painful lesson. Kindness could hide cruelty, and promises could become lies.

Lucien pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down. For a moment, he simply watched me, his eyes moving to the bandage on my chest before settling on my face.

“So, it's my turn to ask you a few questions. What is your name, young lady, and which pack do you come from?” Lucien asked, looking at me.

I stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. I had no reason to hide my name, but mentioning my pack brought back painful memories.

“My name is Anwen,” I finally replied, lowering my eyes.

“And your pack?” he asked.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. How could I tell him I came from the Blackthorn Pack, where my own Alpha had tried to kill me and my unborn child?

“I…” I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. “I'd rather not say.”

Lucien studied my face for a moment, as if he could tell there was more to my answer than I was willing to admit.

“That's fine, Anwen,” he said calmly. “You don't have to tell me everything now.” He paused before asking, “But tell me, do you have anyone looking for you? Family, friends, or someone who would be worried about you?”

My heart ached at the question.

Family? Friends?

I had no one. The people who should have protected me were the same people who had left me to die. I shook my head slowly. “No. I have no one.”

"So, Anwen, how did you end up in the ocean?" he asked quietly. "I found you lying near the shore in the middle of a terrible storm. You were badly wounded, and you were carrying a child. Do you know how close you came to losing both your lives?"

His voice grew heavier as he leaned forward.

"Who would leave a pregnant woman out there in the rain, bleeding and fighting for her life? What happened to you?"

I lowered my eyes, but his words brought back memories I desperately wanted to forget. I could still see Seraphina pointing the bow at me. I could still hear Kael's voice as I fell from the cliff.

My hands began to shake. "They wanted me dead," I whispered before I could stop myself.

Lucien's expression hardened. "Who did?"

I immediately regretted speaking. I pulled the blanket closer and shook my head. "Please, I don't want to talk about it."

He studied me for a moment, then slowly leaned back in his chair.

"All right," he said gently. "I won't force you to tell me anything. Whatever happened, you are safe here for now. Take your time. When you're ready to talk, I'll listen."

I stared at him, waiting for the kindness to disappear. When it didn't, I let out a bitter laugh.

"What do you want from me, Alpha Lucien?"

His brows drew together. "What did you mean?"

"Because nobody does anything for free." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You saved me, treated my wounds, and kept my baby alive. So, what do you want in return?"

He said nothing, and my fear grew. I had been foolish enough to trust Kael once. I would never make that mistake again.

"Are you planning to hand me over to Alpha Kael?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Or have you already made a deal with him?"

Lucien's expression changed, and the silence that followed made my blood run cold.