Jane

Jane's POV 

Jane! Jane!

My name echoed through the burning woods like a ghost’s whisper. The sound was familiar and terrifying at the same time. I was running, the crackle of fire all around me, smoke clawing at my throat, but I couldn’t stop. 

People screamed in the distance, but no matter how hard I looked, I saw no one. I could hear voices but no one was there. I was alone, terrified and confused. 

I was five years old again. Running through the burning woods alone just like other times. I don't know where this is or what I was doing there. But whenever I meet myself in the woods, I end up alone without answers.

Then I saw a shadow. It ran ahead of me through the trees. 

Hope sparked in my chest, and I chased it, my breath ragged, praying it wasn’t just another illusion. As I got closer, I saw it was a boy or maybe a young man. I couldn’t tell. His back was to me, but I was thankful that I saw someone. 

For the first time, I wasn't alone anymore. Someone was there with me. I stepped forward to see the face of the person but my name echoed again. 

“Jane!” The voice came again. Closer this time.

Then a hand on my shoulder. And I jolted awake.

My heart thundered in my chest, sweat clinging to my skin. My eyes darted around the soft light, the dark walls, and Josephine’s face staring at me with a mix of surprise and confusion.

“Jane, why are you sleeping in Alpha Liam’s room?” she asked.

Her voice hit me like cold water, dragging me back to reality. The dream faded into the back of my mind, and the memories of last night crashed in like a wave. Alpha Liam’s pain, his touch, his kiss, the way he held me like I was his anchor.

How was I supposed to explain that without sounding like a cheap maid throwing herself at the alpha?

“I… how did I get here?” I asked, blinking as if I was disoriented, trying to look as confused as possible.

Then I added with a little laugh, “Oh my… I have this horrible habit of sleepwalking sometimes.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “You sleepwalked all the way here?” She asked.

Why won't this woman let it slide? How did I end up oversleeping? My plan was to leave after Alpha Liam fall asleep but I ended up sleeping too.

“I don't know how to explain this…” I threw off the duvet too quickly, tangled my legs, and I crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

“Ouch!” I cried, landing on the floor in the most awkward way possible.

Josephine rushed over and helped me up. “Careful, Jane!”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, brushing myself off. But the embarrassment didn’t go away. I was too embarrassed to stay, to even look at her. I couldn’t stay there a second longer.

Without warning, I ran out of the room, down the hall. I didn’t even know where I was going, I just ran as fast as I could. My feet carried me blindly, my mind still fogged with too many thoughts and dreams.

“Jane?” She called after me but I didn't stop.

Then I slammed into something, or someone hard and fell back again, my breath knocked out of me.

Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground completely.

And when I looked up and I saw alpha Liam's eyes burning into mine from a distance. But it wasn’t him I bumped into. It was someone else.

I looked up and the man in front of me was definitely not Alpha Liam or anything like him.

He wore a perfectly fitted black suit, the kind that whispered power, paired with a black shirt and a sharp blue tie that made his features pop. His face looks… soft. Almost delicate and pretty. No beards, no hard edges like Liam’s. Just clean brown hair, neatly trimmed eyebrows, and lashes so long they could’ve belonged to a model.

Again, I stumbled back in panic, my heart lurching at the unfamiliar touch. He reached out and steadied me, his hands firm on my arms.

Who is this man? And what's he doing here? I wondered as I stared at him in awe. He was undeniably pretty and I couldn't help but admire him.

“A pretty new face,” he said smoothly, his eyes scanning mine. “Liam didn’t tell me how beautiful you look.”

Alpha Liam? His name alone wiped my thoughts away. My eyes darted to him again and there he was. His entire body was stiff with rage, his eyes burning faintly like a warning sign. 

He strode toward us, silent and dangerous. Then, without a word, he yanked the stranger’s hands off me and pulled me roughly behind him.

“Why are you out here?” he demanded, his voice laced with fury.

“I—I lost my way,” I stammered, too confused and shaken to think clearly.

His jaw clenched. “Find your way back before I do something else.”

The threat in his voice hit me like a cold slap. My legs trembled beneath me, frozen by his tone. He looked at me like I’d done something wrong, like I had betrayed him just by existing in front of another man.

I wanted to run away but I couldn’t move. Not because I was frozen but because his grip on my wrist was tight. 

“Why are you still here?” he snapped again.

I stared at him, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’re still holding me.”

He looked down at his hand gripping my wrist and dropped it like I was a plague or a disease.

“Get out of here now!” he barked.

And I didn’t need to be told again. I turned and ran, my heart pounding in my chest. His rage echoed in my ears as I disappeared down the hall.

Why did he yell at me? What did I do wrong? The least he could do is to respect me as his pain relief. 

I was terrified, humiliated, and more confused than ever. Alpha Liam was on a mission to drive me to the edge of sanity and if care is not taken, I might lose my sanity in the process of getting to find answers. 

“Jane!” I heard his voice but I didn't answer.

“Jane!” He called again. “You know I don't like repeating myself,” he said as his footsteps approached. 

I looked around me and there was nowhere to hide. I was in his room, in his game and it is his rules.