Chapter Seven

Zaria’s POV

“Madam, are you awake?”

The voice reached me like a distant echo in my half-conscious mind. My eyelids fluttered open, and I saw a lady standing right in front of me. She looked like someone who worked in a palace—her uniform neat, her movements careful, like she had been trained to serve.

“Madam, are you awake?” she asked again, her voice soft but insistent.

I blinked a few times, trying to understand where I was. The room… it wasn’t just a room. It was more than that. Every corner shone with light, and soft colors adorned the walls and curtains. Everything looked like it belonged in a dream—or a paradise. I closed my eyes for a second, convinced it was all in my head, and when I opened them again, the scene had not changed.

I leaned my head back against the pillow, trying to drift back into the comfort of sleep, hoping it was just a dream. But the voice came again.

“Madam, please, this is your food.”

Food? I couldn’t even think about eating. My mind was spinning, my heart still racing from what had happened. I slowly sat up and clutched the pillow to my chest, trying to protect myself. 

I moved to the end of the bed and screamed as loud as I could. “Somebody help me! Please, help me!”

The lady stepped closer, her hands slightly raised as if to calm me. “You need to rest,” she said gently.

I took a step back, my body trembling. My legs were weak, still bruised and sore from the fight, but I managed to hold myself up. My eyes darted to a bottle on the table beside the bed. I grabbed it and held it tightly, my hands shaking.

“Stay back! I will kill you!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the room.

Just then, the door opened. Someone stepped in. My eyes widened, and my chest tightened. The man who walked in… he wasn’t just a man. He looked almost like an angel, tall, strong, and graceful. I sank to my knees without thinking, clutching the floor as if it could save me.

“Please… gods, send me back,” I whispered. “I don’t want to die now. Not like this…”

He stopped a few steps away, his eyes calm and piercing. “You are very much alive,” he said. “And welcome to my palace.”

I stared at him, unable to speak. Slowly, memories of the events that had led me here started to return. My heart thumped painfully in my chest as I realized… he was the man who had saved me. The Alpha. My savior. My mind raced, trying to process everything.

“Come with me,” he said.

I followed him, my legs still weak, my body shaking. As we walked down the long hall, I caught sight of myself in a mirror. I froze. My reflection… it looked different. My hair shone brighter, my clothes looked richer, and somehow… I looked like a princess. The thought made my head spin. Was this real, or was it another dream?

Maids bowed to us as we passed. I wasn’t used to such treatment, so I instinctively bowed to them as well. Most of them smiled at me, and I felt a small, strange warmth in my chest. Maybe they were happy to see me safe. Maybe… maybe this place wasn’t entirely scary.

When we reached the dining hall, I could hardly believe my eyes. The table was long, filled with food I hadn’t even imagined. Fruits, breads, meats, dishes I couldn’t name—all of them smelled delicious. My stomach growled softly, reminding me like I hadn’t eaten in two days.

A maid stepped forward and gently pulled out a chair for me. I sat down, still unsure how to act. My eyes wandered across the table, and then… I saw him. Sitting directly in front of me. My heart skipped a beat.

“Alpha,” I whispered, pointing at him.

He looked at me and smiled, a small, gentle smile that made my chest ache. “How are you feeling now? You really need to rest,” he said.

I tried to smile back, but it faded almost instantly. My hands shook as I reached for a cup of water. In my nervousness, I knocked it over. Water spilled across the table and splashed onto me.

Immediately, he stood up and walked toward me, his face full of concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, reaching for my hand.

I flinched and shoved him away with all my strength. “Stay away from me!” I shouted, clutching my chest. My wolf inside me howled in pain, weak and restless. Fear surged through me. Something inside told me that staying here could be dangerous. I needed to leave, but my body felt trapped.

The Alpha froze for a moment, studying me, his expression unreadable. Then he lowered his hands, stepping back slightly, though his eyes never left me. “You’re safe,” he said softly. “I won’t hurt you.”

I shook my head violently. “Safe? Don’t lie! You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve been through. Stay away!”

The room fell silent except for my ragged breathing. The maids watched nervously, unsure if they should intervene. I could see the Alpha’s calm demeanor starting to show a hint of frustration, but it was controlled.

“You are weak,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “But strong in spirit. That is why you survived.”

I stared at him, confused. “Why… why are you saying that? You don’t know anything about me!”

He walked closer again, slower this time, as if trying to gauge my reaction. “I know enough,” he said simply. “Enough to know that you are not like the others. You are special. And that is why I saved you.”

Special? The word echoed in my mind, strange and unfamiliar. For the first time since I woke up, a flicker of curiosity broke through my fear. But it was quickly replaced by doubt. Why should I trust him? Why should I believe anything he said?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I don’t know who you are,” I said, my voice trembling. “And I don’t know why I am here. But I… I need to leave. Please, let me go.”

The Alpha’s expression softened. He crouched slightly so that we were eye level. “You will leave when you are ready. But not tonight. You are hurt, a

nd you need to recover. Running now will only make things worse.”