The Stranger

ELARA

The man was lying in the snow like a dead body. I moved closer, risking my life, and squatted down inches from his left arm. My heart started pounding as I leaned down and rested my ear against his chest.

His heart was still beating. “He’s alive.” The words escaped my lips in a whisper.

Without wasting a second, I dialed Chloe’s number for help. “Bring your medical kit and come to the back road,” I said the moment she answered. “Now.”

The night wind howled through the trees as I stood next to the stranger. His body was cold, and covered in blood. Snow soaked the hem of my dress. By the time Chloe arrived, my hands were trembling.

She jumped out of the car wearing a thick coat, her doctor’s bag in hand. “Moon Goddess… Elara, what have you done now?”

“He’s alive. Help me.”

Chloe knelt instantly, fingers pressing to his neck before she opened one eyelid. “We need to move him before he freezes to death.”

Together, we hauled him into the backseat and covered him with blankets. I drove straight to my safe place. It was my mother's dessert shop, located near a beautiful lake.

After turning seventeen, I had changed the interior completely. Now, it was more like a house with a living room.

Between the two of us, we dragged the unconscious stranger to the bed. Blood smeared across the marble floor behind us.

I should be worried about myself, yet I got myself involved with a stranger.

“He lost too much blood,” Chloe murmured while cleaning his deep cut. “Deep claw marks… bruised ribs… and this head wound.” She gently touched the side of his skull. “Looks like he hit something hard. A rock, maybe.”

“Will he live?” I asked.

She glanced at my pale face. “If he’s as strong as he looks.”

For the next hour, Chloe worked nonstop while I fetched hot water, towels, herbs, and bandages. She stitched wounds, wrapped his ribs, and forced medicine between his lips. At last, she stepped back with a tired sigh.

“He is out of danger for now.”

Relief rushed through me so fast my knees weakened.

Chloe studied his broad frame and scarred hands. “These aren’t ordinary wounds. He fought something… or someone. Judging by the claw tears, maybe wild wolves.”

“Could he be from a different pack?” I whispered.

“Maybe.” Chloe pulled the blanket higher over him. “But until he wakes, he’s nothing more than trouble.”

She turned toward me. “And this stays secret. If your father learns his daughter dragged a bleeding stranger into her chambers, I’ll lose my medical license before sunrise.”

“Thank you.”

After Chloe finished, we cleaned the blood from the floors and finally slept.

***

IVAN

I was sitting on a throne made of iron and bone. It was not comfortable. It was where I belonged. I finally got the throne.

Kael, my brother, was gone. He wanted to conquer the five packs of Malvern Hills. The five packs killed our father, framed him wrongly.

I wanted him to get revenge on them… But my hunger for the throne was deeper. He never expected the betrayal from me. Since childhood, he has got everything. I only watched his victory with jealousy.

The Alpha of the BloodFang Pack, feared by all, died by his own brother’s betrayal. The throne. The power. The Alpha’s position. It was all mine. I was the rightful owner.

“Master Ivan,” Troy rushed inside. He was Kael’s Beta, yet loyal to me.

“Alpha Kael is not dead…”

My victory shattered within a second.

“I found the bodies of the fifty wild wolves that we sent after Alpha Kael. They were torn into pieces near the MoonCedar Pack.”

“Have you searched the entire area?”

He nodded. “Maybe Alpha Kael survived. Even the five packs know how powerfully he is built. We should have sent more wild wolves.”

“Stop this nonsense!” I growled. “If he survived, he must be hiding in one of the five packs. They’re already after his head.”

Troy lowered his head.

“Only after seeing his dead body will our pack accept me as the Alpha. The people are loyal to Kael. No matter what, I want him dead.”

“Once the pack witnesses his dead body, I can blame it on the five packs.”

“Master, should I start with the MoonCedar Pack? The Alpha King is hosting a birthday for his daughter.”

I brushed off the dust from Kael’s dark mask. The one he used to hide his face. “Find Kael Damen at any cost.”

***

ELARA

After all the stress we went through last night, I was worried about finding a true mate. Suddenly, Chloe shouted. “He woke up!”

“Really?”

“There’s a slight problem.”

My spine straightened. “What happened?”

“He remembers nothing. Name, pack, past… all gone. The blow to his head stole it.”

I stared at her. “Nothing?”

“That's sad.”

“No, Elara.” She came closer. “This is your chance to change your destiny.”

“What do you mean?”

“The man lost his memories. He doesn’t remember anything…Which means he’ll believe whatever story we feed him. Isn’t he a better choice than a rogue?”