02 - Newly arrived

Two days ago, we sailed on the high seas. I am lying in my cabin, staring at the ceiling, having to deal with my pain alone. Luna Meredith and the Alpha did not accompany me.

A phone call and there it was, my fate was sealed alongside the cruel King Alpha Jaden Brown. A man who doesn't even remember his own family. The eldest son, the son who rejected the position of Alpha in his pack and became the king of all others.

He believed in the prophecy and chased after his future, claiming what he believed was rightfully his – and which became his, even with everyone else saying it was madness.

Less than one month ago, I would never have imagined it would end like this. That my mate would betray me. That I would be alone in life. That I would have to leave everything I believed in.

I sigh heavily as I open the door to the room, feeling the boat move in the water. It was a bit warm, but as I reached the stern, I could see solid ground just a few meters away. I sigh in relief.

"We've arrived, ma'am!" The commander says, hands resting on the railing in front of his body.

"Ah... thank you!" I reply.

We were still a few meters from shore. My eyes stare at the solid ground until I feel a hand against my back, and my body is thrown into the sea. I fall, my body hits the water, and I sink all at once.

It took some time to understand what was happening. I can't swim, so I thrash underwater. My body struggles to rise, but I feel myself sinking with each damned second.

I can't breathe. I struggle to rise and catch any bit of air, but I can't. I'm losing consciousness. My lungs burn.

"Fight, Malia!" A voice says in my head. "Fight!"

I'm still underwater. It's silent here. Where is this voice coming from?

"I'm in your head, Malia!" It shouts. "Fight, girl!"

I can't. My arms move tiredly, as do my legs. I am weak. I feel my body dying slowly.

"Malia, no!" I hear a shout in my ear, and I lose consciousness, surrendering to the darkness.

Air fills my lungs and I wake up, spitting water all over the floor. I turn over, still expelling water. I gasp desperately, thankful for the sensation of finally breathing.

"Are you alright?" The man's voice behind me catches my attention, but I can't speak. My throat burns.

I sit on my knees, but I'm weak and topple to the side, where strong arms envelop me. I close my eyes, feeling calm, finally.

"Mate!" The voice in my head shouts. "My Mate!"

My whole body shivers, and I grip his arm tightly, lifting my eyes to the face of the stranger.

"Mine!" He murmurs, his piercing eyes focused on me.

"Mine!" I say. The words come out of my mouth without any control. "W-what?"

"My mate! Mine!" The voice says again. "I'm your wolf, Malia! And this is our second chance mate."

Our eyes meet. My breath, which I just regained, falters, and when he reaches for my hair and tries to kiss me, I turn away.

His eyes narrow in my direction, confused.

"Who are you?" I whisper.

"Jaden. Jaden Brown. Alpha King." He murmurs, smiling at me. "And you?"

"Malia. Your brother's rejected mate." I whisper, shrinking.

His eyes look at me confused, as he releases me and stands up. He runs his fingers through his hair and then rubs his face.

"What are you doing on my lands? You're far from home." His voice is rude, for the first time.

What's wrong with him?

"You weren't expecting me?" I ask, confused.

"Of course not. I want nothing to do with that damn family. Especially... a rejected woman." He says, and a pang hits me.

"I... your mother... she sent me here..." I lower my eyes to my fingers. "I'm sorry, I..."

"And how did you end up in the sea?" He asks, his eyes narrowed.

"When we were close to your lands, the commander approached me at the stern of the boat and claimed we were arriving. However, a second later, I was falling into the sea..." I look at him. "I can't swim."

"Oh!" He laughs, disbelievingly. "Take her to the pack hospital. I'll go after Lilith!"

"Yes, sir!" One of the guards says as he approaches me.

He helped me up carefully, and I could swear I heard a growl from Jaden as soon as the man passed one of his arms around my waist to support me.

"Wait, wait," I ask, for a second. "Can we go slowly?"

I hear him snort.

"Come!" Jaden says, passing his arms under my legs and lifting me off the ground. "Have Lilith meet me at the hospital."

"Yes, sir!" The guard responds.

Jaden carries me as I rest my head on his shoulder. The wolf in my head purrs for him. He smiles, seeming to purr back to her. I shrink even more, embarrassed.

I had never had such a close relationship with my former mate. I felt incomplete for not having a wolf and always having to act like ordinary humans.

When we arrive at the hospital, he puts me on the bed, and the doctor appears at the door just a few seconds later.

"Look, we have a bad swimmer here!" The doctor smiles as he enters.

"Hello, doctor!" I murmur, shrinking.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, his smile fading.

 "In pain. Mostly at my side." I say while running my finger along my spine.

"How did your accident happen?" He asks, running his hand through his beard.

"I fell off the boat that was bringing me here," I murmur, embarrassed.

"Hmm." He murmurs. "Alpha King can you arrange dry clothes for Miss..."

"Malia!" I say.

"For Miss Malia? In the meantime, I can examine her." He says.

Jaden is focused for a few seconds and then returns to the doctor.

"Done." He crosses his arms.

The doctor smiles and nods.

"Well, if you don't mind, Miss Malia, can you take off your blouse so I can examine the area?"