Chapter Four

Samantha's POV 

My memory went blank at first when Thorne asked me for my name, but the moment he stepped forward, fixed his stormy gray eyes on me and asked me 'who the hell are you?'

Suddenly, the memories clawed at me, suffocating me. So I just snapped, “Why did you care?“ 

“What?“ He blinked, clearly not expecting that. Like what I had just said was an abomination. 

He looked at me—really looked at me. As if trying to see past my skin, past the blood and bruises, into whatever monster he imagined I might be.

I knew he was an Alpha. The tension in the room practically revealed it. But who cares about that? 

He was tall. Broad shoulders with a fine jawline and stormy gray eyes that could cut through steel. 

But I was already broken, so there was nothing left to intimidate anymore.

“Is this how you talk to someone who saved your life?“ He asked, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.

I met his glare head on. “Did I ask you to save me?“ I fired back.

Then my hand dropped to my stomach. It was empty.

My baby. 

Gone. As much as I wanted to cry, to scream, to break, I couldn't. My eyes didn't even sting. It feels like they are no longer mine. But my chest—God, It tightened with pain as I silently mourn my loss.

He scoffed, yanking me back to reality. “I get it now,” he mumured. “But don't worry wherever you come from and whatever you are, I will make sure to find out. And if I did find out that you're a spy, I will make sure to end your goddamn life,” he threatened, through gritted teeth.

“Oh… then good luck with that,” I said flatly, unbothered by his little threat. 

He clenched his fists, turned around and made his way outside, slamming the door shut behind him.

Then another guy, who has been quiet all this while, stepped closer. His lips curled up in disgust. 

“You don't get to talk to the Alpha like that,” he spat through gritted teeth, gesturing towards the door. 

I wanted to say he is their Alpha and not mine but I decided against it. 

I didn't say anything: I just scoffed. 

He glared at me and then shook his head at the absurdity of it all. He turned and also walked out of the room.

The moment he left, I left out a long exasperated sigh, pressing a hand to my throbbing forehead.

The door creaked open again.

“Hey,” another voice said. “It's a good thing you're awake.“

I raised my head to see a middle aged woman with a polite smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I'm Elara. A healer.“ She walked further into the room.

For some reason, I warm up to her. Unlike the Alpha and his Beta, who seems to get on my nerves.

“Thank for saving me.“

She held my hand, pressing it reassuringly. “I'm sorry about your baby,” she says, her voice low but thick with emotions. “The people who hurt you like that…. doesn't deserve to live. Make sure you get back at them.“

I nodded slowly. "I will.“

She pressed a thumb on her eyes like she was wiping her tears before it slide down her cheeks. Then sniff. “You should go and take a warm bath.“ Then she gesture towards a table. “Those are clean clothes to change into. And I will quickly prepare a tonic soup for you.“

“Alright. Thank you, Elara,” I say.

I tried to stand up but my legs weren't working. Pain surged through my body like every piece of my bone is broken.

Elara noticed my struggles. “Let me help you.“

She wrapped a arm around my waist, while I threw mine across her shoulders. Gently, she helped me out of the bed, and we made our way towards the bathroom which was outside the tent. 

Every step was a struggle. Every painful gasp that slipped past my lips was a reminder of everything I had gone through.

After what seems like eternity, we reached the bathroom. 

“Thank you, Elara,” I say.

“Anytime,” she replied and made her way outside.

I undressed and stepped into the warm herbal bath. I sat into the bathtub and only then did I feel relieved a little.

My eyes landed on the bruises on my body. I remembered how hard I had begged those soldiers, while screaming 'my baby' but no one listened to me. 

I swear to the Moon Goddess, that I will destroy them. All of the people of the Duskwatch Pack. Especially Knox and Seraphina—they will suffer.

I realise that I had lost my ability to cry. Instead I let out a bitter, menace laugh that echoed through the walls. 

I washed up and stepped out of the bathroom.

______

The next morning.

I had just woken up when Layla—one of Elara's subordinate stepped inside the room.

“The Alpha seeks your presence,” she says.

The Alpha?

What now?

“Alright.“ 

I stepped out of the bed and together we made our way out of the tent to a room across.

Thorne stood tall by the window, staring out of it.

“She's here, Alpha,” Layla said, bowing.

Without turning back, he ordered, “You may leave.“

She stepped out of the room, leaving us two alone.

The silence lingered between us for a while. Then he turned towards me and sat back on a chair. His gaze was cold and calculating.

“We are leaving the border soon,” he began, voice steady. “So, it's time for you to leave.“

Leave? 

My heart skipped a beat. My fingers clenched the hem of my blouse.

 I have no where to go. No one else to take me in.

 But instead of letting my fear get the best of me, I raised my head and met his glare. 

“Don't you think you're being unfair. I told you I can't remember anything but you still want to send me away.“

He scoffed. “You have a nack for getting on people's nerves, don't you?“ He said calmly but the irritation in his voice was evident. “First, I save you and you didn't even appreciate me and now you're trying to leach off me. What are you? A pest?“

Right. I didn't say a word. Maybe I have been unreasonable just a little.

He continued. “You have until the next hour to leave. Or else, I might imprison you for being a spy,“ he said, his voice final, sending a chill down my spine.

I'm so fucked. I need to do something. Think, Samantha. Think. I need to stay here and figure out my next line of actions.

Swallow your pride, Samantha. You have no one else. 

And just like that, I dropped to my knees, head lowered. “I have been so ungrateful, my Alpha,” I said, my voice was a desperate plea. “I took your immense kindness for granted.“ Then I clasped my hands together. “Please help me. I really can't remember anything.“

It was silent for a while, then he burst into laughter—the sound, sharp and mocking. 

“Look—at—you,” he said, trying to muffled his laughter. “I thought you are tough, huh?“

Silence; I was just biting down on my lower lips.

Then he stood up and walked up to me in slow, deliberate steps. He stood in front of me, then crouched lower and tilted his head forward. His hand reached out, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes, his nose almost rubbing against mine.

“And this is where you belong,” he whispered, his breath warm against mine. “On your feet. Begging me like this. Not acting tough. You owe me your life, so don't you dare try to act rashly.“

“Yes, my Alpha,” I murmured.

He yanked my chin away and stood up, straightening. “To stay here, you have to earn your keep,” he said softly like he wasn't the one who had just threatened me moments ago.

“How?“

“We’ll find something for you to do. Something useful. Or entertaining,” he says.