chapter 6

Hannah

I stood inside the bedroom, my heart pounding against my ribs,as I tried to hear what they were saying outside, and the word "Alpha" still echoing in my mind.

If Derek was just a lone wolf living in the woods, why did someone call him that?

My curiosity won and I leaned forward, pressing my ear against the cool wood of the door to catch more.

I strained to listen, but the door handle was old and loose. As I shifted my weight, my hand slipped, and the handle turned under my palm. I lost my balance. I stumbled forward, my feet tangling in my own legs, and I crashed through the door, landing hard on the wooden floor of the outer room.

My face heated up with total embarrassment. I scrambled to get up, my hair falling into my eyes. I looked up and saw Derek standing there. Beside him stood a massive man with a thick beard and tired eyes. They both looked at me, surprised.

My first instinct was to run. I did not know who this other man was, and I still did not know the truth about who Derek was. I turned to sprint back toward the bedroom, but a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey!"

I froze. Derek’s voice was firm, but it did not sound angry. I stood still, my back to them, waiting. Derek walked toward me and stopped a few feet away. "You do not need to hide. You are not a prisoner here. You can go anywhere you like in this cabin."

I did not answer. The humiliation of falling was too much. I kept my head down, walked past him, entered the bedroom, and gently pulled the door shut.

I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling my cheeks burning. How could I embarrass myself like that? He probably thought I was a clumsy, broken mess.

My stomach gave a loud, painful growl. I looked at the table where Derek had left the bowl of soup earlier. It was still there. Driven by pure hunger, I picked up the spoon and ate. It was simple, warm, and tasted better than anything I had eaten in months. After the last drop was gone, the exhaustion of the past few weeks finally caught up with me. I lay back against the soft blankets and fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, the cabin was dark. The fire in the fireplace had burned down and I felt rested for the first time in a long time. I sat up, realizing I was thirsty, and walked out into the main room.

I saw Derek was sitting in a large wooden chair by the fire. He was cleaning a piece of leather with a cloth. The sitting room was cozy and rugged. Furs were draped over the furniture, and the walls were lined with hand-carved tools.

I walked to the far side of the room and sat on a low stool by the wall. I did not want to bother him, but I also did not want to be entirely alone in the dark.

I watched him from across the room. The firelight caught the sharp lines of his face and the way his muscles moved under his shirt as he worked.

He looked incredibly strong, but his hands were gentle. There was something about the way he moved. I found myself staring, unable to look away. A strange, warm feeling began to pulse low in my stomach, a sensation I had not felt in a very long time.

Suddenly, Derek stopped moving. He did not look up, but his nostrils flared slightly as he took a deep breath.

"Your heart rate has changed, mate," he said, his voice dropping to a low, husky rumble.

"And your scent... it is changing, too. It's so sweet and I can smell your desire."

My eyes widened in shock and i wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. I was mortified. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could vanish. I started to stand up, ready to bolt back into the bedroom to hide forever, but his voice stopped me.

"Do not run," he said, his tone softening. He finally looked up at me, his dark eyes filled with understanding. "It is okay. It is perfectly normal for mates to feel drawn to one another. Your body is just reacting to the bond. I know you are not ready for anything like that, and I promise you, I will never push you."

I sank back onto the stool, my hands trembling in my lap. I was still embarrassed, but his honesty made the shame melt away.

He was not disgusted by me; he was just aware of what we were to each other.

We sat in silence for a long time. The only sound was the crackle of the wood in the fireplace. I appreciated his patience. He was giving me the space I needed, not pushing me to talk when I was not ready.

Finally, he set the leather down. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked into the fire.

"I grew up in a place with many people," he said quietly. "My father was the leader. I was raised to take his place. I thought I knew what it meant to lead and protect. But I was wrong. So I was shocked when I found you. I never thought I'd be blessed with a mate."

I listened to every word. He sounded so sad and honest. My fear started to fade because I realized he might have been hurt just as badly as I had. We were both alone.

But the question about his title was still bothering me. I looked at him, feeling brave enough to ask.

"I don't understand something," I said softly. "You are a rogue and you have no pack."

I took a breath and looked him in the eyes. "So, what did that man mean when he called you Alpha?”