Chapter 10

*Hazel*

 It was already late at night.

 Mira prepared my bath while Bella arranged my meal on the small table near the window. The soft glow of lantern light filled the room, casting warm shadows on the walls. I could not help but smile as Mira continued to talk, sharing stories about her childhood, her siblings, and the simple joys of her life. She was so lucky — a full family, laughter, warmth. Bella, on the other hand, remained mostly quiet, though she occasionally chuckled at Mira’s jokes, her lips twitching in quiet amusement.

 Their energy lifted something inside me that had been buried for far too long. Their loyalty and kindness gave me confidence I thought I had lost.

 “My lady should sleep now,” Bella said gently when the night had deepened. “It is getting late. We will return to our quarters. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call.”

 “You girls can sleep here with me,” I suggested quickly. “The bed is large enough for all of us. I do not wish to be alone tonight.”

 Mira smiled sadly. “The rules do not allow that, my lady.”

 “Then I wish you both a wonderful night,” I said softly. “Thank you for keeping me company.”

 They bowed and left after switching off the lights, the door closing quietly behind them.

 The silence pressed around me.

 I could not stop staring at the window. Ever since arriving in this pack, something inside me had felt wrong — or perhaps too right. A strange pull tugged at me, invisible yet powerful. I inhaled slowly, catching the faintest trace of a musky male scent in the air. It did not belong to anyone I recognized, yet it stirred something deep in my chest. My feet carried me from the bed before my mind could stop them. I lit the lamp again and stepped outside, following the trail of that scent as if guided by something beyond reason. The hallway was quiet, the air thick with night. I turned down a corridor, my heart pounding.

 Then I saw him.

 He stood in the shadows, tall, still, his presence commanding without effort. Our eyes met.

 My breath hitched.

 Is he the one?

 Do we know each other from before?

 Questions flooded my mind, but no answers came. The pull was overwhelming, yet fear held me in place. I turned away and returned to my room, shutting the door behind me. I crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over my head, trying to chase him from my thoughts — but my heart refused to listen.

 ORION

 Ray would not be silenced.

 My wolf paced inside me relentlessly, demanding I follow the call. The closer I moved toward her, the calmer he became, as though only her presence could bring him peace.

 There was something unusual about her.

 I could not fully sense her wolf. The scent was faint, distant — like a whisper on the wind. It unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

 I saw her walking toward me down the corridor, her steps slow and uncertain. She was searching, just as I was. When she suddenly lifted her gaze and found me standing there, her eyes widened before she turned and retreated. I watched her go, knowing she could not escape the bond.

 Sooner or later, she would acknowledge it.

 When the halls had fallen silent, I entered her room quietly. Moonlight spilled across the bed, illuminating her face. She looked peaceful in sleep, vulnerable in a way that made my chest tighten.

 I moved closer, brushing my fingers gently against her hair.

 “My baby,” I whispered.

 I placed a tender kiss on her lips, then another on her forehead, tucking the blanket around her shoulders before lying beside her. Her scent wrapped around me, calming every storm within.

 Her eyes, when awake, always carried a quiet sorrow. I reached into her mind and saw the truth — her parents’ exile, her lonely childhood, the pain she carried without complaint.

 She deserved so much more.

 I withdrew carefully and mind-linked Shane.

 Begin the search. Find everything about Hazel’s parents. Bring them back.

 It will be done, Alpha.

 I looked down at her sleeping face.

 “You are not alone anymore,” I murmured.

 For the first time in years, I felt hope.