CHAPTER 2: Spared, But Not Safe

I finally stirred awake, I wasn’t in the woods anymore. I was lying on a soft bed, bathed in the pale morning light. My body ached, but I'm still alive. Slowly sitting up, the dull ache in my limbs made me wince, but I forced herself to sit. My mind began racing, replaying everything that had happened—the chase, Kane’s transformation, the darkness that swallowed me right before I passed out. But one question gnawed at me more than any other.

Why didn’t he kill me?

His state last night doesn't look like something he would spare anymore that he laid his claws on. I mean, he literally lost his sense of reasoning. 

Scanning the room I'm in, the expensive items caught my eye. He certainly has a rich taste, but not the kind I love though. 

While staring blankly, a thought struck. 

“Maybe I have been held captive!” I gasped aloud. 

Without hesitation, I dashed out from the bed and ran towards the exit. Just a few inches from the door, someone swung it open, nearly hitting me. My quick reflex kicked in and I dodged, but that cost me falling.

Expecting to feel the hard floor any second, I felt something else instead. A strong arm. 

My eyes separated to see who my saviour was, and the face I saw left my mouth wide open. I'm staring at the most majestic face I have ever seen.

“We can't have our guest getting injured now, would we?” The voice which was smooth as butter spoke. 

“Uh…” I tried speaking, but remained speechless as I was helped to stand erect. 

Observing my saviour, I discovered it's actually a guy. A male would look more feminine than a female. Long silver hair that's covering half of his face and sleepy icy blue eyes, a slender body, and a thin waist that's snatched in a corset vest. Never have I been jealous of a man's form. 

“I know I'm irresistible, dear, but can we quit with the stares?” he said proudly and I shook my head lightly to come back to my senses. 

“Who are you?” I sprouted. 

“I believe the question should be where am I?” he chuckled.

There's something weird about his chuckle, it sounds menacing. Likewise his aura too. And to be sincere, he's right. I don't even know where the hell I am to start questioning him about his identity. 

“For someone who slept for days, you don't look weak like I had expected” he uttered as studied me closely. 

“Please come again” I stated, finding what I just heard outrageous. “You mean I have been lying unconscious for days?!”

“Yes” he nodded. “Three to be precise.”

What? Was I that shocked to be unconscious for that long? This is bad. My family must be very worried. No one even knows my whereabouts. I hope they're not thinking I'm dead. 

“You must be hungry, follow me” he said and with that statement, he started leaving. 

Since I don't have a clue where I am, I quietly trailed behind him. He seems nice, so I don't think there's a need to be alert. Anway, you can't trust a stranger you just met, so I still have to be very observant. 

As I followed the mysterious stranger down a long corridor, my mind raced. I still had no idea where I was or how I got here. Those horrifying images of Kane’s monstrous transformation in the woods and his claws coming straight for me is still torturing me. Yet, somehow, I was still alive. My instincts told me not to trust anyone here, especially the guy walking in front of me, no matter how harmless he seemed.

He led me into a large dining room with high ceilings and a chandelier that sparkled like the stars. The table was set with more food than I had ever seen. 

My stomach growled involuntarily, and the stranger chuckled. He gestured for me to sit, and despite my hesitation, the smell of the food—roast meat, fresh bread, and pastries—made my stomach gnaw with hunger. I couldn’t help myself. The table before me was filled with an extravagant spread, far too rich for a random meal. Was this a setup?

"Help yourself" he said as he took a seat.

“It isn't poisoned, is it?” I asked cautiously. 

“Why go through the trouble of doing that when your juicy flesh can just be ripped apart easily?” he replied, wearing a cunning grin on. 

Glaring at him, I sat down. My eyes kept flicking toward him, unsure of his intentions.

Slowly, I reached for a piece of bread, my hands shaking slightly. I took a tentative bite, expecting some kind of reaction—poison, paralysis, something—but nothing happened. It was just… bread. Delicious, warm bread.

"So…" I began slowly, "mind introducing yourself?"

“Lyall” he responded. 

“Ok, Lyall, where am I?” I threw another question as I kept feasting. 

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You’re in a safe place" he replied smoothly, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Let’s just say you’re lucky to be alive after what happened that night."

I stiffened. "What do you know about that night?"

His icy blue eyes flickered with amusement. "More than you think."

My heart started pounding in my chest again, the memory of Kane’s growl still fresh in my mind.

"Kane—what did he do to me?"

Lyall’s expression darkened for a split second, so quick I almost missed it. 

"He didn’t do what he intended, clearly" he said softly. "But that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Not from him. Not from anyone."

The ominous tone in his voice sent a chill down my spine, and I glanced nervously at the door. 

"Why am I here? Why didn’t he kill me?" I swallowed and asked. 

He leaned forward now, his eyes boring into mine with unsettling intensity. "That’s the question, isn’t it? Why didn’t he kill you? The Alpha Kane we know wouldn’t have hesitated, especially in the state he was in. Yet, here you are." He paused, letting the words sink in.

"Whatever stopped him...you need to figure it out. Because next time, you might not be so lucky."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. "Next time?"

"Oh, there’ll be a next time" he said with a smirk. "And when it comes, you’ll need to be ready."

“It won't happen again” I frowned. 

Lyall chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing slightly, 

He chuckled darkly and asserted, “We would see about that.”

I gave him a glare but continued to eat. The warmth of the food helped calm my frayed nerves, though the tension between us never fully left.

After a few moments of quiet, I finally asked, “Where is Kane?”

Lyall’s gaze flicked to mine, his expression hardening. “You won’t be seeing him.”

“Why not?” I pushed, feeling irritation build. “He was the one who—”

“Alpha Kane commands that you go home, Nevaeh” he cut me off, his voice colder now. “You’ll be escorted back to Cedar Ridge shortly. This... this is as far as it goes.”

Something about his tone made me stop chewing. I set down the fork, my heart pounding. “What’s going on? Why won’t he see me?”

Lyall’s face tightened, as if he were wrestling with something internally. 

“It’s for your own safety” he muttered. “You’ve seen too much already.”

My stomach churned, and not from the food. “Seen too much of what?”

My skin prickled at his words. 

“That’s not important. What matters is that you’re leaving.”

I glanced at him, but his expression was unreadable now. 

“Leaving? Without even knowing what’s going on?”

Lyall stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You think you get answers? How adorable.” His voice was laced with mockery, and every word made my blood boil. “Alpha Kane has no time for you. Whatever happened in the woods was a mistake, an anomaly. Best for you to return to your simple little life and forget everything.”

“A mistake? I didn’t ask for any of this or to be his fated mate” My jaw tightened. 

Lyall’s smile widened, sharp as a knife. “Neither did Alpha Kane.”

The air in the room grew heavier, the tension between us thickening. Lyall shifted, looking uncomfortable, but remained silent.

“Listen to me” he said, his voice low and smooth, almost hypnotic. “Go home. Forget this ever happened.”

I clenched my fists under the table. The weight of everything was crashing down on me—the attack, the transformation, Kane sparing my life. None of it made sense, and this man isn’t about to explain it. 

Maybe he's right. I should listen to him and go home. After all, my family would be worried sick about my sudden disappearance. 

KANE

I paced back and forth, my mind churning with the weight of the recent revelations. Nevaeh. My mate. How could fate be so twisted? I clenched my fists, the sharp sting of my claws digging into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the burn of realization that she—*a rogue*—was bound to me by the sacred bond.

The crunch of footsteps behind me broke through my thoughts. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Lyall.

"Alpha" he greeted, his voice low, respectful.

I stopped pacing but kept my back to him. "Is it done?"

"Yes" Lyall replied. "Nevaeh’s been sent home, just like you instructed. She seemed… confused, but she didn’t resist much. For now."

My jaw clenched at his words. Of course she’d be confused. She didn’t know the danger she was in. Or worse, my dislike for her.

"Good." My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care. Everything was unbearable. "She has no business with me."

Lyall shifted his stance behind me, the subtle scrape of his boot against the floor catching my attention. 

"Are you sure about that, Alpha Kane?"

I turned slowly to face him, narrowing my eyes. 

"What are you getting at?" I frowned. 

He lifted a brow. "She’s your mate."

The word hung in the air like a death sentence, and I growled low in my throat, stepping closer. 

“Don’t remind me.” 

Lyall stood his ground, his eyes steady but cautious. "Ignoring the bond won’t make it go away, Alpha. You know that."

I shoved past him, the anger swirling inside me like a storm. 

"She’s not my concern!" I thundered. 

"Isn’t she?" His voice was quieter, almost thoughtful. "You didn’t see the way she was worried about you."

I froze mid-step, my back to him again. A bitter chuckle escaped me. "I don’t care how worried she was. She's a weakness I can’t afford."

Lyall sighed, the sound heavy. "She might be the key to ending your curse, Kane. But you know what that would cost her."

My chest tightened at his words, and for a split second, I imagined it. Her sacrifice. The curse lifted, my freedom gained. But at what price? Could I really live with that?

"Doesn’t matter" I said coldly. "She’s out of my life now. End of story."

But even as I said the words, I knew they were a lie. A twisted knot of fate had tied us together, and there was no running from it.

Lyall didn’t push further, just nodded. "Understood, Alpha. For now, I’ll keep an eye on things."

"You’re fighting fate, Alpha" he added quietly. "That never ends well."

“Fate has never ended well” I emotionlessly asserted.