For Your Injuries

I slowly opened my eyes, feeling like I had been heavily drugged and was just recovering. I was breathing deeply, and my vision soon cleared. I proceeded to sit up, looking around. Everything looked so…different. 

Where was I? 

My heart dropped to my stomach, and I was ready to rush out. The room that I was in was not one that I knew. I did not recognize the walls, nor the faint smell of wood that filled the space. I did not recognize the carpet on the floor. And I certainly did not recognize the ceiling fan that kept producing a sound that was giving me more anxiety than I already had. 

The curtains at the windows were open, letting in sunlight, but there were bars that sat there. 

I stood up quickly and hurried towards the door. I tried to open it, but it was locked. “Sh*t,” I said under my breath. “Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!” I started to repeat it like a mantra. Was this another prison? Had Rafael brought me here to finish what he had started back at the Pack House? “Help!” I started to bang on the door. “Please, I am so sorry, Rafael! You don’t understand. I had to do it!” Tears threatened to fall from my eyes. 

Man, I could not do prison again. I had suffered way too much for the past three years. I could not be locked up again; I would lose my mind! 

Then the door made a sound as if it was being opened. I stopped, stepping away and wiping my face with the back of my hand. I sniffled and waited, not wanting Rafael to see me as weak even though I had just been losing my sh*t seconds ago. 

The door opened, and I was taken aback. Standing there was not Rafael; it was…someone that I did not know.

I did not know how to feel. Was I supposed to be afraid or relieved? He was a very attractive man. His hair was jet black, and his face looked like it had been sculpted by gods. In fact, he looked like a god himself. 

“Easy,” He said, his voice very masculine and strong. His eyes were trained on me, and he had a look on his face that I could not decipher no matter how hard I tried. 

What if this was one of Rafael’s men? “I’m sorry,” I immediately apologized, causing him to frown. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to cause trouble. I just—” I did not even know what else to say. I just wanted to get out of there. 

As much as the Pack House did not feel like home anymore, I had never wanted to be back there as much as I did right now. 

“Why are you apologizing?” He scoffed softly, walking into the room and past me. I glanced at my chance to escape, but I did not attempt it because I knew that I would be no match for him. I could see the guy’s muscles through his black shirt that fitted him perfectly. He turned and locked eyes with me. “You could have died. You nearly suffocated to death.” He folded his arms on his chest. 

Everything started to play in my head like a scene from a TV show, and I swallowed. The reminder caused a chill to run down my spine; it felt like I was literally living it again even though I was not. I started to play with my fingers while lowering my head. “I know,” I said under my breath.

“It’s okay,” He replied. "Just stop with the apologizing." 

“It’s my fault, though.” I lifted my head. “Things are not how they used to be three years ago, and I forgot. I should have known my place.” I locked eyes with him, nodding to myself. 

“Wow,” the guy said in response before chuckling in disbelief. “Who taught you that almost dying is your own fault?” He looked like he was hurt by my words, almost as if he cared. But why would he? He was just a stranger…a random man that I did not even trust. 

“Who are you?” The words left my mouth even before I could think about them. 

He smiled, turning away and walking over to the bed before sitting and facing me again. “Come here,” He said, gesturing towards the space next to him. 

I was hesitant, but I knew that if I wanted to make it out of here alive, or at all, I needed to listen and do whatever the guy would tell me to do. I was still very scared, but there was a part of me that had a peace that I could not explain. 

I walked to him and sat next to him. “So, back to my question. Who are you?” I locked eyes with this attractive stranger. 

“I’m a nobody, dear. You really don’t have to worry about me. I’m just an ordinary warrior who fights for the pack.” 

I mentally chewed on this information, staring at him. But I had more questions; my curiosity got the best of me. But just before I could ask him, the door opened, catching both of our attentions. 

It was a young man who had walked in, dark in complexion and very handsome as well. “Alpha—” His eyes landed on me, and he stopped himself. His face changed immediately. “...Alpha…I mean Warrior.” His eyes held panic and some worry. 

This took me off guard, and I doubled back. But I did not say anything; I just watched the exchange. 

The warrior next to me did not seem phased by this. He laughed deeply, the sound almost like an instrument. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else again,” He said smoothly to the guy. “When will you learn, man?” 

Nate’s POV

I wanted to smack my Beta on the head. What the f*ck was wrong with him? We had talked about this; we had discussed the plan, and here he was, about to ruin the entire thing on the first day! 

I made sure to keep my cool, knowing that my reaction could make or break everything right now. And based on the look of surprise that was fading away from the girl’s face, I knew that I had the situation back in my control again. 

I stood on my feet. “Cassie…that’s your name, right?” I flashed her a charming smile. “Give me a moment; let me just talk to my fellow warrior, and I will make sure to get back to you.” 

She nodded, innocence mixed with nervousness dancing in those doe eyes of hers. I could not help but keep staring at her. She was a beauty. But I could already tell that her spirit was broken. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong, and I needed to know. 

I did not want to be in the dark, not especially about the mate that the Moon goddess had finally chosen for me. 

I turned away from her and walked out of the room with my beta, and we walked to the end of the hallway before I stopped him. “Are you f*cking crazy?” I asked him on the spot. “You almost outed me!” I said in a stage-whisper, not wanting to be heard. 

“Sh*t, I’m sorry, sir,” He apologized. “I forgot. I’m so sorry.” 

I stared daggers at him for a few seconds before sighing and running my hand through my hair. “Look, it’s fine. Just don’t let it happen again. Besides, I have a job for you.” 

“Anything, sir.” He nodded in respect. 

“I need you to investigate Cassie. I have a feeling that she’s been through a lot. There’s so much behind those eyes of hers, and I want to know everything there is about her.” I was about to continue, but then I heard the door open. 

I stopped and turned, only to see the girl standing there, staring at my beta and me. “I think I want to leave now, if that’s okay.” She was still very timid. 

I nodded. “Of course.” I smiled, giving my beta one last look before making my way over to the girl. “But first, let me get you something, yeah?” 

She did not respond, and I did not think too much into it. I headed into one of the other rooms in the hallway and soon came back outside with some medicine. Really expensive ones. I closed the distance between us and handed them to her. They were in a small ziplock bag. “For your injuries,” I said. 

She froze, staring at me as if I had said a witch enchantment. She was tentative to take the bag, but she did take it eventually before whispering, “Thank you.” 

“Zane will get you home,” I said to her, nodding towards my beta, whom she only knew to be my fellow warrior. I then watched her walk towards him, and soon, I watched her disappear as well. 

My wolf growled lowly as this happened, before it spoke in a guttural voice, “Mine…”