Chapter 4

Maya Pov 

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Maya, I'm not going to force you to do anything. The bedroom is big enough for both of us to have space. You'll sleep in the bed, I'll take the couch until you're comfortable."

I stared at him. "But the contract—"

"Says you're my intended mate. It doesn't say I have to claim you immediately. We have time." He stepped closer, and I fought the urge to back away. "I know you've been hurt. I know you don't trust anyone, especially not me. But I meant what I said in the car. You're safe here. Nobody will force you to do anything you don't want to do."

Tears burned my eyes. I blinked them back. "Why are you being kind to me?"

"Because you deserve kindness." He said it like it was obvious. "Come on. Let's get you fed and then Zara can check your injuries."

We went back downstairs where Zara had set out bread, cheese, fruit, and soup. More food than I'd seen in months.

"Eat as much as you want," Zara said. "There's plenty more."

I sat down carefully, my ribs protesting. The bread was still warm, soft and buttery. I took a small bite, and flavor exploded on my tongue. Real butter. Fresh bread. I'd forgotten food could taste like this.

Before I knew it, I'd eaten three slices of bread and a bowl of soup. My stomach felt uncomfortably full—I wasn't used to eating this much.

"Good?" Zara asked with a smile.

"Yes. Thank you."

"Anytime." She stood up. "Now, how about we take a look at those injuries? Ryker mentioned you had some bruises."

"I'm fine—"

"Maya," Alpha Ryker interrupted gently. "Remember what I said about honesty?"

I nodded slowly.

"Then let Zara help you. Please."

The please surprised me. Alphas didn't say please to servants. But I was starting to realize I wasn't a servant here. I didn't know what I was, but it wasn't that.

"Okay," I whispered.

Zara led me to a medical room on the first floor. It was clean and bright, with an exam table and cabinets full of supplies.

"Can you remove your dress so I can see?" Zara asked.

My hands trembled as I reached for the zipper. The dress was old and stained, but it covered me. It hid all the ugliness underneath.

"Take your time," Zara said softly.

I pulled the dress off, standing in my threadbare underwear and sports bra. Both were gray from being washed too many times, with holes and frayed edges.

Zara's sharp intake of breath told me she saw everything. The bruises in various stages of healing covering my ribs and stomach. The cut on my lower back that was starting to look infected. The twisted scar on my shoulder from an old injury that had healed wrong.

"Oh, Maya." Her voice cracked. "Who did this to you?"

"Uncle Marcus. His mate Sienna. Their Beta. Pack members." I listed them mechanically. "Whoever felt like it, really."

"For five years?"

"Yes."

She pressed her lips together, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. Can I touch you? I need to examine these injuries."

I nodded.

Her hands were gentle as she probed the bruises on my ribs. I winced when she found a particularly tender spot.

"This rib might be cracked," she said. "And this cut on your back needs to be cleaned and stitched. The infection isn't too bad yet, but we need to treat it."

"Okay."

"I'm going to get Ryker. He should see this."

"No!" The word came out panicked. "Please, I don't want—"

"Maya." Zara took my hands. "He needs to know how bad this is. He's your mate now. Your pain is his pain. And trust me, he'll want to know."

I didn't understand mate bonds. Mine had been severed when my wolf was bound. But the thought of Alpha Ryker seeing me like this—broken and damaged—made me want to hide.

Zara left anyway. A moment later, Alpha Ryker entered with Kade.

"Show me," he said quietly.

I stood there in my underwear while three people stared at my ruined body. Shame burned through me. This was what Uncle Marcus had made me—a collection of scars and bruises, proof of my worthlessness.

"Turn around," Alpha Ryker's voice was rough.

I turned, showing them my back. More bruises, the infected cut, marks from being whipped.

Someone made a sound like a wounded animal. I wasn't sure who.

"Who did the whipping?" Kade asked.

"Sienna mostly. Sometimes Marcus."

"And the pack members just... let this happen?"

"They participated."

Silence filled the room. I risked a glance back. Alpha Ryker's face was completely blank, but his eyes blazed with fury. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

"Zara, treat her wounds," he said in a voice like gravel. "Maya, you'll stay here while she works. Kade, come with me."

They left. I heard raised voices in the hallway but couldn't make out words.

"He's angry," I whispered.

"Yes," Zara agreed, gathering supplies. "But not at you. Never at you." She helped me onto the exam table. "This is going to sting."

She cleaned the cut on my back, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Then came the needle for the stitches. I'd never had stitches before. I gripped the edge of the table and tried to breathe through the pain.

"You're doing great," Zara murmured. "Almost done."

When she finished, she wrapped my ribs with an elastic bandage and gave me cream for the bruises.

"These should heal in a few weeks now that you're not being hurt anymore," she said. "And once we break the binding on your wolf, you'll heal much faster."

"You can break it?" Hope fluttered in my chest.

"We can try. It's complicated, but I know someone who specializes in this kind of thing." She helped me into a soft robe since my dress was ruined. "For now, you need rest and food. Lots of both."

Alpha Ryker returned as Zara was finishing. His expression was calmer but his eyes were still hard.

"How is she?" he asked.

"She'll heal. But Ryker... five years of this. Five years." Zara's voice shook with anger.

"I know." He looked at me. "Can you walk?"

I nodded and slid off the table. My legs wobbled but held.

"Come on. Let's get you settled in the bedroom. You need to sleep."

"It's only afternoon—"

"You need to sleep," he repeated firmly. "Doctor's orders."

Zara nodded. "He's right. Your body needs rest to heal."

I didn't have the energy to argue. I let Alpha Ryker guide me upstairs to his—our—bedroom. The bed looked impossibly soft and comfortable.

"I'll find you something to sleep in," he said, going to a dresser.

He pulled out a soft t-shirt that would be huge on me. I took it into the bathroom and changed, then stood staring at myself in the mirror.

I looked terrible. Hollow cheeks, dark circles under my eyes, bruises visible even on my face and neck now that I was looking for them. My hair was dull and lifeless. I barely recognized myself.

When I came out, Alpha Ryker had pulled back the covers on the bed.

"Get in," he said gently.

I climbed in, and the mattress seemed to swallow me whole. It was so soft. The pillows were like clouds. The blankets were warm and clean and smelled like fresh laundry.

"Sleep," he said. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Zara's staying close too."

"Thank you," I whispered.

He paused at the door. "Maya? You're going to be okay now. I promise."

Then he left, closing the door softly behind him.

I lay there in the enormous bed, in the beautiful room, in the safe house. And for the first time in five years, I let myself cry. Not from pain or fear, but from relief.

I was free.