*CHAPTER 2*

“Sofia” I heard Isaac's voice calling as I opened my eyes. He was sitting on a bedside stool beside my bed. His eyes were wide and anxious, clouded with worry. “Thank God, you're awake. Do you know how worried I was?” He murmured. 

“What happened to me?” I tried to sit up but fell back on the bed as I have no strength.

“Don't force yourself.” He stood up and came to my side. “Let me help you.” He raised my head till I was sitting upright, and put a pillow at my back to support me.

“What happened to me, Isaac?" I asked again. My head was pounding seriously like they were beating drums in it. 

He sat down on the chair. “You fainted yesterday.” He started. “I was asking you what happened yesterday at the festival. But when I turned to look at you, you've fallen unconscious and you were also sweating profusely.” He explained. “Are you going to tell me what happened at the festival yesterday?”

How am I supposed to say it? “Can you get me a painkiller? My head is killing me.” Isaac held my eyes for a moment, before leaving.

It's not real, Sofia. There was no way it could ever be possible. Maybe I was just missing Liam too much that I thought I felt the bond.

But I did feel it. And he felt it also.

 Oh God!!!

“Sofia”

“Oh my God!” I jumped, holding my chest. “You scared me.”

“My steps weren't hushed. I simply walked inside and I didn't sneak up on you.” Isaac looked at me like I've grown two heads. 

“I'm sorry. I guess I spaced out.” 

He nodded. “These are the meds the doctor prescribed for you.” He took out some meds from a paper bag and handed it over to me. He explained how I was supposed to use them. “This will help with your headache.” After giving a cup of water, he sat down back on the chair. " 

“The doctor said you need to rest and stop thinking, Sof. Please tell me what happened yesterday.”

“I–l—” I squeezedy eyes shut.

“Is it really bad that you can't tell me? Or you just don't want to tell me.” His expression fell as he spoke. 

I knew I can't keep to myself forever. I will eventually have to tell him, but I didn't know how to say it or where to start.

“I felt it, Isaac.” I finally let it out.

“Felt what?”

“The mate bond. I felt it yesterday at the grand hall, after all these years.”

His eyes widened. “Thats a good news. Do you know what means, Sof? It means my brother is alive.” He shouted, standing up. His voice was laced with happiness. But the tears that escaped from my eyes made him sat down back quietly.

“This is good news, Sof. Why are you crying?”

“It isn't Liam.” I whispered. The tears were pouring heavily now.

“W-What do you mean? His eyes narrowed in confusion. “I thought you said you felt the mate bond.”

“Yesterday at the festival, I did feel the mate bond. I also thought it was Liam so I searched around and followed the pull of the bond. But— it wasn't Liam it led me to.” My voice cracked. “It was the Alpha of the Midnight Pack.”

“Aiden?” 

I nodded. 

“But–But how is that possible?” Isaac shook his head in disbelief. “There's no way in the Moon's name that is possible. How do you know it was Aiden?”

“He felt it too. He looked at me like he recognized me. We both felt it, Isaac."I mumbled in a low voice. I still remembered the way his eyes followed me till I left yesterday.

“How is it possible?” Isaac dropped his head on his hands. He looked like he couldn't wrap his head around what I was saying. 

“I don't know the meaning of this, Isaac. I'm scared.” I cried out.

He stood up from the stool and sat down beside me on the bed. “Don't be scared, Sofia. I'm here with you.” He wiped the tears away from my eyes and rubbed his hand on my back. “ We will talk about it later. For now, you need to lie down and rest.” He helped me lay back on the bed, removing the pillow from my back and pulling the blanket over me.

“Forget everything for now. Okay?” I nodded. He smiled and left.

***************

It's evening already. I haven't slept a wink. I kept staring at the ceiling since Isaac left, reminiscing everything. I was going to go crazy if I didn't leave the room.

I managed to get up from the bed. I walked to the to pick a sweater and head outside. 

“Luna, Beta Isaac gave us a strict instruction to make sure you rest while he comes back.” A guard at the gate entrance told me. 

Very typical of Isaac. He had been so overprotective of me since Liam's disappearance. “I just want to take a stroll. I'm not going far.”

“But–”

“You want to defy your Luna?” I said, putting on a stern look, pretending to be annoyed. And I think he fell for it.

“No, Luna Sofia, I dare not.” He rushed out, bowing his head before opening the gate for me.

“Thank you.” I muttered quietly as I stepped outside. I walked into the woods. It was a good place for me to clear my head.

I felt movement behind me as I walked deeper into the woods. I turned around, I didn't see anyone.

 Maybe I was imagining things. 

I turned back and kept walking. The more I walked, the louder the movement became. 

I wasn't imagining. Something is indeed behind me.

I started walking very fast till I got to the middle of the woods. I stopped walking and bent down to take a small amount of sand and smelt it. 

It's a Rogue. And a male on at that.

If I was to stay and fight it, it would overpower me as I don't have much strength in me at all to do. So I did the smartest thing to do at this moment. I ran as fast as I could deeper into the woods so I could lose it. But the rogue has a very high speed and was able to keep up with me.

I guess I have no choice but to fight it.

I stopped running and turned around to face it. Neither of us moved to attack. We walked around each other in a circle waiting for who would give in first.

His eyes were pure red. It was looking at me with a predatory gaze. If I was in my normal state I would have ended this with a minute, but because I was in a weak state now, I have to be very careful in dealing with it. 

It seemed it had grown impatient waiting for who would attack first. It used its mouth to cut down a stem from a tree and threw it at me but I was quick to dodge it. I ran to a tree, climbed on it a little and bounced on him. The rogue fell hard on the ground, hitting his head on another tree. He rose up in no time and his head was bleeding.

He's strong.

I used most of my strength when I bounced on him. I don't think I would be able to finish him off. I needed to go for his leg if I wanted to defeat it. The weakest point of any werewolves is our legs. I had to aim for his leg.

He bared its teeth violently at me before he launched himself at me again, but before it landed on me, I sprung on him and bit it on it left leg. He shook his leg furiously, trying to kick me away, but I held on to his leg. I dug my fangs deeper into its flesh with all the strength I had.

Using a brutal force, it finally kicked me off. My back hit a tree forcefully and I fell on the ground harshly. Blood spilled from my mouth. I couldn't stand up as my whole body ached and I was starting to feel dizzy.

It came at me again. I tried to fight it but I have no strength left in me. I laid on the ground helplessly. 

I should have just stayed at home and rested as Isaac instructed. 

I thought to myself as I felt myself slowly beginning to lose consciousness. The black wolf hovered over me. Just as it was about to bite me on my neck, a sliver bodied wolf suddenly appeared. The silver wolf kicked the rogue off me, tackling it to the ground.

I saw him through my half closed eyes, the silver wolf was so big. His whole body screamed power and the aura arising from him was overwhelming.

After a while, I felt myself being lifted up. The scent that came from the person that lifted me felt so different, yet it felt very familiar. I leaned closer to the person to inhale more of his scent. It calmed me. It wasn't an Isaac scent. It was different, but it was very comforting. I felt like

I belonged in the person's arms.

I tried to make out who it was but I couldn't as my eyes fluttered close in exhaustion.