*CHAPTER 4*

I opened my eyes slowly. My whole body was hurting, and my head was pounding really hard.

Slowly, I sat up on the bed. I looked around the room, taking in my surroundings.This is not my bedroom. This place is completely different. And the scent, I sniffied the air. The scent was familiar. It is the scent of the person that saved me yesterday. I have also smelt it somewhere before. 

I think it is at the Grand Hall.

I held my head with both hands, trying to recall who I smelt it on, when a voice suddenly asked.

“How are you feeling now?”

I jumped slightly, holding my chest as I turned sharply to look at the owner of the voice. My eyes widened.

It's him. 

What is he doing here? Is he the one who saved me?

He is the one. It's the same scent from yesterday and the Grand Hall.

I didn't know how long I stared at him, until he spoke up again. “I asked how are you feeling now.” He came to my side of the bed and placed the back of his hand on my forehead. 

The feeling of his hand made me jolt out of my trance. I jerked his hand away from my forehead. “Where am I? And how did I get here?" I asked in a clipped tone.

“You're in my pack. I brought you here.” He answered calmly. His voice is deep and husky.

“WHAT!!” My brain stop working at what he said. “What do you mean I'm at your pack?” I yelled at him. “How do you know I was hurt?” I asked even though a part of me already knew the answer.

“I felt it.” 

Of course he did.

“So you traveled all the way to my pack to save me?” 

“Yes.”

How was that even possible? The Midnight pack was very far from the Sunlight pack. It takes days to travel. How did he manage to get there within hours?

“I really appreciate you saving me, but you should've dropped me somewhere in my pack. Why go through the stress to bring me here?” I pulled my hair in frustration.

“You were injured. I simply couldn't leave you.” He stated in a dismissive tone.

“I want to go home.” I blurted out.

“You can't go now. The doctor said you need to rest and eat well. He specifically advised me not to let you out of the room if possible.” he mumbled. 

“And who the hell are you to keep me here?” I snapped. He wasn't making any sense. “You saved me and I'm grateful for it. I need to go home now. My family would be worried.”

Especially Isaac. Isaac would be so mad at me.

“I'm afraid you can't.” He stated coldly. He stood up, poured water from a jug into a cup and took two small containers from the bedside table before walking back to me.

“And I said I'm going home. You can't keep me here. I'm not you mate. I'm the Luna of the Sunlight pack.” I gritted out.

He didn't say anything. He didn't give off any reaction to what I said. His face was completely neutral as he drew a bedside stool to the bed and sat on it. He opened one of the containers and removed two pills from it. “Here, have it.” He extended both the pills and the cup filled with water to me.

I wanted to refuse, but I didn't. I couldn't deny the aching in my head. “Are you not going to answer me?" I protested as I collected the pill from him and swallowed it.

 “I have said what I have to say.” He stood up again to put back the container and the jug to where he took them from.

Are you kidding me right now? I exploded in anger.

He didn't answer. He came back with the second container. “I need to apply this ointment to your wounds.” 

Is he serious right now? 

“There's no way in hell I'll let you touch me.” I spat.

He stood up suddenly and hovered over me, making my back drop to the bed. He placed his hands on either side of my head and leaned very close to my face.

“Either you let me treat your wounds so you can recover quickly and go back to your home, or you delay your stay here by being stubborn.” He whispered.

My breath hitched. “I–l–I'm not being stubborn.” I stuttered. His face was so close to mine that I could literally breathe him in.

He smells so good. 

“Then let me take care of your wounds.” He pulled back. He didn't sit on the stool again 

 Instead, this time he sat down at the edge of the bed and pulled both of my legs on his lap.

He opened the container and began applying the ointment to my wounds. His touch was hard and soft at the same time. He was being gentle as if he was careful not to hurt me. I stared at him closely. I haven't really looked at him. 

He had a sharp jawline. His Adam Apple moved up and down as he focused on what he was doing. His hands were full of veins. He tied his hair in a ponytail but some loose strands fell on his face. 

His ocean blue eyes were enchanting.

He looks so beautiful. Almost like a god.

He moved to my arms next. His touches gave me goosebumps. My chest rose and fell unevenly. My breathing came out ragged.

“I'm done.” He announced, bringing me out of my reverie. 

What the hell, Sof!! Why was my body reacting to him?

It's the bond fault. It has to be. 

My heart belonged to Liam. Mate or not, I was going to fall for him.

Aiden stood up. “There's a dress for you in the bathroom. Go have your bath and change to it.” He said looking at my torn dress. “I'll come back and get you for breakfast.” he turned around and left the room.

I went into the bathroom to have my bath. There was a new sponge, soap and everything I needed there. 

When I finished bathing, I put on the dress Aiden had left for me. It was a blue silk gown with a V-shaped neckline, its neckline traced with tiny diamonds. The dress fit me perfectly. I was curious to know how he got my actual measurement.

Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, Aiden walked into the room.

His eyes strayed on my body from my head to my toe. Something flashed across his eyes but I couldn't place it.

He swallowed before speaking. Breakfast is ready. Let's go.” 

“I'm doing this because you promised you will send me home when I get better.” 

He didn't reply. He simply opened the door for me, letting me get out first, before coming after me and closing the door.

We got to the dining hall. Four people were already seated there.

“Good morning, Luna Sofia.”They greeted me with curious glances like I amused them in some way.

“I'm not your Luna.” I replied to them curtly. They all shared a look with Aiden.

Did he tell them?

Aiden sat beside me. A maid came to serve the dishes. “Here, sister in-law” the lady, also sitting beside, picked two loaves of bread and put it on my plate.

“I said I'm not your Luna.” I snapped, completely annoyed.

“Yet.” 

“What do you mean by that?” I countered. “Look, I don't know what he told you guys, but I'm already mated to someone else. And I'm a Luna of another pack.”

“We know.” A man sitting opposite me answered. “ You're the Luna of the Sunlight pack.” He said.

Ohh. So they knew. Maybe that was why they addressed me as Luna when I came in. 

“But we also know that you are fated to my friend here. You can't deny the bond you both felt.” Another added. 

The men sitting opposite me doesn't seem like an ordinary wolves. Their faces held power.

“I don't know.” I murmured. The weight of it suddenly weighed on me again.

As if sensing my discomfort, Aiden who had been quiet spoke up. “ Enough, Kade. We can talk about that later. She needs to eat and rest first.”

“But this is also a very serious issue, Aiden.” One of his friends argued. “We need to think of what to do.” 

“I know, Damien. And I said we will discuss it later.” They nodded.

“I'd suggest we seek the priestess.” The man named Kade blurted out of the blue. “She would help us understand what is happening.” 

That's true. 

He was right. We could see the priestess. “Yes big bro. Kade is right” His sister chimed in.

“We will. But she has to recover first.” Aiden responded, glancing at me. “Now let us stop talking and eat.”

This was good. Kade made the best suggestion. If we go to the Priestess at the Moon Temple, I was sure she would be able to shed light on what was happening.

The thought made me sigh in relief. Hopefully the priestess will be able to solve this.

And I pray Liam returns home.

I picked up my spoon and started eating.

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

Today would mark the fifth day I was spending in the Midnight Pack. Aiden said the wounds on my body were fully healed and we were going to the Moon Temple today to see the Priestess.

His friends Alpha Kade and Alpha Damien were also coming to accompany us to the Moon Temple.

He was quite the gentleman. He didn't sleep here but had always made sure I used my meds and attended to my wounds everyday. I had never stepped outside the manor. Aiden never let me. 

Finally, I'm leaving here and going home. 

Although I have to admit this royal manor is beautiful and sophisticated. The walls of the manor were embroidered with gold. 

It was really disappointing that nobody from my pack had come looking for me. Their Luna was missing and I didn't hear anything about searching for me.

I wondered if Isaac was worried about me. I missed him. 

A frown edged at the corner of my lips. I took my bath and got dressed then I went downstairs to the dining hall. Aiden, Tobias and Abigail were already at the dining hall when I got down, including Kade and Damien. They've also gotten here. 

“Good morning.” I greeted. A different person was also sitting.

“ISAAC!!” I yelled, my voice filled with shock and excitement as I ran to him and hugged him tightly.

“Oh my God, Sof,” He pulled to him tightly before pulling back. “Are you okay? Where are you injured? Is your body hurting? Did that rogue hurt you?” He twirled me around searching my body for any sign of injury. “Let me see your face.” He placed both of his palms on my cheeks. 

I couldn't stop the smile that crept up my face. Everyone's eyes were on us, watching the scenario going on.“I've been here for six days and you're just coming for me now? I thought maybe you don't need your best friend again and the pack don't need their Luna anymore.” I folded my hands on my chest and pouted my lips.

“Now why would you think that?” Isaac tapped his middle finger on my head. “When I got home that day and I heard you weren't around, I immediately went searching for you. The moment the news from the midnight pack came that you were here, me and some guards left home immediately. You know it takes days to get here.”

Ohh. That's true.

I've forgotten it takes several days to travel here. Maybe the fact that Aiden did in hours made me think they could too. And it still amazed me. 

“Were you healed by a healer? I don't see any traces of injury on your body.” Isaac asked as we went to sit.

“No, I wasn't. It was a doctor who treated me.” The maids served the food and we all began eating.

“Alpha Aiden, Thank you very much for saving my Luna.” Isaac appreciated Aiden.

I should tell Isaac that I was going to the moon Temple. I hope he will follow me. “Um, Isaac,” I called out to him.

“Yes.”

“I, um, I want to tell you that I'm going to the Moon–”

“I'm going with you guys.” He cut me off, not letting me finish. “They already told me everything, so I'm going with you.”

“Huh?”

“You don't think I would simply let you go on your own, right?” Isaac narrowed his eyes on me.

“No.” I smiled. Of course he wouldn't leave me on my own. What was I thinking?

After we were done eating, we all headed out in the Royal carriages to the temple. I wanted to ride with Isaac but Aiden insisted I rode with him so he could watch out for me. Even though Isaac was hesitant to leave me alone with him, he agreed nonetheless, telling me that it would be safer to be with Aiden as he was the Alpha.