_Leah's POV_
The next morning, I woke up in the small, cozy bed feeling more rested than I had in a long time. My muscles were still sore, but the intense pain from my wounds had lessened, thanks to Tariq's care. The sunlight streamed through the small window, casting a golden hue across the room. For a moment, I just lay there, taking in the peace and quiet. It was hard to believe that just a day ago, I had been on the verge of collapse. I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes, and stretched my stiff limbs. The oversized dress Susan had given me was soft and comforting, far better than the torn rags I had been wearing before. My mind drifted to Tariq. He had been so kind, so gentle. I couldn’t understand why someone like him cared about me. But I was grateful, more than I could express. The scent of something cooking reached my nose, and my stomach growled in response. I realized how hungry I was. Slowly, I stood up, careful not to jostle my bandaged wounds too much, and made my way downstairs. In the small kitchen, I found Susan humming softly as she worked over the stove. The warm scent of herbs and something frying filled the room, and the fire in the hearth crackled cheerfully. She turned when she heard me, her face lighting up with a smile. “Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?” she asked kindly. “Yes, thank you,” I replied softly, feeling a little shy. I wasn’t used to this kind of warmth from others. “Everything was perfect.” “I’m glad to hear that,” she said while wiping her hands on a towel. “Now, what would you like for breakfast?” I hesitated. I did not want to be a bother. “Oh, whatever you have is fine. I am not picky.” She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. You’re a guest here, and we take care of our guests. How about some eggs, bacon, and fresh bread?” I smiled, my mouth watering at the thought. “That sounds amazing.” Susan busied herself with preparing the food, moving around the kitchen with ease and grace. I watched her, feeling an odd sense of comfort in the domesticity of it all. It reminded me of simpler times, back when my life hadn’t been filled with pain and heartache. She set the table with two plates and motioned for me to sit down. “Here you go, dear,” she said and placed a plate in front of me, filled with eggs, bacon, and a thick slice of buttered bread. “Eat up. You need your strength.” I picked up my fork and took a bite, savoring the delicious flavors. It was simple food, but it tasted like heaven after everything I had been through. As we ate, Susan sat across from me. “Where’s Tariq?” I asked between bites, glancing around the room. “He had to run an errand. He will be back soon.” I nodded, feeling a little disappointed that he wasn’t here. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way, but I found myself looking forward to seeing him again. Susan and I chatted for a while as we ate. She was easy to talk to, her voice soothing and calm. I asked her about their life here in the forest, and she told me their story. “My husband, Tariq’s father, was once part of the Emerald Pack,” she began. “He was a good man, loyal to the pack. But one day, the Alpha accused him of stealing. It was a lie, of course, but the Alpha didn’t care. He banished us all; me, my husband, and our little Tariq, who was just a baby at the time.” I looked at her with wide eyes, my heart aching for them. “That’s horrible. How could they do that?” She shrugged, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “That’s the way of the world sometimes, dear. My husband tried to defend his honor, but it didn’t matter. We were cast out, forced to live in the wilderness. It was a hard life, but we managed. Until...” Her voice trailed off, and I saw the pain in her eyes. I reached across the table and gently touched her hand. “What happened?” I asked softly. “Rogues,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They attacked us one night. My husband... he fought them off, but he didn’t survive.” I felt a lump form in my throat. “I’m so sorry, Susan. That must have been awful.” She nodded. “It was. But Tariq and I survived. We have been living here ever since, making the best of things. It’s peaceful, at least. And I am grateful for that.” I squeezed her hand, my heart aching for her loss. “You’re very strong, Susan. I don’t know how you have managed all these years.” She gave me a small smile. “We do what we have to, don’t we? Life goes on, and we must find a way to live.” Before I could say anything more, there was a knock at the door. Susan stood up quickly, wiping her hands on her apron. “That must be Tariq,” she said with a smile. She went to the door and opened it, and sure enough, Tariq stepped inside, carrying a few bags. His eyes immediately found mine, and he smiled softly as he set the bags down on the table. “I see you’re feeling better this morning,” he said, his voice warm and gentle. “I am,” I replied, smiling shyly. “Thank you for everything, Tariq. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” He waved his hand dismissively as he walked to the sink to wash his hands. “There’s no need for that. I’m just glad you’re alright.” Susan served him a plate of breakfast, and he joined us at the table. As we ate, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. It was strange, sitting here with these people who had been strangers to me just yesterday, but now it felt like I was part of something... something good._Leah's POV_I woke to a hand on my shoulder. “Leah,” Kayden said. “Get up. It’s nearly noon.”My eyes snapped open. Light cut through the curtains. The room smelled faintly of smoke and pine. For a second I did not know where I was. Then the memory of the night fell back on me like wet cloth. The dream. The fire. Kayden on the couch. The smoke in my mouth.I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. “Go away,” I mumbled. “Leave me alone.”He laughed softly. It was a low sound that held no mockery. “You said that two hours ago. You said it when I brought you tea and when I put out the small embers.” He kissed the top of my head like it was a small thing and like he was afraid of hurting me. “You can’t hide forever. The pack is eating downstairs and the food will not wait.”I curled into the blankets more. My face was hot. My throat was raw. My body ached in places that had nothing to do with sleep. The dream left a pulse behind the ribs. The shame of what I had done when I had slep
_Leah’s POV_The night was heavy. Silence wrapped around the mansion, but inside me there was no rest. My body lay on the bed but my mind was a mess. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe slowly, to convince myself that I was safe.But safety was only a shadow. The Seer’s words lingered like smoke in my chest. Tariq will come. Susan is a witch. He will not stop until he has you.Athena paced restlessly in my mind. Her claws scraped the inside of my skull.You shouldn’t close your eyes, she warned. He waits for us in the dark. Don’t let him in.“I have to sleep,” I whispered to her. My voice trembled even in my own head. “I need strength.”Athena growled but she eventually got quiet. Sleep came suddenly like a rope around my neck.I opened my eyes and I was no longer in the pack house. I stood in a cold and endless hall made of stone. The air smelled of rust and roses. It was sweet and rotting. The walls bled with shadows, and at the end of the hall, a torch burned blue.And the
_Leah's POV_I swallowed and began. The words felt rusty in my mouth, but once I started, they flowed like a broken river finding a path.“I was born to a princess,” I said. “My mother was a princess, of the Emerald Pack. She left the crown and married a common man. They raised me quietly. When I was small, they suddenly died. I remember nothing of them. I then remember staying at the BloodMoon pack. I don't know how I got there. Kayden and the others always treated me badly since I was an omega. When he learnt that I was his mate, he rejected me and threw me in the cellar. Tariq then came and saved me. I thought that he was kind.""He told me lies but I trusted him. I read his phone once and found messages. He had someone saved as ‘honey’ and he lied about it. I found a chest in Tariq’s place. It had his diary. In it, I read that he had planned to marry and sacrifice me to lift a curse. He even waited all these years until I got my wolf at eighteen. He had been waiting. He planned it
_Leah's POV_I woke to a sky full of stars and a sound like a hundred held breaths.My body felt hollow and heavy. My limbs were numb. I blinked and the light stabbed behind my eyes. For a moment I did not know where I was. Then the clearing came back in pieces—the circle of salt, torch flames and faces blurred into a ring. There were so many people. I tried to sit up and the world tilted. Someone’s strong hands steadied me.Kayden.He carried me like I was the smallest thing in the world. He held me bridal-style and I lay against his broad chest. His heartbeat was slow. The smell of him, pine smoke and sweat and something warm, made my head swim.“Easy,” he murmured. His voice sounded very far away. “Just rest.”I wanted to speak and I could not find my voice. Confusion curled thick in my chest. My mind was empty of the last few hours. How did I get here? What had happened? The clearing moved around me like a dream.Athena unclenched from the back of my ribs and hissed in my mind. Yo
_Kayden's POV_ I called the pack to the south clearing at dusk. The air smelled of pine and wet earth. The moon was high in the sky. It hung like a pale coin over the trees. We moved as one pack. Their faces were lit by torch fire. They watched Leah on the stretcher. She lay wrapped in thick blankets. The IV drip still ran at her arm. She looked calm. She looked very fragile. The doctor had protested against bringing her out. His hands trembled when he spoke. “Alpha, she could deteriorate,” he warned. “The cold, the night, the open air...she will not tolerate it in this condition.” I turned to him. “I know. But the Seer says that the moon is the key. The ritual must be done beneath the moon. We need to take the risk since there is no other way.” Fred stood by me. He had gathered the ropes and the blankets. He had also collected the night-amber. The herb smelled faintly bitter. The Seer had already warned me about its taste. “Alpha,” Fred said quietly, “the pack is ready. They
_Kayden’s POV_The Seer did not waste time. She moved quickly back to the small table where the doctor had left a silver bowl and a clean cloth. Her eyes were still on Leah. Her fingers trembled only a little as she reached for the bowl.“You will need to give me her blood,” she said without preamble. Her voice was soft. It had no question in it.I looked at Leah. Her skin was pale as milk. Her breath came in small and shallow rises. Time felt thin and fragile in the room. I swallowed. My mouth was dry.“Her blood?” I echoed. I could not imagine piercing her for any reason. But the Seer’s face was absolute. There was no doubt in her.“Yes,” she said. “A drop. It will tell me what binds her. It will open the path to a vision. I must see the origin of the dark magic.”Fred bent and checked Leah’s arm. He looked at me. “Alpha,” he said quietly, “it is the only way.”My hands felt clumsy. I thought of the knife at my belt. I thought of the last time I had touched her like this—when she wa