back to hell

Norella Pov

I blinked open my eyes, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like a mere second had passed. But the familiar surroundings told a different tale. How could it be? The walls of Madame Maggie's room closed in around me, a stark reminder that I was back in the pack. No, no, this couldn't be happening. How was I supposed to make sense of this?.

Panic surged through me as I leapt from the bed. I was dead, wasn't I? Yet here I was, trapped in this infernal place, and I knew the torment awaiting me would be far worse than any hell I'd imagined. A swift end, that's what I yearned for—to be freed from this cruel world with the quickness of a falling guillotine.

Frantically, I rifled through the drawers, searching for anything that could grant me escape. I'd rather embrace death than continue in this pack, especially when my connection to my wolf is so weak. The room yielded nothing, fueling my desperation.

I needed to act before anyone would come in. Weakness gripped me, dizziness clouding my vision. And then, there it was—a blade, lying innocently beneath the bed. Grasping it, I knew it was time to sever the lifeline in my wrist, to end it all.

But as I poised to make the cut, the door swung open, and I concealed the blade behind me. "Thank the goddess you're awake," the pack nurse, clad in white, exclaimed as she approached. She checked my temperature, oblivious to the turmoil within me. As she turned to leave, I clutched at her wrist. "Please, don't call anyone yet," I pleaded, fear lacing my voice.

Her smile was gentle, yet it offered no comfort. "Don't worry, you will be fine," she assured me before departing. Alone once more, I steeled myself to finish what I'd started, but my resolve crumbled inexplicably.

Then he entered—Alpha Lowell, flanked by a man whose presence dwarfed the room. If I had once believed Tyrell was handsome, then I was sorely mistaken. This man was a paragon of beauty, his physique sculpted to perfection, his attire the epitome of royalty. Our eyes met, and the intensity in his gaze forced mine away.

"Thank the goddess you're alive. I was so worried about you," Alpha Lowell's voice enveloped me as he pulled me into an embrace—an embrace I hadn't anticipated. I braced myself for blows, not this feigned tenderness. Was it all because of the man standing beside him?

"Why did you leave the pack, my sweet Norella?" he asked, his words dripping with a concern that didn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine. We were hell worried about you." His lies spun a web around me, and confusion took hold. Was he playing the benevolent leader for the benefit of this stranger?

The man's gaze was fixed on me, intense and probing. A scent wafted through the air, sweet as strawberries, the unmistakable fragrance of a mate. But that was impossible, wasn't it? My mind raced with doubts.

He stepped closer, and our eyes locked in a silent exchange. I felt exposed, as if he could see right through me. I averted my gaze, but he gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes again. In that moment, I felt a strange vulnerability, a question lingering in his touch.

Then, with a swift motion, he reached behind me and retrieved the blade I had hidden. Was it really necessary to stare at me that way because you knew I hid a blade? I said to myself.

"Can I have a moment with her?" he requested, turning to the nurse and Alpha Lowell. The nurse exited promptly, and Alpha Lowell leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "Don't you dare tell him anything," he hissed, a threat veiled behind a smile. With a pat on my back, he left the room.

Alone with the stranger, I was awash with questions. Who was this man that even Alpha Lowell feared? Could he be the Alpha King? But his youthful appearance, no older than mid-twenties, belied the title.

He drew nearer, the weight of his presence felt with each step he took towards the bed. Before he could utter a word, I cut him off, "Did you attack me in the woods?" His smile was enigmatic, a silent acknowledgment of the chaos he had rescued me from. "You were attacked by rogue wolves, but I saved you," he revealed.

A part of me wanted to express gratitude, yet another part wished he had left me to the mercy of the rogues, sparing me the return to this dreaded pack. "Thank you," I managed to say, but my words hung in the air, unacknowledged.

His next words caught me off guard. "Aren't you aware we are mates, or didn't you feel the connection, Norella?" The scent of strawberries—that was him. My mate? Confusion swirled within me. "Mate? I don't even know who you are. I've never seen you in my life. I really don't know..." My voice trailed off as he interrupted.

"I am King Jason."

The name struck me like a bolt of lightning. King Jason? "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I stammered, bowing my head, not daring to meet his gaze.

He moved closer, As he drew nearer, my heart quickened, anticipating his touch. I readied myself for his kiss, knowing deep down I wouldn't be able to resist. I closed my eyes, longing for his lips to meet mine. But instead, his hand gently landed on my shoulder, tracing the scars that adorned my skin. "What's all this?" he asked softly, his voice filled with worry and care.The marks on my body are simply the scars of the beatings I've endured from Alpha Lowell, and indeed, the entire pack, particularly Luna Desi.

I quickly covered my shoulder, a flush of embarrassment spreading across my face. "Nothing," I whispered.

A knock at the door interrupted us. "Who's that?" King Jason's authoritative tone filled the room.

"Can I speak with you for a minute?" Alpha Lowell's voice was unmistakable, even through the barrier.

King Jason stepped away, leaving me with a heart racing and thoughts scattered. They conversed outside, likely believing their words were beyond my hearing. Little did they know, my senses were sharper than they anticipated.