The fancy guest room Dante brought me to was a huge change from the simple hut I used to live in with my pack. Fancy furniture, soft fabrics, and shiny decorations filled the room, making me feel a bit overwhelmed as I cautiously walked inside.
"This will be your quarters for the time being," Dante announced, his low, rumbling voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Feel free to make yourself comfortable."
I stood still, feeling amazed by all the luxury around me."I...I don't understand. Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" The words came out of my mouth in a rush, my brow furrowed in bewilderment.
Dante's piercing grey eyes studied me for a long, silent moment. "You were in need, little wolf. And I could not simply leave you out there, alone and vulnerable."His strong features showed a hint of worry, if only for a moment.
I averted my gaze, unable to hold the intensity of his stare. "But I'm...I'm nobody. Just a weak, useless wolf, rejected by her own pack. I have nothing to offer you."
A low, rumbling chuckle escaped his lips. "On the contrary, you intrigue me." His gaze swept over me, and I felt a flush creep up my cheeks under the weight of his appraisal. "There is something about you that calls to me. Something...different."
I opened my mouth to protest, to insist that I was nothing special, but the words died on my tongue as he slowly closed the distance between us. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned in, his warm breath caressing my cheek.
"Rest now, little wolf," he murmured, the deep timbre of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "We will speak more in the morning." With that, he turned and move towards the door, pausing only to cast one last lingering look in my direction before slipping out into the hall, leaving me alone with my own thoughts.
I sat down on the big, soft bed, feeling overwhelmed. What was going on? Why did this mighty Lycan King bring me, a total stranger, into his fancy home and give me all this comfort?
More importantly, what did he want from me?
I wrapped myself up in the smooth, silky sheets, holding onto my knees. The day's events played over and over in my head - the awful rejection by my mate, running into the forest, and now... this.
I should have been scared, trembling at the idea of being with the powerful Lycan King. But instead, I felt something different. I felt safe. Like I finally belonged somewhere.
As my eyelids grew heavy and sleep beckoned, a single thought drifted through my mind,
Perhaps, for the first time in my life, I had finally found a place where I truly belonged.
***
I woke up as the first light of morning peeked through the window, feeling sleepy. At first, I didn't recognize where I was - the fancy room, the comfy bed, the nice decorations. Then I remembered last night and sat up quickly, my heart racing.
I was in the Lycan King's palace. Dante, the strongest alpha around, brought me here and gave me this fancy room.
But why? What did he want?
Before I could think more about it, a gentle knock on the door surprised me. I hesitated, unsure if I should answer. What if it was dante, wanting something from me? Or one of his tough guards, coming to take me away?
I swallowed hard and opened the door slowly, peeking into the hallway. It wasn't Dante or a guard, though. It was a small woman with glasses, holding a tray full of tasty-looking breakfast food.
"Good morning, Miss," she greeted me with a warm smile. "I've brought you some sustenance. Lord Blake thought you might be hungry."
I blinked, feeling surprised. "Um, yeah, thanks." I moved out of the way so she could come in, looking at all the tasty food. There were fresh pastries, fruit, and hot coffee that smelled really good, a big change from the little food I had in my pack.
The woman put the tray on a table by the window and turned to me. "Feel at home. If you need anything else, just ask. I'm Sophia," she said with a smile before leaving.
I stared at the door, trying to make sense of it all. It felt like a dream. Just yesterday, I was rejected and feeling worthless. Now, I was being treated like royalty in the Lycan King's place.
I slowly sat down in a comfy chair and started eating, thinking about the mysterious alpha who brought me here.
What did dante want with me? And more importantly, what awaited me in this strange, new world I had been thrust into?
I had a feeling the answers would not be simple.
As I enjoyed the tasty breakfast, the door opening surprised me. I looked up and saw dante coming in, his serious eyes on me.
"Morning," he said, walking over. "Did you sleep okay?"
I nodded, feeling a bit nervous. I realized I was in my nightgown and probably looked a mess. "Yeah, thanks," I said, feeling uneasy under his gaze.
He looked like he was amused for a moment. "Good. Let's talk about why you're here," he said, his tone serious.
My stomach churned with worry. This was it, he was going to ask something of me, something I couldn't do. I prepared myself for him to reject me again.
But to my surprise, Dante surprised me by sinking down into the chair opposite mine, his movements fluid and graceful. "Tell me, little wolf," he began, his deep voice almost...gentle. "What drove you to the brink of taking your own life last night?"
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. How did he know? Had he somehow witnessed my desperate attempt to end it all in the forest? The very thought made me flush with humiliation.
Sensing my discomfort, Blake leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. "You need not be ashamed. I merely wish to understand what led you to that point. Perhaps I can help."
Help? The word seemed foreign, a foreign concept to one such as myself. No one had ever offered to help me before, notmy own pack, not my so-called "destined" mate. The idea that this powerful Lycan King would even bother was...mind-boggling.
Yet, as I looked into his steady gaze, I found myself inexplicably drawn to confide in him. There was something about Blake, something that made me want to trust him, to open up in a way I had never done with anyone else.
So, with a shaky breath, I began to tell him everythingabout my lifelong struggle to fit in, to be accepted by my pack; about the cruel rejection I had faced , my supposed destined mate; about the crushing despair that had driven me to the brink of self-destruction.
As the words spilled out, I watched dante's expression shift, a flash of what might have been anger or protectiveness crossing his features. And when I finally fell silent, he leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look in his eyes.
"I see." His tone was low. "You have endured much, little wolf. More than any should have to bear."
I got ready for him to reject me, to say I didn't belong here. But instead, he reached over and put his rough, warm hand on minein a gesture that sent a jolt of electricity through my body.
"You are no longer alone," he murmured, his gaze burning into mine. "You are under my protection now."
In that moment, something changed inside me. It felt like we were connected in a way I didn't understand. Looking into Blake's intense eyes, I realized my life was going to change, and there was no going back.
