Chapter 3 New Life

Ria POV

The sunlight filtered through the grand windows, casting soft beams across the lavish room. I blinked, the brightness stinging my eyes as they fluttered open. The smell of rose filled the air, and for a moment, I was confused by my surroundings-everything felt unfamiliar. I tried to push myself up from the soft bed, but my body felt strangely weak, like it hadn't been used in days.

"Ria? Ria, you're awake!" A woman's voice broke the silence, her voice was undoubtedly filled with relief.

I turned my head, frowning at the unfamiliar woman rushing toward me. Her long, golden hair glowed in the light, and her face was etched with worry. She looked so familiar, yet I had no memory of her.

Before I could respond, she wrapped me in a tight embrace. "We were so worried, my sweet girl. You've been unconscious for weeks. We feared... we feared you wouldn't wake in time for the mating rite."

I blinked, my head spinning. Mating rite? The words felt heavy. Nothing about this place made sense. "I-"

She pulled back slightly, cupping my face in her hands, her eyes scanning mine. "Are you alright? Can you speak? Thorin, come quickly! She's awake!"

In less than a minute, a tall man with broad shoulders and a face etched with authority walked into the room. His expression which was stern softened as his gaze landed on me. He hurried to my side, kneeling by the bed.

"Ria... you've finally woken up." His voice was deep, filled with both concern and relief. "We thought we had lost you."

I stared at him, my pulse quickening. His scent was strong, earthy, like the woods after rain, but I didn't know him. I didn't know any of these people. "Where...?" The words caught in my throat.

"Shh," the woman soothed, brushing the hair from my face. "You're safe now. We've been so worried, not knowing if you would wake in time. The mating rite is only days away."

The man-Thorin, I guessed from what she had called him earlier-nodded gravely. "You must be prepared. The full moon is approaching fast, and we cannot afford to delay. You know the consequences..."

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. None of this felt real. My last memory was... Finn. The pain, the betrayal, the wolfsbane coursing through my veins. But now-this? My body was foreign to me, and I felt disconnected, like I didn't belong here.

"Ria," the woman said softly, as if sensing my confusion. "You were unconscious for so long... We don't know what happened. One day, you were fine, and the next, you collapsed. Jason found you outside by the lake."

Jason? I didn't know who that was either. The names swirled around in my head, none of them connecting. I tried to sit up fully but my body protested with every movement, but I had to know more. "What... happened to me?" I asked, my voice hoarse, foreign to my own ears.

Thorin exchanged a glance with the woman. "We don't know," he said, his brow furrowing. "One minute you were fine, the next... you were unconscious. We feared it was an attack, but there were no signs of foul play. We tried everything to wake you, but nothing worked. We were afraid you wouldn't be ready for the mating rite."

That phrase again-mating rite. My heart raced, and I felt a chill creep down my spine. "Mating rite?" I echoed, trying to make sense of it all.

The woman-who I assumed must be my supposed mother-nodded. "Yes, the mating rite is sacred in our family. It is how you find your fated mate. You cannot miss it, Ria. If you do..." Her voice faltered, and her eyes filled with fear. "If you miss it, the curse..."

Curse? My pulse quickened as her words sank in. "What curse?"

Thorin cleared his throat, his voice grave. "It's a curse that has followed our bloodline for generations. Any female in the family who fails to complete the mating rite dies a slow, painful death. They... bleed from the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. There's no way to stop it."

A cold wave of terror swept over me. This wasn't just about finding a mate-this was life or death. And the worst part? I wasn't Ria. I was Octavia. Trapped in this body, in this life I didn't understand, with people who expected me to know things I didn't.

"I..." I began, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on me. "I don't remember..."

Thorin's brow creased further, concern etched into every line of his face. "You've been through a lot. Perhaps the weeks of being unconscious have clouded your memory."

Jason appeared at the door, his face was just like that of Thorin. Who I assume is Ria's father. His dark hair framed a sharp, serious expression, and his eyes locked onto mine with a mix of relief and wariness. "You're awake," he said, his voice a deep rumble. "Thank the Moon Goddess." he exclaimed with relief.

I nodded slightly, not knowing how to respond. How could I? This was all so overwhelming, and I didn't even know how to begin piecing it together.

Jason approached the bed, standing next to Thorin. "We need to start preparing immediately. The full moon is only five days away."

The woman-my supposed mother-gently brushed her fingers across my cheek again. "Don't worry, my darling. We will help you prepare. Everything will be fine."

I tried to force a smile, but the fear inside me made it impossible. How could I tell them the truth? That I wasn't their daughter, that the real Ria was gone, and I didn't even know how I ended up here?

The woman stood up, taking my hand in hers. "Come, let's get you dressed. You need to regain your strength. There's much to do."

I followed her lead, rising shakily from the bed. My legs, and she held me steady, guiding me toward a large dressing screen at the far end of the room. Behind it, several maids bustled around, already preparing garments for me to wear.

One of them, a young girl with dark braids, glanced at me with wide eyes. "It's so good to see you awake, Princess Ria," she said, her voice filled with awe. "We were all so worried."

I managed a nod, my throat felt tight. I couldn't let anyone suspect anything. Not yet. I had to play along, had to pretend to be someone I wasn't. But how long could I keep up this charade?

As the maids helped me into a flowing silver gown, I instantly felt overwhelmed. The upcoming rite, the curse, these people who believed I was Ria... It was all too much.

The maids stepped back, admiring their work, and the woman-Thesa, I finally realized her name-smiled warmly at me. "You look beautiful, my dear. Just like the day we presented you to the pack for the first time."

Presented to the pack? I had no memory of such a thing. But I forced myself to smile. "Thank you."

Thorin and Jason re-entered the room, their eyes scanning me with approval. Jason's expression softened for the first time, a small smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "You look like yourself again," he said.

I didn't feel like myself. Not at all. But I nodded, pretending to be the person they thought I was.

"Let's go to the hall," Thorin said, gesturing toward the door. "The elders want to see you. They've been praying for your recovery, Ria. They believe the Moon Goddess has blessed you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, following them out of the room. My mind raced with questions. How was I going to get through this? How long would I have to pretend to be Ria?

As we walked down the grand corridors of the palace, Thesa spoke again, her tone soft but probing. "Ria... do you remember anything about the day you collapsed? What were you doing by the lake?"

My breath caught in my throat. The lake? I had no idea what she was talking about. I searched my mind, trying to come up with an answer, but my mind was blank.

"I-" I stammered, my heart pounding. I looked into Thesa's expectant eyes, but nothing came to me. I didn't know the answer. How could I? I wasn't Ria.

Thesa's eyes narrowed slightly, her smile fading. "Ria? What were you doing at the lake?" she asked again, more firmly this time.

I began panicking as I realized I had no idea how to respond.