Chapter 1 1

Aria's POV

When I opened my eyes, the world around me was a blur. The soft glow of moonlight seeped through heavy curtains, casting silvery patterns on the unfamiliar walls. My head throbbed, a dull ache that seemed to pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat. Where was I?

The bed beneath me was plush, the sheets warm against my skin, but I couldn't shake the chill creeping up my spine. This wasn't my room. I struggled to sit up, my muscles sluggish as if I'd been asleep for days. My breath hitched when the door creaked open.

A man stood there, his silhouette imposing against the faint light from the hallway. Dark hair, broad shoulders, and eyes that gleamed like molten gold in the dimness. He stepped closer, his scent-a heady mix of pine and something earthy-hitting me like a wave. My wolf stirred within me, both curious and wary.

"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Who are you?" The question came out sharper than I intended, but fear coursed through me, hot and relentless.

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain cross his features. "Aria," he said, as if my name were a prayer. "I'm Lucas. Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack."

Alpha. The word tugged at something deep inside me, something I couldn't quite grasp. But it didn't matter. I didn't know him. I didn't know this pack. And yet, there was something familiar about the way he said my name, as though it wasn't the first time he'd spoken it.

"I don't know you," I said firmly, pushing myself upright. My hands clenched the sheets as dizziness washed over me.

Lucas's eyes darkened, his shoulders stiffening. "You don't remember," he murmured, more to himself than to me. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You're my mate."

Mate.

The word echoed in my mind, sharp and cutting. My chest tightened, and I shook my head, trying to make sense of his claim. "No," I said, my voice trembling. "I think you have the wrong person. I don't even know how I got here."

Lucas's gaze bore into mine, unyielding. "You were found on our territory, unconscious and alone. No one else was around. And you're not just anyone, Aria. You're my fated mate. You belong here."

I shook my head again, the ache in my skull intensifying. His words didn't make sense. I couldn't remember anything before waking up here. No pack, no territory, no Alpha. Nothing.

"Stop," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I don't know you. I don't know anything about this... about you."

For a moment, Lucas looked lost, as though my words had struck a blow he hadn't expected. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the door swung open again, and a woman stepped in.

"Lucas," she said, her tone brisk. She had sharp features and eyes like ice. Her gaze flicked to me, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She needs rest. You're overwhelming her."

Lucas didn't move at first, his focus still on me. Then, with a sharp nod, he turned to the woman. "Eleanor, make sure she's comfortable."

Eleanor. The name tugged at a memory-a faint, fleeting fragment-but it vanished before I could grasp it.

"I'll be back," Lucas said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. And then he was gone, leaving the room colder in his absence.

Eleanor crossed her arms, studying me. "How much do you remember?"

I blinked at her, my mind spinning. "Nothing," I admitted. "I don't even know how I got here."

Her expression softened, though the hardness in her eyes didn't completely fade. "That's probably for the best, for now."

"What does that mean?" I asked, a thread of panic winding its way into my voice.

She sighed, pulling a chair closer to the bed. "It means you've been through more than you can handle. And your memories... they'll come back when you're ready. Until then, you're safe here."

Safe. The word felt hollow. I didn't feel safe. I felt trapped, caught in a web of uncertainty and unfamiliar faces.

"Why does he think I'm his mate?" I asked, desperate for answers.

Eleanor hesitated, her gaze shifting away. "Because you are," she said finally. "But it's not my story to tell. Rest for now. You'll need your strength."

She stood, her movements graceful yet efficient, and left the room before I could ask more. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sank back into the pillows, my mind racing. Lucas's words, Eleanor's guarded tone, the strange familiarity of this place-it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I didn't know how to solve.

My eyelids grew heavy, and as I drifted off, fragments of memories began to surface. A voice-deep and steady. Laughter, soft and warm. And then, pain. A searing, gut-wrenching pain that left me gasping.

When I jolted awake, my cheeks were wet with tears, and my heart pounded in my chest. Whatever I'd just remembered, it wasn't the kind of memory that brought comfort.

It was the kind that broke you.