Chapter 3 A Stranger in the Night

Pain. That was the first thing I felt when I woke up. A dull, aching pain that spread through my body like fire. My limbs were heavy, and my head pounded like a drum.

I wasn't in the forest anymore.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was a wooden ceiling. The room smelled of burning wood and herbs, a strange but comforting scent. A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting a warm glow.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my ribs, making me wince.

"You shouldn't move yet."

The deep voice startled me. I turned my head and saw him-the man who had saved me.

He sat in a chair near the fire, his silver eyes watching me closely. In the dim light, I could see him better now. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that fell over his forehead. His features were sharp and strong, his presence commanding. He wasn't just any wolf. He was something more.

"Where am I?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"My cabin," he replied simply.

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Who are you?"

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "You're not ready for that answer yet."

I frowned. "That's what you said before I passed out."

A smirk tugged at his lips, but he didn't say anything.

I glanced around the room. It was small but comfortable. A wooden table sat against the wall, with a bowl of water and some herbs. A thick fur blanket covered me, and my torn gown had been replaced with a simple white tunic.

My body tensed. "Did you-"

"No." His voice was firm. "I had a woman from a nearby village change your clothes. Your wounds needed to be treated."

I relaxed slightly but still felt wary. "Why did you help me?"

He tilted his head. "You were about to be killed by rogues. I don't like seeing unnecessary deaths."

His words sent a chill through me. He spoke as if killing was normal for him, as if he had done it many times before.

I swallowed hard. "Are you an Alpha?"

Something flashed in his silver eyes, something dark and unreadable. "No."

Liar.

I could feel the power radiating from him, stronger than any Alpha I had ever met. But I didn't push.

Instead, I asked, "How long have I been here?"

"Two days."

My breath caught. "Two days?"

I tried to sit up again, ignoring the pain. I couldn't stay here. Kieran might be looking for me. If he found out I was alive, he might try to drag me back just to make me suffer more.

"I have to go," I said quickly.

The man's gaze darkened. "Go where?"

I froze. I had no answer. No pack. No home. No family that cared about me.

His expression softened slightly, as if he already knew. "You have nowhere to go, do you?"

I clenched my fists. I hated how weak I must have looked, sitting there injured, lost, abandoned.

I looked away. "I'll figure something out."

Silence stretched between us.

Then he sighed. "You won't last a day out there in your condition. Stay here until you recover."

I hesitated. I didn't trust him. I didn't trust anyone. But he had saved my life, and I had nowhere else to go.

"Fine," I muttered. "But just until I heal."

He gave a small nod, as if he expected that answer.

A sudden thought hit me. "I don't even know your name."

For a long moment, he was silent. Then he finally said, "Ronan."

Ronan. The name suited him-strong, sharp, mysterious.

I wanted to ask more, but exhaustion pulled at me again. My body was still weak, still broken from Kieran's rejection.

I closed my eyes, letting sleep take me once more.

---

Days passed, and I slowly regained my strength.

Ronan wasn't much of a talker. He spent most of his time outside, only coming in to check on me or bring food. I didn't ask where he went, and he didn't offer to tell me.

But I noticed things.

He moved like a warrior, silent and deadly. His silver eyes were sharp, always watching, always calculating.

And he never smiled.

Not once.

One evening, after I had managed to walk around the cabin without collapsing, I found him sitting outside, staring at the stars.

I hesitated before stepping closer. "Do you live out here alone?"

"Yes."

I sat down on a rock near him, wrapping my arms around myself against the cold. "Why?"

He didn't answer right away. Then he said, "It's better that way."

I frowned. "Better for who?"

"For everyone."

I studied him, trying to understand. "Are you hiding from someone?"

His jaw tightened. "You ask too many questions."

I sighed. "You saved my life. That makes me curious."

He didn't respond.

I looked up at the night sky. The stars were bright, shining like tiny pieces of silver against the darkness.

"Do you think the Moon Goddess made a mistake?" I asked softly.

Ronan glanced at me. "What do you mean?"

I swallowed. "Mates. The bond. If they're supposed to be our perfect match, why would she give me someone like Kieran?"

For the first time, something almost like emotion flickered across Ronan's face. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Then why did my mate throw me away like I was nothing?"

Ronan was quiet for a long time. Then he said, "Because he's a fool."

I looked at him, surprised.

His silver eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt... something.

A strange pull.

It wasn't the mate bond. It was something else. Something unfamiliar.

I quickly looked away, pushing the feeling down. I had just lost everything. I couldn't afford to feel anything else.

Ronan stood up. "Get some rest."

I watched as he disappeared into the darkness, his presence fading like a shadow.

I didn't know who he really was.

I didn't know why he lived alone, or why his eyes held so many secrets.

But I did know one thing.

I wasn't alone anymore.

And for now, that was enough.