Chapter 2 Life in the pack

Ruidiger stared at the young girl in disbelief. Now it made sense why he hadn't been able to kill her when he first laid eyes on her-there was something about her, something different. She wasn't just a survivor; she could be something far more.

Rosetta, his wife, stepped forward and, sensing the tension, asked curiously, "Who is this child? Why do you both look so stunned?"

Bayle stepped in to explain, recounting how the girl had been discovered and her unusual resilience. Rosetta's eyes widened in amazement.

"In that case, take her to the clinic," she instructed without hesitation. "This child... she's beautiful. Her soul is strong. People like her rarely die-they have an unmatched will to live."

Following the Luna's orders, the girl was carefully taken for treatment.

---

Aliyah slowly opened her eyes, confusion clouding her vision. The unfamiliar surroundings made her uneasy. Her head throbbed, and as she reached up to touch it, she winced. Around her were blinking machines and rhythmic beeping that made her more nervous.

A man wearing a white coat stepped into the room, and she looked at him with quiet awe.

"You're awake," he said, glancing over her condition. "You should be grateful to the Luna. Now, tell me-what's your name?"

Aliyah blinked, not understanding his question.

The man frowned, then repeated it, this time sterner. "What's your name, young pup?"

His tone made her flinch, and tears welled in her eyes. She began crying softly.

He sighed, clearly frustrated, and clicked his tongue. "Just tell me your name," he said more gently this time.

Wiping her tears, she replied in a shaky voice, "Where am I? Who are you?"

The doctor looked at her calmly. "You don't need to know that right now. Just tell me your name."

But when she answered again, it caught him off guard.

"I don't know... What is my name, sir?" she asked, voice filled with uncertainty.

Later, the doctor explained her condition to Bayle.

"She has amnesia," Phillip said simply.

Bayle's face twisted in disgust. "So nothing can be done about it?" he snapped. "I still don't understand why the Alpha and Luna spared that thing. If it were up to me, I'd finish her off myself."

Phillip kept his composure. "I know you're upset. But her whole pack was wiped out-and she's just a child."

Bayle wasn't moved by the logic. He clenched his jaw, unwilling to let go of his anger.

Phillip watched him, thinking silently. Bayle was his father's son through and through. The elder beta, once loyal to Ruidiger, had been killed by the Light Star Pack's alpha. That tragedy had shaped Bayle's hatred, one he carried like a badge. He had grown up fatherless, and his mother widowed. And now, in his father's role, Bayle had fulfilled his vow-he'd helped wipe them all out.

"I don't care," Bayle growled, fists tightening. "Take me to her."

Phillip reluctantly led him back to the clinic. When they arrived, the girl was sitting on the bed, quietly gazing out the window.

"Hey, you," Bayle called out.

She turned toward him, and the moment her eyes met his, he froze. They were a vibrant, piercing green-an unusual color he had never seen before. It startled him.

She stared at him for a moment, tilting her head, as though trying to remember something. Then she spoke.

"Who are you?"

Bayle scoffed. "Who am I? Do you think you're royalty or something? Once you're fully recovered, the Alpha will decide what to do with you."

The girl frowned and looked at Phillip. "Doctor... I don't like this brother."

Phillip bit back a laugh-not because of what she said, but from the stunned expression on Bayle's face.

Without a word, Bayle stormed out, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

Three days passed before the girl was brought before the Alpha and Luna. She stood quietly, confusion on her face as she looked around the large room. The atmosphere was tense, as though a judgment was about to be passed. Bayle stood in the crowd, a smug smile tugging at his lips, clearly hoping the decision would go against her.

Then a cheerful voice broke the silence.

"Wow, it's an angel!" Little Leo called out, causing the room to still. He looked directly at the girl, his eyes lighting up. "Can I have her?" he asked eagerly. "What's her name?"

Rosetta approached him with a gentle laugh. "She isn't an object, Leo. And we don't know her name-she's lost her memory," she explained, ruffling his hair. "She doesn't have one right now."

But Leo was undeterred. "Then I'll name her. I'll call her Dara. She's an angel, and I want her, Mother."

Ruidiger quietly pulled Rosetta aside. "You know how Leo is-when he wants something, he doesn't stop until he gets it. And when he loses interest, he tosses it aside. Give him the girl. Let him have his way, and once he's done with her, we can make a proper decision."

Rosetta didn't like the plan, but she knew it was true. Leo was relentless when he set his eyes on something. So, she nodded.

"Very well, Leo," she said aloud. "She'll be yours... until you no longer want her."

Overjoyed, Leo hugged his mother and ran to Dara. He grabbed her hand with a bright smile. "You're mine now. Come with me!"

Though confused, Dara said nothing. She let him lead her, still unsure of what everything meant.

Bayle rose from his seat, seething with rage. His jaw clenched, and his fists curled in fury. Without a word, he stormed out of the room.

Ruidiger noticed and said nothing. Rosetta leaned toward him.

"I just hope this isn't a mistake. Hopefully, Leo gets bored of her soon," she whispered.

Ruidiger gave a simple nod.

But what they didn't know-what none of them could have seen coming-was that this was only the beginning of something they could have never imagined.