Chapter 4 Four

Alexander's POV.

The sun hung high above the training grounds, casting golden light over the quiet clearing. The air smelled faintly of dew and pine. But peace wasn't something I could feel.

I paced back and forth, my boots crushing gravel beneath my feet.

My jaw clenched, my thick dark hair slightly tousled from running my hand through it over and over. My blue eyes were hard and stormy with concern.

The muscles beneath my shirt tensed with every breath. I looked like a man carved from stone, broad shoulders, tall and commanding, with skin so smooth it glowed under the moonlight.

But right now, all of that strength was coiled tight with frustration and fear.

"Damn it..." I muttered under my breath.

Just then, Ray, my Beta, strolled into the clearing. His brown hair gleamed under the sunlight, tousled in a casual wave. His matching brown eyes flickered with amusement.

He was always the calm one, even when things were tense. He had a confident build and easy swagger, but right now, he was trying to be the voice of reason.

"Come on, Alex," Ray said, folding his arms. "Chill out, she'll be fine."

I stopped pacing and then turned, staring at my Beta.

Ray held my gaze and repeated gently, "She'll be fine."

There was a pause, then, my fists clenched at my sides.

"Did you see her?" I snapped. "The bruises? The blood? The dirt all over her skin? She literally passed out in the woods. Goodness knows what the hell she's been through out there. And you expect me to stand here and be fine?"

Before Ray could respond, another figure appeared. Darren, the Gamma, walked in, casually munching on a shiny red apple.

His dark T-shirt clung to his lean, muscular frame, and he took a slow seat on one of the stone benches that bordered the field.

He didn't look up as he said,

"Relax, Alpha. She's fine, I checked in few minutes ago. Her wounds have already been cleaned, and she's resting. She just needs to wake up."

There was silence again.

I didn't respond. I just turned my face toward the dark line of trees that surrounded the pack lands. My jaw tightened.

Somewhere out there, she had been attacked, tortured and hunted.

And now, she was lying unconscious in my pack house. I would never let this happen again.

Eliana's POV

My eyelashes fluttered open, a sharp groan escaped my lips as I instinctively reached up, clutching my head. The light was warm and golden and it stabbed into my eyes, and I flinched, immediately turning my face to the other side of the bed to shield myself from the sunlight.

I blinked slowly. Then stretched, wincing as my muscles protested. My body ached in more places than I could count. Everything felt sore, from my head to my legs. But despite the discomfort, everything became clear.

This... wasn't the forest, my eyes adjusted to my surroundings.

The room was huge.

The ceiling stretched high, painted white with carved molding. I was lying on a plush bed with thick, velvet covers. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood and fresh linen.

There was a fireplace across the room, though the flames were out. To the side, a polished wooden dresser and an elegant reading chair. The floor was marble and clean and smooth beneath a soft fur rug. It looked like something out of a dream.

My brows furrowed. "What...?" I whispered to myself.

Where the hell was I?

This wasn't the forest. This wasn't even a cabin or any sort of shelter I remembered. Then it all rushed back like a wave slamming into my skull.

Titus, his claws, the pain, blood.

And then, foot steps. Those eyes!

"Blue eyes..." I whispered, my voice hoarse.

My stomach twisted. My hands clenched the covers. What if...what if someone else had captured me? Someone just as cruel, just as twisted as Titus? What if this clean, quiet, perfect room was a gilded cage?

I sat up sharply, my eyes darting around the unfamiliar space. My breathing quickened. My pulse hammered against my chest.

'You have to get out. Find an exit. Find something sharp. Fight if you have to.' I told myself.

My heart was pounding like a war drum.

Three knocks came at the door.

"Are you up?" came a muffled, feminine voice from the other side.

My entire body stiffened, my eyes shot to the door. I didn't move, I held my breath.

The doorknob twisted slowly and the door creaked open.

A tall woman with blonde hair stepped in with a warm smile.

"So glad to see you awake," she said. "I'm Laura, the housekeeper."

My eyes narrowed. I didn't respond, my whole body was tense, ready to lunge if I needed to. My fingers clenched the sheets.

I didn't trust her, not even for a second.

Laura took a step closer, her smile never fading.

My voice was sharp and raw.

"Don't come close to me."

Laura paused, blinked, then gave a soft chuckle and waved a hand as though to brush off the tension.

"It's fine, dear. You're safe now."

My eyes darkened. My heart was a hammer in my chest.

"I'm warning you," I hissed again, louder this time. "Don't. Come. Close."

Before Laura could respond, the door creaked open again.

A tall man with muscular build stepped in. He wore a dark button-down shirt rolled to his elbows and carried a calm, observant air about him.

It was Mike, one of the pack's elite enforcers and the Head of Security at Crescent moon pack.

He glanced between us, eyebrows slightly raised.

"What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but alert. "I heard voices."

Laura gave a small sigh and nodded her head toward me.

"She's screaming that I shouldn't come close to her."

Mike turned his gaze to me.

I glared back at him immediately.

He softened his expression, offering a small, polite smile.

"Hey, hello. How are you feeling?"

I said nothing. My stare was hard, cold. I didn't trust him either.

Mike took a slow step forward.

"It's alright. You can relax," he said carefully. "I just wanted to check if you're okay."

But I wasn't listening anymore.

My eyes had started darting around the room. Assessing. Scanning. Planning.

On the dresser beside my bed, my eyes caught something: a silver tray, a bowl of fruit, a clean cup and right beside them, a knife.

Alexander's POV

Meanwhile... in the training yard.

I was still sitting with Darren and Ray, my elbows on my knees, head low in thought. I had mentally blocked the mind link to keep my emotions from spilling into the pack bond. I needed space to think.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I didn't hesitate. I snatched it out and answered.

"Alpha," came Mike's voice, laced with urgency.

I sat up straighter. My body stiffened slightly.

"Yes? What is it?"

"It's... It's her," Mike said.

My chest tightened.

"Her?" I asked quickly. "You mean my mate?"

"Yes. The Luna, she's awake."

I stood up so fast my chair scraped loudly across the floor. Ray and Darren looked up.

"Is she alright?" I asked. "Is she awake?"

"Yes," Mike replied. "She just woke up."

"Okay. I'll be there in a bit. Keep her calm. Give her whatever she needs."

But there was a pause.

"No," Mike said. "She doesn't need anything. Actually, it's not even that. She's..."

My voice snapped like a whip.

"She's what, Mike?"