Chapter 3 ATTACKED.

~ BENITA'S POV ~

The harsh sunlight streaming through the window was enough to rouse me from my slumber. I woke up feeling drained and exhausted, as if I'd been hit by a truck.

Wincing in pain, I clutched my head as I tried to sit up, the throbbing sensation making it feel like my head was about to explode.

My vision blurred, but as it cleared, I took in my surroundings. This wasn't my room, where was I? How did I end up here? The unfamiliar surroundings only added to my confusion.

Just as I was trying to piece together my fragmented thoughts, the door swung open.

"Chloe!" I exclaimed, my heart swelling with joy. Seeing my best friend walk in, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but it was tempered by my weakness and the tears streaming down my face.

"Benny, thank the Moon Goddess you're awake!" Chloe rushed over, enveloping me in a tight hug. In that moment, everything came flooding back the events of the previous day replaying like a movie in my mind.

I held onto Chloe tightly, overcome with emotion as the humiliation of the previous day replayed in my mind.

The inability to morph into my wolf had left me feeling defeated and exposed in front of the entire pack. Tears streamed down my face as I wailed, "So it's true, I don't have a wolf? I'm wolfless?"

The thought of how this would affect my relationship with Alpha Maxwell, the person I had envisioned a happy life with, filled me with anxiety. I had always dreamed of a life free from the scrutiny and cruelty of my family, but now uncertainty clouded my future.

Chloe's gentle touch and reassuring words offered some comfort. "Benny, I thought we'd moved past this.

You don't have to do much, just let fate do her thing," she said, softly rubbing my back. "Alpha Maxwell's feelings for you will depend on whether you two are fated for each other. That's all that matters."

Her encouragement and love were exactly what I needed in that dark moment.

"Don't hurt yourself, Benny. I love you, and I was terrified when you passed out yesterday. Please don't be sad," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled emotions. Chloe's words gave me the strength to face my challenges head-on, even in the midst of uncertainty.

"Thanks, Chloe. How long have I been asleep? And what about my house? Did they bother to check on me or try to find out how I was?" I asked, my tone laced with skepticism. I didn't expect any genuine concern from my family, they only cared about Madison and their own interests. Chloe's sheepish expression confirmed my suspicions.

"How about Max?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Chloe's response brought a mix of emotions. "He was the one who brought you here after you passed out. He specifically asked me to watch over you." I felt a pang of gratitude toward Maxwell, but it was bittersweet, given my failure to shift.

Chloe's practicality snapped me back to reality. "Come on, you need to freshen up and get started for the day. I'll go prepare something to eat while you get changed." She patted me on the shoulder and left the room, leaving me to process my thoughts.

Chloe had been my rock since childhood, a true friend through thick and thin. Even when her parents were alive, she showed me kindness and loyalty that went beyond friendship.

She was the sister I never had, filling the void left by Madison's neglect. Madison's behavior toward me had always been tinged with jealousy and bitterness, but Chloe's love and support had been a constant source of comfort in my life.

****

As the evening drew to a close, I felt restless, my mind racing with thoughts of Maxwell and the pack. I needed to know what had changed in my absence and how my life would be affected without my wolf.

The walk home seemed long, my feet heavy with indecision. Should I head straight to Maxwell's mansion or go home first?

Chloe's concerns about my safety at this late hour only added to my turmoil, but I was determined to get answers.

As I stood at the crossroads, torn between two paths, a shiver ran down my spine. I felt like I was being watched, someone lurking in the shadows, tracking my every move.

I glanced around, but the darkness seemed to swallow everything in its path, leaving me with only my growing unease.

I pushed aside my doubts and headed toward Maxwell's mansion, determined to get answers.

But as I walked, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. "Who's there?" I called out, trying to shake off the unease. The silence that followed only heightened my fear.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in darkness and masked. My heart racing, I demanded,

"Who are you? What do you want?" I took a step back, trying to create distance between us. The way he moved, his build, screamed "rogue."

A chill ran down my spine as I realized rogues weren't sent for trivial matters; they were dispatched to eliminate.

"Oh, Moon Goddess, what have I gotten myself into?" I whispered, my hands trembling.

Despite my wolf's absence, I steeled myself for a fight. But before I could prepare, a second attacker struck me from behind, sending a searing pain through my head.

The world spun, and darkness consumed me, rendering me unconscious before I hit the ground.