Zara’s POV
I woke up with the sound of birds chirping close by, and I moaned under my breath. I had this annoying pounding feeling at the back of my skull.
I dragged my heavy, swollen eyelids open and blinked a couple of times against the blinding light before I could manage to make out anything in the room.
I struggled for a moment to make sense of what I was seeing.
This wasn’t my room at all. I wasn’t at home.
My heart started to pound inside my chest as my gaze traveled over the room. Yet I couldn’t find anything out of place. It was very stylish, yet so simple.
I was lying in a comfortable king-size bed, the bedding white and soft.
Only a single black-and-white painting adorned the tall white walls, but thick, expensive curtains covered the broad windows.
My attention moved to the huge double glass doors. The late afternoon breeze lazily tugged on the thin sheer curtains covering them. They were left open.
Where am I?
Whose room is this?
I shifted my nose into the air, taking a deep whiff of my surroundings. Yet, I could not find any familiar scent around me.
I started to panic.
Did Noah escape with me?
The door screamed on its hinges, my breath caught in my throat, and my attention snapped toward it.
“Afternoon, Luna,” an elderly woman greeted. I couldn’t help noticing her sparkling light blue eyes. She wasn’t very tall, maybe around 4’3, and had gray hair. “May I come in?”
I hesitated, unsure. I wasn’t sure what this woman’s intention was with me.
The woman gave me a warm smile and said, “My name is Mariana. Beta Ronan instructed me to take excellent care of you.”
Was I at Nicholas’ pack? Or in one of his hotels?
I shook the thought to the side-Mariana seemed harmless enough.
I slowly nodded my head, and she pushed the door open.
“I brought you some food,” she continued and gestured to a young girl, around 17, with short blond hair, to push a trolley inside. She didn’t make eye contact. She seemed shy.
“This is Amelia, my granddaughter,” Mariana stated. “She will be assisting me wherever I need her.”
I nodded in understanding as I watched the shy blond girl leave the trolley near the table and quickly exit my room.
“Where is Alpha now?” I inquired, my voice sounding raspy and dry.
Mariana quickly grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and handed it to me.
I thanked her and accepted the contest.
Mariana left my side and attended to the dishes on the trolley.
“He will be with you soon,” she eventually said, lifting the cloches from the dishes.
Did she just mind-link Nicolas?
Was she keeping information from me?
My stomach growled, pushing my concerned questions to the side.
The sight of the food made me hungry. I can’t recall when I last had a decent meal. A small smile followed Mariana’s lips.
“Will Alpha Nicholas be joining me?” I asked, shifting my legs over the side of the bed.
“I’m uncertain,” she replied, her concern evident in her blue eyes. She knew something. I was certain of it, yet she hesitated to share it with me.
Mariana quickly turned her back on me and continued to set the table while I made my way to the bathroom to clean myself.
They laid out a fresh towel and clothing for me, and I curiously picked up the shirt. The realization that the items were mine shocked me. How did Nicholas manage to get his hands on my clothing?
I took a deep breath, pushed all my worries and questions to the side, and quickly got into the shower.
After a few minutes, I had dressed completely and seated myself at the table. I felt much better after the long hot shower, yet I now had more questions brewing inside my mind, and I wanted answers.
“Tell me, Mariana,” I said, as she poured me a cup of coffee. “Where am I?”
Confusion crossed Mariana’s eyes, and she stopped what she was doing.
“Luna, I am not sure what you are asking,” she said, startled.
Odd, I thought. Mariana seems anxious every time I ask her a question. I wonder why that is.
“Am I at a hotel or….” I asked, raising my gaze to find hers.
“Oh,” she smiled nervously. “No, Luna. You are in the Midnight Moon Pack territory. This is one of Alpha’s many rooms in his home.”
“Who brought me here?” I asked, picking up my utensils.
Nic’s scent didn’t linger in the air. How could I believe what she was telling me was true?
“Alpha Kyle,” she said.
That bit of info caught me by surprise. It was the last thing I expected her to tell me. Why would Kyle bring me here and not Nicolas or Levi?
“The Alpha and Beta were….”
Mariana suddenly stopped talking; her hand flew to her lips, and she turned to leave. She revealed too much. She wasn’t supposed to tell me. She suddenly looked afraid.
“What happened?” I asked, gently grabbing her hand. “I want to know.”
Mariana hesitated, her eyes pleading.
“The Alpha is going to punish me if I tell you,” she said. “He is ruthless when it comes to disobeying his orders.”
“I give you my word that Alpha Nicolas wouldn’t have you punished,” I said, gesturing for her to sit down.
Mariana took a deep breath and sat down at the table.
I waited patiently for her to tell me what had transpired.
“Alpha Nicholas and Beta Levi only returned after Alpha Kyle,” Mariana said and shifted her gaze toward the open door. “They were both covered in blood….”
My heart skipped a beat at her words, and my throat suddenly felt dry, making it hard to breathe and swallow.
Were they hurt?
“What…?”
Mariana must have understood and continued.
“They encountered an ambush a mile from the pack,” she stated. “Alpha Nicholas and Beta Levi fended off the rogues while Alpha Kyle drove you to safety.”
“Are they hurt?” I asked.
Mariana shook her head. “Just the normal cuts and bruises. You know how quickly silver wolves heal.”
I nodded. Even though we were much stronger than the average wolf, we could still sustain serious injuries.
“If they are not seriously hurt, where are they?” I asked.
Mariana closed her eyes and bit her lip. What she revealed next left me breathless.
****