Elena’s POV.
Standing tall over me, was a strikingly handsome man, well bodied and heavily hung; though Killian remained with the crown.
Why am I even comparing them? And in this situation?
There was yet another young man standing by the doorside, he was a delight too.
“Who are you?” I swallowed hard trying not to sound as scared as I truly am.
He took a step closer towards the bed and I recoiled back in fright.
“Don’t come any closer!” I flared up.
“Relax, you are out of danger,” he spoke really gently, a soft chuckle leaving his mouth.
As much as he appeared harmless, I was in a strange place without any slightest clue how to make it out, falling for his mere appearance was a big risk.
“That doesn’t answer any question, who are you? And what is this place? What am I doing here?” I was beginning to get a bit louder now, my gaze darting fiercely from each of them to the other.
Of course, the ugly experience with my ex pack has thought me a bitter lesson never to let anyone take advantage of my weakness.
I watched as they turned to glance at each other, then back at me.
“What’s your name? You still remember right? This isn’t a case of amnesia?” I chuckled as the words left his mouth.
He seem to be cheerful, speaking calmly and flashing me reassuring smiles while trying to make simple jokes, the second guy who I’d preferably refer to as his friend just stood back and watched silently.
“If I told you my name, would you in turn, explain to me what’s going on?” I raised my brows at him.
“Feisty, but tolerable,” he chuckled taking a step closer but this time, I didn’t flinch, I just sat still and moped blankly at him.
“Elena,” I finally managed to mutter.
“I haven’t seen a name fit anyone so perfectly,” he smiled.
“Well, Elena, I’m Darius, the Alpha of Greenwoods pack, and this is Jake, my second in command,” he introduced pointing at the second guy.
“You were attacked by a certain group of rogue wolves and you ran into our territory, my night watchers were kind enough to rescue you,” he explained further.
I stared blankly at him, totally speechless; what do I say to him? A word of appreciation for saving me? Or when he’d like for me to leave his pack?
“You looked pretty battered when you were found, what happened with the rogue wolves? And your pack too?” He raised his brows at me.
I racked through my head, in search of a suitable answer to his question; I couldn’t possibly tell him about the painfully embarrassing ordeal with my pack, my rejection and banishment isn’t a story to be told.
Though it was still fresh in my memory but I had considered it my past, and something that shouldn’t be spoken of.
“Uhm… I don’t want to talk about it,” I looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze.
“I take it that it isn’t pleasant then?” He cleared his throat. “Well I’m not going to persuade you or anything, it’s your personal life anyway,”
Unlike other Alphas, he seemed rather too cool, making me wonder if he was just being nice to me following my condition or he was just generally a delightful person?
“Uhm… I… I’m really grateful for your help Alpha Darius, and I apologize sincerely for any inconvenience my presence has caused,” I began. “I’m just going to leave immediately,” I made to climb down the bed but he signaled me to stop with a wave of his hand.
“And where precisely would you go once you leave here?” He chuckled. “You don’t exactly seem to have a destination, Elena,”
My throat went dry, sudden realization hitting me that he was actually correct, I truly do not have any destination in mind but I didn’t want to seem helpless.
“I’ll find a way, don’t worry about it,” I smiled weakly.
“It’s not safe out there Elena, you can stay with us until you find yourself again,” he flashed me a reassuring smile.
“I really do not want to of inconvenience, I…”
“Elena,” he quickly cut me off.
“Consider the Greenwoods pack your new home, I’ll take full responsibility for your wellbeing henceforth and I assure you that you’re totally safe with us,”
I stared blankly at him, unable to utter a word, how can someone be so kind? How was I able to find favour in his eyes? Different thoughts ran through my head.
“Thank you,” that was all I could mutter, my gaze never leaving his.
Almost immediately, there was a knock at the door.
Darius signaled his second in command, Jake, as he had introduced to get the door.
Shortly afterward, an elderly woman walked into the room, towards us.
“Greetings, Alpha Darius,” she bowed slightly.
“You’re here Helen,” he smiled at her. “You did an excellent job last night, she’s so much better now,”
“Glad to hear that,” she replied.
He turned back towards me.
“Elena, this is Helen, the pack’s Healer,” he introduced.
I nodded at her, not knowing exactly what to say to her.
“I’ll leave you both now, do take care of her,”
“Of course,” she nodded with a reassuring smile.
He casted me a last glance before walking away with Jake.
Once they had left, Helen turned to face me with a warm smile. “How are you feeling?”
I breathed out heavily. “Much better I guess,”
“That’s some progress, let’s get your bandage changed,” she said, walking closer towards me.
She dropped a bag I assumed to be her tools bag on the floor and proceeded to work on my face.
“Is he usually this nice to everyone?” The words fled my mouth before I could hold it back.
She chuckled lightly.
“Alpha Darius is one of the nicest Alphas ever in existence, he cares for everyone same way he cares for himself, you are in safe hands,”
Safe? That seemed like an impossible word to me, after all I felt safe with Killian and how did that turn out? Alpha Darius could be nice and all but that doesn’t guarantee that I trust him with my safety.
That’s a brutal lesson life has thought me so far.