WOLF's POV;
I have been a silent observer within the confines of her mind, existing in the shadows since the very moment she took her first breath. My presence is a hidden truth, a piece of her that remains unacknowledged and unknown. She exists unaware of the fierce spirit that resides deep within her, a primal force that links her to an unseen world—a world teeming with creatures of the night, illuminated by the gentle glow of moonlight and the haunting call of howling winds. My essence is a secret that has been locked away within her subconscious, buried beneath layers of thought and emotion that she has yet to confront.
From the day she entered this world, I have been her guardian, an unwavering protector committed to ensuring her safety from the shadows. Although I occupy a space in her consciousness that she has never explored, I will not interfere until she is prepared to embrace the truth of her identity—both as an individual and as a part of something far greater. Until that moment arrives, I remain a watchful presence, patiently observing her life unfold, quietly safeguarding her from dangers that lurk just beyond her awareness.
However, this evening brought her peril dangerously close, and I teetered on the edge of failure. The air was saturated with a sickening stench of malice, an odor that heralded the approach of her father—although he is anything but a father in any affectionate sense. He is a monster masquerading in familial guise, drawing near with vile intentions that ignited a fury within me. Every instinct I hold shouted for me to break free of my confines, to unleash the primal force within me in a violent response to defend her. But I was restrained, bound by the very secrecy that serves to protect her, tethered to the essential humanity she clings to with desperation.
I felt her terror in real time, the cold grip of fear enveloping her heart, constricting her breath as though the very essence of her being was under siege. In that moment, she appeared so small and fragile, yet within her flickered a strength—a resilience that resembled a dying ember, struggling against the suffocating darkness that threatened to extinguish it. Drawing from the depths of her consciousness, I attempted to reach out, to soothe her frightened spirit, to push back against the inevitable memories that threatened to surface—memories of that monster's touch and the haunting implications of what could unfold. I buried those memories deep within her psyche, securing them where they would remain untouched, ensuring they could never taint her soul. She would be left with only the shadow of fear, a sensation I would do my utmost to alleviate.
Yet, despite the suffocating fear, she fought back with intrinsic determination. Her trembling hands reached for her phone, trembling violently, making it difficult for her to even navigate the screen. Her thoughts were a swirling storm of panic and confusion, and in the midst of that chaos, she sought out the one who might provide her solace—Wilder. But fate intervened in a cruel twist;but instead inadvertently connected her to him—her mate.
Her mate. The term evokes a depth of connection that transcends understanding—a bond that ties her to the Alpha, a being regarded with reverence and fear. He is a fierce king of Lycans, a force of nature possessing both the power to instill terror and the ability to inspire loyalty. In his relentless pursuit of order, he has navigated countless battles with prowess and strategic acumen. Yet, for her, he transforms into something different. For her, he embodies the protector she so desperately needs, the one destined to stand by her side when I am unable to shield her.
Upon answering her call, I felt a palpable shift within him, a transformation as he transitioned from cold, calculated authority to warmth and tenderness. Initially, he did not recognize her voice; the reason for the sudden quickening of his heart and the instincts compelling him to reach her were shrouded in confusion. But as realization dawned, he surged forward with a speed that mirrored the instincts of a creature honed by a thousand lifetimes of experience—each one fought for and won.
He found her rapidly, his presence approaching like an impending storm, powerful and unstoppable. I experienced the scene unfolding through her eyes as he moved with deliberate care, each step measured as though he understood that a single misstep could shatter the fragile peace she so desperately clung to. When he enveloped her in his arms, I could sense the firm resolve coalescing within him; he would not relinquish her—not now, nor ever.
His touch conveyed a gentleness that belied the strength emanating from him, and it acted as a balm for her frayed nerves. She could not comprehend the depth of comfort his presence offered, nor could she fathom why she felt an unexplainable sense of safety in his embrace despite having met him once . The truth remained hidden from her; she was oblivious to the bond that tied them together, the fate that linked their lives inextricably. Unbeknownst to her, he was her mate—the one meant for her, just as she was destined to belong to him.
AMORA'S POV ;
The first thing I noticed was a relentless beeping, piercing through the fog of unconsciousness that seemed to cling to me like a heavy blanket. It was persistent, insistent, dragging me back from the depths of darkness where I'd been floating. My body felt like it had been carved from stone—heavy, numb, and unyielding. I wanted to move, to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt like they were weighed down by lead, as if the simple act of seeing the world again was a Herculean task.
With a monumental effort, I managed to pry my eyes open, though it took several frustrating attempts. Blinding light assaulted me, forcing my eyes shut again in reflex. It was too bright, too harsh, as if the world itself was trying to push me back into the darkness I'd just escaped from. I squinted against the glare, waiting for my vision to adjust, for the world to make sense again.
When I could finally keep my eyes open, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling, its stark whiteness making the room feel clinical, sterile. My mind raced, struggling to piece together where I was, how I had ended up here. But the more I tried to grasp at the memories, the more they slipped away, like sand through my fingers. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze clouding my thoughts, but all I could manage was a fragmented sense of confusion.
Where am I? The question pulsed through my mind, an urgent beat that matched the rhythm of the beeping nearby. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't summon an answer. The last thing I remembered was... was what? My thoughts were tangled, a jumbled mess of half-formed images and feelings that refused to coalesce into anything coherent. The more I pushed, the more the memories scattered like leaves in the wind.
Then, just as I was starting to panic, I heard voices—a heated exchange just out of my line of sight. The first voice was deep, rough, laced with anger that vibrated in the air like an unstrung chord. It was the kind of voice that demanded attention, that made your heart beat faster out of sheer instinct.
"It's been four fucking days!" the voice snarled, each word dripping with barely restrained fury. "You keep telling me the same damn thing! Is she going to wake up or not?"
Four days? The words slammed into me, setting off alarm bells in my already disoriented mind. What had happened in those four days? How could I have lost so much time? My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as I strained to hear more, to understand what was happening.
"Alpha, please," a second voice pleaded, this one softer, trembling with fear or maybe anxiety. "She hit her head very badly. That's why it's taking time for her to wake up. But she will wake up... she just needs more time."
Alpha? The title sent a shiver down my spine, stirring something deep within me, a memory or a feeling that I couldn't quite place. The word itself seemed to carry weight, a significance that I couldn't grasp in my current state. But why did it feel so familiar? Why did it make my heart race with a strange mix of dread and anticipation?
I tried to move, to turn my head towards the voices, but my body refused to cooperate. Even my eyes, weak and tired, wouldn't obey me, leaving me trapped in this state of half-awareness, teetering on the edge of consciousness and oblivion.
Before I could gather my strength, a third voice cut through the tension, calm but filled with urgency. "Alpha, she's awake..."
The room fell silent, a charged pause that seemed to stretch on forever. I could hear footsteps approaching, slow and deliberate, each step sending a ripple of anxiety through me. The air around me seemed to thicken, heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tension. My heart pounded louder, my pulse a wild rhythm that I couldn't control.
And then, I saw him.
The sight of him hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the breath from my lungs. If I'd been shocked before, this was something else entirely—a tidal wave of disbelief, confusion, and something deeper, something far more unsettling. The man standing before me was someone I never expected to see again, someone whose very presence seemed to warp the reality around us.
He was tall, imposing, with a presence that filled the room even before he spoke. His face was a mask of control, carefully devoid of emotion—a poker face that would've fooled anyone who didn't know better. But there was something in his eyes, something dark and dangerous, that belied the calm facade. I couldn't look away, couldn't tear my gaze from his, even as a thousand questions screamed through my mind.
Why was he here? How had I ended up with him, of all people? The last time I'd seen him... No, I couldn't think about that. Not now. Not when everything was so confusing, so wrong. But the more I tried to push the memories away, the more they crowded in, threatening to overwhelm me.
He stepped closer, his eyes locked on mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine. There was something predatory in the way he moved, something that made my instincts scream at me to run, to get away. But I couldn't move. I couldn't even speak. All I could do was stare at him, my mind a chaotic swirl of fear and confusion.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried with it the weight of everything I'd been trying to avoid. "Amora," he said, and the sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver through me, "you're finally awake."
Hearing him say my name broke something inside me, snapping the last thread of control I had over my emotions. The memories flooded back, sharp and painful, hitting me all at once. The fear, the panic, the desperate need to escape... and then nothing. Darkness. And now, here I was, with him, in a place I didn't recognize, with no idea how I'd gotten here.
Terror gripped me, tightening around my chest like a vise. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to push him away, but I couldn't. I was trapped in my own body, paralyzed by fear and confusion. All I could do was stare at him, my mind racing, trying to make sense of the impossible situation I found myself in.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whatever had happened, whatever had brought me to this place, it was far from over. And the man standing before me, the one I never thought I'd see again, held all the answers—answers I wasn't sure I was ready to hear.
But as his gaze bore into mine, I knew one thing for certain: nothing would ever be the same again.