I woke up in another room. This one had a much cozier feeling to it. The warm glow of a fire crackled in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Everything ached but i was already feeling better than before it might be because of Sierra.
I tried to sit up, managing to partially succeed before a hand reached out to help me and set me upright.
"Thanks," I muttered, my voice hoarse as I glanced around. Two strangers were in the room with me.
One was a girl, about my age, who handed me a glass of water. I chugged it down greedily, my throat grateful for the relief, though my attention was fixed on the other stranger. A guy lounged in a chair across the room, sitting—or rather sprawled—like he owned the place.
He was staring at me. Not just looking—staring. His gaze was steady, intense, and borderline infuriating.
I refused to back down. If he wanted a staring contest, I was more than ready. I locked eyes with him, my grip tightening on the glass as I stared back without blinking.
The girl took the empty glass from my hands, but I didn't break my focus. I wasn't about to lose. I swayed a little as my vision started to blur slightly, dizziness creeping in, but I powered through.
"Enough," the girl finally said, stepping between us and blocking my view.
"I won," I declared, my voice triumphant despite the exhaustion washing over me.
Then I promptly collapsed back onto the bed.
"I'm Clara, and this is Oliver," she said with a warm, comforting smile—the kind meant to make me let my guard down. "We're here to help you. If you need anything, just let us know."
Her tone was kind, but I wasn't fooled. "And to keep an eye on me," I added, matching her smile with a comforting one of my own, though mine carried a hint of sarcasm.
"She's good," Oliver whispered to Clara, his voice low but amused.
"Just letting you know, I don't appreciate being carried or touched by strangers," The thought of me being in stranger's arms was... a shudder escaped me. Then I remembered the warm feeling of being held by the angel of death, it was so comforting was he really angel of death? Then why was I alive?
I attempted to sit up again. It wasn't happening. Undeterred, I tried to slither my way out of bed, determined to reclaim my independence.
"Not that I like carrying you anywhere," Oliver said flatly, raising an eyebrow as he watched me struggle. "Now stop that, or you'll—"
I slid too far, my body tilting toward the floor, the floor pulling me towards it. I was about to hit the ground and cause myself more pain but Clara caught me just in time, her arms steady as she eased me back onto the bed.
"As you can see, you're not able to walk," Clara said, her tone shifting into one of gentle chiding.
"Or slither," Oliver added with a smirk, clearly enjoying himself.
Clara ignored him, her focus entirely on me. "You can rest here until you're fully recovered," she continued, her voice calm but firm.
I turned my attention to Oliver, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Are you sure you carried me? You don't look like you can lift me," I said, my tone challenging with a smirk to infuriate him.
"I can certainly throw you out of here," Oliver replied, his voice laced with a mix of annoyance.
That was exactly the response I wanted. I raised an eyebrow, letting my gaze drift deliberately to his biceps. They were well-formed, but he was young and lean—not bulky. I could see he was strong, but I had a plan, and riling him up was the only way I could see to get out of here.
"Are you sure? You look weak," I said, my tone dripping with mockery, challenging him.
His jaw tightened, and a flicker of something dangerous sparked in his eyes. But Clara interjected before he could reply, her voice sharp but calm.
"Enough, both of you," she said, stepping between us. "I get that you're frustrated, but this isn't the way to handle things. And Oliver," she added, turning to him with a pointed look, "don't let her bait you."
I ignored Clara's reprimand, focusing on my real concern. "I'm not staying here," I said firmly, my voice colder now. "Wolves don't just let strangers into their territory. You know that as well as I do. Anyone who isn't part of the pack is seen as a threat."
Clara sighed, sitting down beside me. "You're not a threat."
"And you can barely crawl." he added, which earned him a glare from clara, but she continued,
"You're injured. Our alpha gave the order to bring you here, and that's all you need to worry about for now. No one's going to hurt you."
Anyone who isn't part of the pack is an enemy. That's the unspoken rule, the law of survival among wolves. And the truth was, I didn't even know which pack's territory I was currently in.
My heart raced at the thought. If they found a reason to see me as a threat, I'd be in serious danger. The fact that they hadn't done anything to me yet didn't mean I was safe. Wolves don't take kindly to outsiders, no matter how injured or helpless they might appear.
I needed to be careful. No unnecessary risks, no reckless actions. The goal was clear: get out of here as soon as I could.
For now, I'd play along. But the moment I regained even a fraction of my strength, I was gone.
"Which pack is this?" I asked, rolling my eyes, trying to appear nonchalant even though my mind was racing.
Clara didn't answer immediately, so I turned to Oliver. "By the way, she's far more clever than you," I said, smirking at his annoyed expression before focusing back on Clara. "Where am I? And why is your alpha letting me stay here? I want to meet him."
Clara sighed and sat down beside me, her expression patient but firm. "We are the Silvermoon Pack," she said simply.
My eyes widened before I quickly masked my reaction. The Silvermoon Pack? Panic bubbled up inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I was in enemy territory.
The Silvermoon pack and the Ironfang packs have been enemies since forever. If they find out i am dead meat.
Maybe they didn't know who I was yet. That was the only explanation for why they were helping me.
"Our alpha found you," Clara continued, her voice softening. "Your car was about to explode, and he saved your life."
I nodded absentmindedly, her words barely registering. My thoughts were spiraling. The alpha of the Silvermoon Pack saved me?
But what would happen when he found out I was from an enemy pack? He wouldn't hesitate to punish me. Torture wasn't out of the question, not with the history between our packs.
My chest tightened as dread settled over me like a heavy blanket. Is this my life? A cycle of torture and pain? I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. I needed a plan, but my options were limited.
For now, I had to survive.
"Silvermoon Pack? Hmm, I don't think I've heard of that name," I said, feigning ignorance. My tone was casual, but inside, I was scrambling. I couldn't let them know anything about me. "Which pack am I from?" I added, widening my eyes in mock confusion, trying to look as innocent as possible.
Clara's brow furrowed; her puzzlement evident. "Don't you remember?" she asked, tilting her head.
I blinked at her, mimicking genuine confusion, then furrowed my brow as if trying to recall something. After a moment, I shook my head. "No, I… I don't remember," I said softly.
"Do you know what happened to your car?" she asked next, her voice gentle but probing.
"I… I don't know," I replied, shaking my head again. My voice carried just the right hint of uncertainty. "I don't remember anything."
For good measure, I added, "Wait… what's my name?" I let an appropriate amount of horror flash across my face, selling the act completely.
Clara's expression softened with concern. "Your name is Celia," she said, her voice kind. "Sierra told us." I wonder what else she has told them, i don't think she is dumb enough to tell them which pack i belong to.
She paused for a moment, then continued, "I'll send Eren to check on you. Maybe you hit your head harder than we thought. Don't worry—he's good. You'll be fine."
Clara stood and gave me a reassuring smile before glancing at Oliver. "In the meantime, Oliver will stay here with you."
I inwardly cringed at the idea of being stuck with him, but I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. For now, I had to maintain this act and hope it would buy me enough time to figure out my next move.