CHAPTER 3

Aria's POV

I opened my eyes to the soft spill of sunlight brushing across the curtain, painting golden lines over the walls. For a long moment, I just lay there in silent trying to remember where I was. The faint scent of herbs and smoke clung to the air, and then it hit me: I wasn’t home.

Slowly, I sat up. My palms pressed against the sheets, expecting pain to shoot through my body but nothing came. No ache. No soreness.

“How… how is that possible?” I whispered to myself.

The last thing I remembered was collapsing in the forest, my body cold and bleeding. And now? Not a single mark. My skin was smooth, my limbs strong, as if nothing had happened.

I swung my legs over the bed, my toes sinking into the soft rug. The room felt unfamiliar yet comforting the kind of place that made you want to stay even when you knew you shouldn’t.

I turned and saw a door.

" that must be the washroom" I said to myself as I approached it.

It was beautiful , too beautiful for someone like me. The marble tub shimmered under the morning light, a wide mirror reflected my pale face, and the faint fragrance of lavender drifted through the air. A towel was neatly folded on the counter, and a brand new toothbrush sat beside a small glass of water.

It was as if someone had known exactly what I needed.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face, letting the cool water slide down my skin. The feeling was heavenly , refreshing and grounding. For a moment, I closed my eyes, trying to calm the rush of questions crowding my mind.

When I stepped back into the room, tightening the robe around me, I startled in see the Luna

" how the fuck did she get in here" I said to myself

She was sitting on the edge of my bed, serene as the morning itself.

Her presence filled the room before she even spoke. She was radiant — elegant yet fierce, with an aura that made you instinctively lower your guard. Her soft smile only deepened that feeling.

“Good morning, dear,” she said gently.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “Good morning… I—I didn’t expect anyone to be here.”

“I wanted to see you before we left,” she said, standing. “You look better — stronger. I’m glad.”

“Stronger,” I repeated, glancing down at my hands. “I feel… perfect, actually. It’s strange.”

“I need to see him,” I said quickly, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I need to thank him for saving my life.”

Her expression softened, though something unreadable flickered in her eyes. “Andrew and I won’t be around today. There’s a meeting we must attend outside the pack. But I wanted to see you before we left — to make sure you were truly healing.”

I nodded, disappointment sinking quietly into my chest.

“I understand,” I murmured.

She stepped closer, her hand brushing gently over my arm. “Rest, Aria. You’ve been through a lot. Once we return, you’ll have the chance to speak with him.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For everything.thank you for your concern especially to a stranger like me ".

“You’re safe here,” she said softly,

Safe here. Honestly I feel safe which is not supposed to be.

I sat in silence for a while after the Luna left staring at the door she had walked out from. She’d told me she and the Alpha had a meeting outside the territory and wouldn’t be back until later that night. Her words were kind, her tone warm, but once she was gone, the quiet felt heavier.

Not long after, two maids came into the room one holding a tray of food, the other carrying a neat stack of folded clothes.

“The Luna asked us to bring these for you,” one of them said, placing the tray on the table beside the bed.

“Thank you,” I said softly, taking the clothes from the other.

They nodded politely and left, their footsteps fading down the hall.

The smell of food made my stomach twist with hunger. I hadn’t realized how long it’d been since I’d eaten properly. I sat down and ate every bite, letting the warmth chase away the cold ache inside me.

Afterward, I slipped into the fresh clothes they brought a cream-colored top and dark brown trousers that felt soft against my skin and tied my hair into a loose bun.

I looked in the mirror for a long moment. My reflection barely looked like me anymore the cuts and bruises were gone, my skin smooth and clear.

“How is this possible?” I whispered to no one.

Still, as healed as I looked, something inside me felt off.

I have been here for three days now , three days in a strange world surrounded by people I didn’t understand. My mom would be worried sick by now. Kate would have called everyone she knew. And Liam… my boyfriend probably thought I’d disappeared for good.

I sighed deeply and decided I needed to move to feel the air again, to remind myself I was still alive.

When I opened the door, a guard was standing by the staircase. He straightened immediately when he saw me.

“You’re supposed to be in your room, miss,” he said firmly.

“I know,” I replied carefully. “But I just need to take a walk. I’ve been inside for days.”

He hesitated, his gaze flicking toward the window like he was considering whether to stop me.

“I promise I won’t go far,” I added quickly. “Just around the garden.” as if I knew there was a garden.

After a pause, he nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t wander too far, and stay within the walls.”

“I will,” I said, offering a grateful smile before stepping outside.

The air was cool and refreshing, brushing gently against my face. The garden was even more beautiful than I imagined it to be ,tall trees, trimmed hedges, and a narrow stone path winding through fields of wildflowers. I walked slowly, taking in the quiet, trying to steady the mess of thoughts in my head.

But then… I saw Derick.

He sat under a tall oak tree in what looked like a secluded part of the garden. His back rested against the trunk, a chair beside him, and his golden eyes seemed to catch the sunlight even from where I stood.

Something something I couldn’t name pulled me toward him.

I hesitated, but my feet moved anyway. “Hi,” I said softly when I was close enough.

He looked up, his gaze sharp and cold. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I just wanted some air,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm.

He stood, slow and deliberate, every movement measured. “You don’t belong here,” he said flatly. “And you don’t have to walk around like you own the place.”

I blinked, confused and a little hurt. “I wasn’t I was just walking.”

“Then walk somewhere else,” he snapped, his voice harsh enough to sting. “You think just because my father saved you, you can roam around freely? This isn’t your world. You’re human. Weak. You don’t fit in here.”

His words hit like cold water.

My chest tightened, but I tried to steady my breathing. “Why are you being so rude? I didn’t do anything to you.”

Derick’s jaw flexed. His golden eyes darkened, and for a moment I thought I saw something flicker behind them pain, maybe but it vanished as quickly as it came.

“Because people like you don’t survive here,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’ll only get yourself killed, and I don’t need another human mess to clean up.”

I swallowed hard, his words slicing deeper than I wanted them to. My voice trembled when I finally spoke.

“I wonder how this kingdom or whatever you call it will be when it’s your turn to be Alpha. Because if this is how you treat people, the peace your father built will be gone the second you take over.”

His expression hardened, and I didn't care.

I turned quickly before he could see the tears welling in my eyes knowing fully well that he saw them. My throat burned, and my chest felt tight as I walked out of the compound, not even knowing where I was going I just wanted to go home back to my mom, to Kate, to the life I understood.