Chapter 3 Chapter Three

Chapter Three

June's POV

I woke up the next morning to the aroma of freshly baked bread, mingled with a strong scent of medicine—something made from wood bark and ginger leaves.

Sitting up, I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. I groaned, and a sharp headache followed next.

What had happened to me?

The sun rays flickering through the window were blinding, but I tried to keep my eyes open anyway.

Something was wrong.

This wasn't my room.

The faint dark colors and fragrance that wafted through my nose.

The last time I checked, my room wasn't painted black, and I didn't like mint perfume.

“Awake already?” I trembled when I heard that voice. I didn't know who it was until I turned my gaze to the doorstep, and there he was, standing tall, a few steps away.

He was huge, muscular, and most particularly very handsome. He didn't look like just some ordinary person; the air around him exuded an intimidating aura, one that made me wonder who he truly was.

“Who are you?” I asked, slowly. I didn't raise my voice. I was still trying to remember what had happened, but my brain didn't seem to put the pieces together yet.

He stepped closer, and I moved backward, clutching the bedsheets. “Don't come close,” I warned, not able to meet his eyes. They burned with something quite fascinating. I was curious.

He didn't stop moving, and my brow furrowed when his thumb grazed my chin. “You don't tell me what to do, omega.”

Omega…

That single word sank into my skin deeper than it ought to. When he said that word, everything clicked. The broken puzzles pieced together, and everything started making sense.

The memories from yesterday seeped in. I remembered Adrian's betrayal—the lopsided grin on Paige's lips as she flaunted her new pregnancy and rubbed her victory in my face.

My chest clenched with something strong and painful—the broken bond was still there. Still breathing, still trying to break completely, but Adrian did everything to make it more painful.

Through my vision, I could see him growling and breaking things, and the angrier his wolf got, the more I felt deep pain.

My wolf, who was supposed to resist the pull, was now dormant. Elara wasn't surfacing anymore. She didn't even come alive when those rogues attacked me yesterday. She didn't do anything but just be silent.

“You're the big wolf from last night. The one with dirty boots?”

“Dirty boots.” He scoffed. “I was… yesterday was rough.” The way his Adam's apple moved up and down. I knew he still had something to say, but I didn't seem like someone he could trust with his words.

His thick voice pierced through the silence. “Weak wolf or strong wolf?”

I chuckled dryly. “You said it already. You called me omega. Do you know any strong omega?”

“Weak wolf then.” He frowned, straightening up. “You like it.”

Disappointment flickered in his dark eyes. Why did he look this way?

“You haven't answered my question. Who are you?” I asked again.

“June WolfClaw of BloodMoon Pack.”

My face brightened. I asked him who he was, and now he was saying my name? How did he know my name?

“You ask too many questions. After yesterday's encounter with those deadly rogues, you're supposed to be resting, not trying to stick your nose into my affairs.”

I grabbed his wrist before he could leave. “I only asked for your name. How's that poking my nose? You cannot stay hidden forever.”

His brow raised, glaring at me with his eyes blazing with strange amusement, and that was enough to warn me.

“Um… sorry,” I mumbled, loosening my grip. Pulling away, I wrapped my arms around myself. What is this feeling? There was a pull in my chest, but this wasn't just a pull… There was more to it. It seemed to awaken something in me, but I couldn't place it.

“Eat up.” He gestured toward the tray of food on the table. He stayed silent, watching me in silence for a minute before he broke the silence again. “I’ll take my leave now.” Then, he stormed out of the room.

I clutched my chest; maybe the pull was only a result of the burn on my chest; it should be my veins pulsing. I told myself, even though it felt hard to believe, that I didn't want to assume anything yet.

I wasn't dead yet, but I knew I wouldn't survive the next day either way. Not when my wolf still hid herself.

Standing up, I stood in front of the mirror, watching my reflection look back at me. I wasn't anything like the woman I was 24 hours ago. The vibrant, beautiful woman that every wolf in the pack envied—a noble healer.

I was now nothing but a shattered and pathetic wolf. That mysterious man was right.

My mother's necklace was still strapped around my neck, its pendant still glowing. That was the only thing I held onto now, the only thing I had now.

I didn't touch the food but gulped down the glass of water. I was still hungry and thirsty from last night, but I didn't have time to eat now.

I had to leave. There was something eerie about this place, and as I stepped out of the room, I became more afraid. Everywhere was painted in black, and the only illumination in the hallway was the flickering bulb light from the room.

“I have to exit here immediately,” I told myself. “This place is not for me.” I’d rather die at the hands of the rogues than die here. Something didn't seem right about this place.

“Where do you think you're going?” A deep voice resounded in the hallway. It was him! I trembled as I felt his hand wrapped around my waist, his breath close to my ear.

“W-what are you doing?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. His scent filled my nostrils, intoxicating my senses.

His eyes locked onto mine, his dark eyes glowing with perfection. I couldn't breathe; it was hard to.

“June.” He called, his right hand moving a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I can sense the half-shattered bond.”

“How do you know so much?”

He didn't answer me. The next growl did, and it was from me, from my wolf.

My brows widened. Elara was alive now!

“I know the reason behind those scars, and everyone who mistreated you will suffer for it.” Our faces were only an inch apart now.

My wolf was restless. She kept pacing and thudding as if she was going to break free any moment now.

This man's scent was too strong. I couldn't withstand it, but Elara kept everything in balance.

“M-...”

I cut in.

“Elara, don't,” I warned, but she pressed, whining.

“Alpha Cassian, he's our mate.”

I didn't want to accept it and thought it was definitely a joke until he growled in my ear,

“Mate.”