Chapter 2

Katarina's POV

A loud growl was suddenly heard in distance, a lot more intimidating and threatening as I barely turned my head to the source of the sound, still struggling to focus my vision from the impact.

I could make out what appeared to be a giant wolf. A massive, raven-haired wolf with piercing eyes looking our way. I couldn't help but whimper more and more. All the facets, combined with pain and terror made me shiver.

Still struggling to fight the dizziness, I felt the man on top of me tense. And faster than my eyes could follow, the wolf lunged toward us. A scream tore out of my mouth as I shielded my eyes with my hands as I waited for him to tear me into pieces for invading. But all I felt was weight lifting off me and something wet prickling my flesh.

My vision was blurring, the fatigue and pain had taken over me fully and my eyes darted in and out of the darkness. The last thing I felt was something feathery touch caressing my skin before I fully skim into unconsciousness.

***

"The wounds are lethal. Although there isn't any major injury superficially, her ribs are bruised internally, she needs rest to heal."

"Why she's taking longer to heal?"

I tried to open my eyes but found it to be a struggle. Two diverse voices fell upon my ears as I tried to recognize them, they were distant like someone was talking outside the door. Obliviousness washed over me and all the memories came wrecking into my head. The escape, the woods, the golden-haired wolf before I blacked out.

My lids felt heavy whilst they quivered from my perseverance, just to remain shut.

"I don't know, Alpha. I can sense her wolf but there's hardly any sign of her existence." I felt my coarse eyes open slowly, just to shut again from the bright lights above me. After a little struggle, my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness and I was able to look around.

I was lying in a hospital bed, wearing a light blue gown, the walls were bright white and the floors were concrete. To my right were monitors and an IV bag that connected to my arm. The bed seemed to be filled with a clear fluid, connected to the back of my hand that had my fingertips wrapped in bandages.

I somehow knew I wasn't back in Xerxes's lands for he never treats me after his ruthlessness. I had no idea where I was or who brought me here but that didn't stop me from fear prowling inside me in unfamiliar surroundings. Instead of thinking about who saved me, my mind became paranoid. Why would someone help me? No wolf brought a stranger to his or her pack. The question deduced one thing. I had to leave.

I ripped out the IV in my hand, bringing blood as the needle tore my skin. I raised myself from the bed as I unclipped the heart monitor off my fingers. The moment my feet tickled the cold ground, I heard alarms go off. In a panic, my eyes broadened and I tried to run for the door when my legs gave out. I fell to the floor letting out a pained moan.

The door flew open and in the surge, a man with raven hair stormed in. His piercing blue eyes framed over me as his brows narrowed in confusion. He was wearing brown leather shoes, blue jeans, a crisp white shirt with the top two buttons undone.

"Alpha," another man rushed in, wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope circling his neck.

Alpha.

I started to panic, recalling what happened every time I spend time with my moon blessed, Alpha of Alphas. This man was an Alpha, he serves Xerxes and now he would hand me over to him. He knew me. He knew what I was running from.

"Calm down, you're safe. I'm not gonna hurt you." He said while walking carefully towards me.

When I first met Xerxes, he lured me into a false feeling of safety before he became the definition of cruelty. His words were how my terror and anxiety exacerbated his pleasure. This man was trying to make me think I was safe, that he was trying to help me, and when I would rely on him, he would hand me over to that monster. No, I would never go back to him. Not again.

I shuffled backward in fear until my back hit the wall, my arms wrapped around myself as I hugged my knees to my chest.

"Hey, don't worry. No one's going to hurt you." The man in the white coat said as he walked closer and crouched down in front of me whilst my eyes remained on his hands the whole time making sure he couldn't make any sudden move to cage me. The man with sparkling electric eyes looked at me the whole time.

He reached his hand out to my hand which was bleeding from the sudden pull of the IV, causing me to flinch.

"I'm just going to check your vitals. Can you give me your hand?" He outstretched his hand, palm facing up. He didn't make any move to get closer and stared at him with uncertainty and uneven breath.

"Give him your hand." The man with blue eyes muttered from behind, my eyes immediately jerked towards him as he held my gaze into fierce one.

A sudden sparkle in his eyes startled me and I couldn't look away, he slowly nodded his head at me and I found myself trapped in his gaze. And before I realized I had placed my hand over the doctor's hand.

He gently checked my pulse now had stabilized a little and inspected the spot where IV was injected.

"Your pulse is stable for now but the bleeding hasn't stopped. How about we get you on the bed first?" The doctor gave me a gentle smile while softly pulling my hand to stand with his help.

"Alpha!"

I instantly curled back into a shaking ball on the floor, hugging my knees tightly. Someone had slammed the door open, alarming me. It was a man with dark hair and dark eyes. I could see his muscles stretch and flex as he took sharp breaths.

"What?" The man with blue eyes growled, snapping his head towards the door as he bared his teeth at him. I immediately closed my eyes shut. This was it. He was angry and now he would punish me for disobeying him.

"I-I.... you're awake! Finally! Alpha has been so worried."