Chapter 2

Anastasia

I wake up to the most excruciating pain all over my body. The first thing I see is white walls. A strong smell of disinfectant passes through my nose. I look around me, and I think I’m in a hospital. It’d explain the horrible smell and why I’m wearing a hospital gown.

I can’t believe I survived. I really thought I was going to die. I was wondering how I got to the hospital when I heard voices outside my door. There are none I recognize, and the hospital doesn’t look like our pack hospital. Where in God’s name am I? The muttering stops, and two people walk in. One is a doctor, and the other is my mate.

This is the first good look I’m getting of him. I couldn’t see him because of everything that was happening. Now that I can – oh my – is he handsome. He has the most beautiful piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen in my life. His nose is straight, and his lips are perfectly sized, all red and ready for me to kiss. His jaw is straight and sharp, making him look like a Greek god. He has raven black hair. It’s disheveled, as if his hands have been running through it a lot of today.

“Hello dear, how are you feeling?” the doctor asks.

“I’m…” I try to speak, but my throat is sore.

“Have some water. You’ve been asleep for a while, so your throat must be sore,” the doctor says, handing me a glass of water.

“Thank you,” I say once I’m done downing the cup of water.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Anastasia Smith,” I say, my voice lower than I was going for. I think my body is still exhausted from the attack.

“Alright, which pack are you from?”

“Dark Moon Pack. Why are you asking me these questions? Where am I?” I ask, getting confused with what’s going on.

“Honey, you’re in the Alpha King’s territory. We need to inform your Alpha about your whereabouts.”

I feel like my eyes are about to fall out of their sockets. How in God’s name did I get here?

“What did you just say? Who brought me here?” I ask, confused.

“I brought you here,” my mate says, speaking for the first time. He barely looks at me. He’s been staring straight ahead as the doctor speaks to me.

“My mom must be worried sick about me. I need to go back to my pack.” My mom, Matt, and Chloe must be going out of their mind. Maybe, not Matt. He did cheat on me. He’ll be happy I’m gone. I feel ready to cry.

“You’re not going anywhere,” the doctor says.

“Why?”

“Because you’re badly injured, and you need all the rest you can get,” the doctor says.

“At least let me call my mom and tell her I’m fine.”

“I’ll inform your pack Alpha. He will inform your mother,” my mate says.

“Thank you.” I sigh, relieved.

“Since I have the information I need, I’ll leave,” he says and walks out of the room. I didn’t get to find out his name. The way he talks to me is so cold. I wonder why.

“You rest now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to press that button,” she says, pointing at the button close to the bed.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, rest now,” she says and walks out.

***

After the day I woke, I hadn’t seen my mate again. It’s been two weeks since I arrived at the hospital. I’ve seen only the doctor and a few nurses who take care of me. I was injured badly. It’s taking time for Eva to heal my wounds.

I’m leaving today, and I can’t wait to finally see some color around me and escape these white walls. I finished changing into the jeans and white T-shirt the nurse brought for me. When I leave the room, there’s a man waiting for me. He looks handsome but not as attractive as my mate. He has an aura of authority, but I don’t think he’s an Alpha.

“Hello, my name is Dante, but you can call me Dan. I’m His Majesty’s Beta,” he says with a soft smile.

“Hi, I’m Anastasia, but you can call me Ana,” I say, smiling back.

I know I’m in the Alpha King’s territory, but why is he sending his Beta to take me home? Maybe he has a good relationship with my pack’s Alpha.

“Do you have everything you need?” he asks.

“I came with nothing.”

“Alright, let’s get you home,” he says and walks toward the door. I follow behind him. I’m so happy I’m going home. I can’t wait to see mom and Chloe. I miss them terribly.

After leaving the hospital, we didn’t go to a vehicle as I expected but traveled a few blocks and stopped at a large mansion. People are staring at me as we walk, and I wonder why. I know I was badly injured, but I don’t think my scars look that bad. They should heal with time.

The Alpha King’s territory is beautiful. Flowers are everywhere, and the houses are far bigger and more beautiful than the ones back home. I thought Dan was taking me home. Why did he bring me to someone’s house?

“Excuse me, what are we doing here?” I ask as we reach the front door of the mansion.

“I brought you home, as I said,” he says, looking at me like I have two heads.

“This isn’t my home. I thought you were going to drive me back to my pack,” I say, looking at him like he’s the one with two heads.

“Why would I do that?”

“So I can go home.”

“This is your new home.”

“I don’t want a new home. I want to go back to where I’ve lived my whole life.” Why are they trying to keep me here? I know my mate is here, but it should be left for me to decide if I want to stay or not.

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Why would you say that?”

“You’re mated to the Alpha King.”

“Excuse me, mated to who now?” I ask, in shock. I don’t believe what he’s telling me.

“You’re the Alpha King’s mate.”

“That is not possible.”

I know that the night I was attacked, I was saved by an Alpha but not the Alpha King. How can my mate be the Alpha King? He’s the most feared and ruthless wolf in the known world. How can he be my mate? Is this a sick joke because I wanted to reject my mate? I can’t be mated to the Alpha King.

“I think you know it’s possible. You just don’t want to accept it.”

“Of course, I don’t want to accept it. He’s the Alpha King, for God’s sake. Don’t you know who he is?” I ask, then remember he’s his Beta. “What am I saying, of course, you know who he is. You’re his Beta.”

“I know you have heard stories about how ruthless our Alpha King is, but I want you to know he would never hurt you.”

“I’ve heard stories of him hurting women.” The stories of his cruelty are terrifying.

“All lies. Our Alpha King might be cruel but would never lay a finger on a woman.”

“You’re sure?”

“I can guarantee it.”

“Alright,” I say, feeling some of my anxiety reduced.

“Now, let’s get you inside so you can rest. I don’t want the Alpha to have my head if you catch a cold.”

“You’re joking, right?” I ask, worried.

“Of course, I am,” he says, smiling.

***

Dan left after giving me a tour of the Alpha King’s mansion. It’s beautiful like everything in this territory. It’s a lovely two-story building. It’s late at night, and I’m waiting for my mate to come home. I still don’t know my mate’s name. I went to a human school, so there was no special werewolf history class growing up, and he looks a few years older than me. I doubt they would have spoken about him in history class if we had one.

I’m sitting in the living room waiting for him. It feels like an eternity when he finally comes back. I don’t see him at first, but I smell his scent, and it’s lovely. I walk to the front door to meet him.

“Hello,” I say, smiling once I see him.

“What are you doing awake?” he asks in a cold voice.

“I was waiting for you,” I say, my smile falling as I find myself confused.

“Why would you wait for me? Do you need anything?”

“No, I don’t need anything. I thought it’d be nice to wait for my mate before I went to bed.”

“Your mate,” he says with a dark chuckle.

“Yes, you’re my mate.”

“Yes, I am. But that does not mean I see you as my mate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me tell you something. Being mates means nothing. I don’t believe in mates, never will, never have,” he says, taking steps closer, spitting every word into my face. His beautiful blue eyes are dark and filled with anger. I don’t understand why he’s talking to me like this. Does he want to reject me? Please don’t reject me, my heart cries. I know I planned to reject my mate, but after being in his presence, I can’t imagine my life without him.

“Are you rejecting me?” I ask, feeling my eyes pool with tears.

“No. I’m not. But you’re going to wish I had.”