_Leah's POV_

The next morning, I woke up in the small, cozy bed feeling more rested than I had in a long time. My muscles were still sore, but the intense pain from my wounds had lessened, thanks to Tariq's care. The sunlight streamed through the small window, casting a golden hue across the room. For a moment, I just lay there, taking in the peace and quiet. It was hard to believe that just a day ago, I had been on the verge of collapse.

I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes, and stretched my stiff limbs. The oversized dress Susan had given me was soft and comforting, far better than the torn rags I had been wearing before. My mind drifted to Tariq. He had been so kind, so gentle. I couldn’t understand why someone like him cared about me. But I was grateful, more than I could express.

The scent of something cooking reached my nose, and my stomach growled in response. I realized how hungry I was. Slowly, I stood up, careful not to jostle my bandaged wounds too much, and made my way downstairs.

In the small kitchen, I found Susan humming softly as she worked over the stove. The warm scent of herbs and something frying filled the room, and the fire in the hearth crackled cheerfully. She turned when she heard me, her face lighting up with a smile.

“Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?” she asked kindly.

“Yes, thank you,” I replied softly, feeling a little shy. I wasn’t used to this kind of warmth from others. “Everything was perfect.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said while wiping her hands on a towel. “Now, what would you like for breakfast?”

I hesitated. I did not want to be a bother. “Oh, whatever you have is fine. I am not picky.”

She chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. You’re a guest here, and we take care of our guests. How about some eggs, bacon, and fresh bread?”

I smiled, my mouth watering at the thought. “That sounds amazing.”

Susan busied herself with preparing the food, moving around the kitchen with ease and grace. I watched her, feeling an odd sense of comfort in the domesticity of it all. It reminded me of simpler times, back when my life hadn’t been filled with pain and heartache.

She set the table with two plates and motioned for me to sit down. “Here you go, dear,” she said and placed a plate in front of me, filled with eggs, bacon, and a thick slice of buttered bread. “Eat up. You need your strength.”

I picked up my fork and took a bite, savoring the delicious flavors. It was simple food, but it tasted like heaven after everything I had been through. As we ate, Susan sat across from me.

“Where’s Tariq?” I asked between bites, glancing around the room.

“He had to run an errand. He will be back soon.”

I nodded, feeling a little disappointed that he wasn’t here. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way, but I found myself looking forward to seeing him again.

Susan and I chatted for a while as we ate. She was easy to talk to, her voice soothing and calm. I asked her about their life here in the forest, and she told me their story.

“My husband, Tariq’s father, was once part of the Emerald Pack,” she began. “He was a good man, loyal to the pack. But one day, the Alpha accused him of stealing. It was a lie, of course, but the Alpha didn’t care. He banished us all; me, my husband, and our little Tariq, who was just a baby at the time.”

I looked at her with wide eyes, my heart aching for them. “That’s horrible. How could they do that?”

She shrugged, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “That’s the way of the world sometimes, dear. My husband tried to defend his honor, but it didn’t matter. We were cast out, forced to live in the wilderness. It was a hard life, but we managed. Until...”

Her voice trailed off, and I saw the pain in her eyes. I reached across the table and gently touched her hand. “What happened?” I asked softly.

“Rogues,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “They attacked us one night. My husband... he fought them off, but he didn’t survive.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. “I’m so sorry, Susan. That must have been awful.”

She nodded. “It was. But Tariq and I survived. We have been living here ever since, making the best of things. It’s peaceful, at least. And I am grateful for that.”

I squeezed her hand, my heart aching for her loss. “You’re very strong, Susan. I don’t know how you have managed all these years.”

She gave me a small smile. “We do what we have to, don’t we? Life goes on, and we must find a way to live.”

Before I could say anything more, there was a knock at the door. Susan stood up quickly, wiping her hands on her apron. “That must be Tariq,” she said with a smile.

She went to the door and opened it, and sure enough, Tariq stepped inside, carrying a few bags. His eyes immediately found mine, and he smiled softly as he set the bags down on the table.

“I see you’re feeling better this morning,” he said, his voice warm and gentle.

“I am,” I replied, smiling shyly. “Thank you for everything, Tariq. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He waved his hand dismissively as he walked to the sink to wash his hands. “There’s no need for that. I’m just glad you’re alright.”

Susan served him a plate of breakfast, and he joined us at the table. As we ate, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. It was strange, sitting here with these people who had been strangers to me just yesterday, but now it felt like I was part of something... something good.

_Leah's POV_

Once we had finished eating, Tariq turned to me, his expression thoughtful. “Did you sleep well last night?” he asked.

“I did,” I said, nodding. “Better than I have in a long time. Thank you, Tariq. And thank you, Susan, for your hospitality.”

Susan smiled warmly at me, but I noticed Tariq’s eyes lingered on me, as if he was trying to figure something out. Finally, I couldn’t hold back the question that had been nagging at me since last night.

“Tariq,” I began hesitantly, “last night, you said something about me being... a queen. What did you mean by that?”

Tariq’s expression shifted, growing more serious. He cleared his throat, glancing at his mother before turning back to me. “Leah, there is something that you need to know. You are the last descendant of a powerful bloodline. A royal bloodline, in fact.”

I stared at him, my heart skipping a beat. “What? No, that can’t be right. I’m... I’m an omega. My mother was an omega, and my father.....”

“Your mother was royalty,” Tariq interrupted gently. “She was the rightful heir to a throne, but she chose to walk away from it. She gave up her crown when she mated with your father, an ordinary man.”

I shook my head, unable to process what he was saying. “No, that’s impossible. My mother never told me any of this.”

“She couldn’t,” Susan interjected softly. “Your mother went to great lengths to protect you. You see, there’s an ancient curse on your bloodline, placed by a rival Alpha long ago. Your mother hid your identity to keep you safe. She even sealed your powers with the help of a witch.”

I blinked at her, feeling completely overwhelmed. “Sealed my powers? What are you talking about?”

“Your mother was powerful, Leah, and so are you. But she used magic to suppress your wolf, to make you appear weaker. She did it to protect you from those who might seek to harm you because of the curse.”

My mind was spinning. “But... if she sealed my powers, how will they come back? How do you know all of this?”

Tariq and Susan exchanged a glance, and it was Tariq who spoke first. “My mother is a seer, Leah. She has psychic gifts. She foresaw this long ago.”

Susan nodded. “And the seal on your powers has already started to break. When Kayden rejected you, it triggered the return of your abilities. They will come back gradually, and when they do, you will be stronger than you have ever imagined.”

I sat there, stunned, trying to wrap my mind around everything they were telling me. I was supposed to be... royalty? Me? An omega who had spent her entire life being told she was worthless?

“I... I don’t understand,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why are you helping me? Why do you care?”

Susan’s eyes softened, and she reached across the table to take my hand. “Your mother saved our lives once, Leah. When the Alpha of the Emerald Pack accused my husband, we were all going to be executed. But your mother used her royal status to lighten our sentence. Thanks to her, we were only banished. We owe her everything.” She looked me in the eyes, her gaze full of warmth and sincerity. “Now, I will do whatever it takes to protect her daughter. You.”

My chest tightened. This was all so much to take in. My mother… a royal? And me, too? I felt like I was caught in a whirlwind. How could this be possible? All my life, I had been treated as nothing more than an omega. The lowest of the low. And now, they were telling me I was of royal blood?

I glanced between Susan and Tariq, my mind reeling. “This has to be a joke. There is no way this is true. I can’t be… I am just…” I struggled to find the words. I was feeling utterly overwhelmed. “I am just an omega. I can’t accept this.”

Tariq’s eyes were gentle as he looked at me. “Leah, I know that this is hard to believe. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Wait a few more days. Your powers are returning, and when they do, you’ll feel it. Then, you’ll know we’re telling the truth.”

Could it really be true? I shook my head, trying to push away the doubt creeping in. It didn’t feel real. It felt impossible. But deep down, there was a small part of me that wondered… What if they were right?

We finished breakfast in relative silence. My thoughts were a chaotic storm of confusion, disbelief, and a strange sense of hope. When Susan stood to clear the dishes, I felt guilty just sitting there.

“Let me help,” I offered. I stood up quickly. “I can wash the dishes.”

Susan gave me a kind smile and shook her head. “No, dear. You have been through enough. You rest. Let me take care of it.”

I hesitated, feeling useless, but I finally nodded and sat back down. I was still too sore to argue much, anyway.

Tariq stood up as well. “I need to check your wounds,” he said. “Let me help you change the bandages and see if they are healing properly.”

I felt a strange flutter in my stomach at his words, but I nodded. “Okay."

He led me back upstairs to the small room where I had slept. The air felt cooler here, the light softer, but my heart was racing. I sat on the bed, pulling up my shirt to expose the bandages on my back. Tariq's touch was gentle as he began unwrapping the fabric.

“Does it hurt much?” he asked quietly.

“Not as much as before,” I admitted. “You did a good job.”

His lips curved into a small smile, but his focus remained on my wounds. I watched him as he worked, noticing the way his brow furrowed slightly in concentration. His hands were so careful, treating me as if I were something fragile. I wasn’t used to this kind of care. Not from anyone.

The bandages finally came off, revealing the gashes that ran down my back.

“They’re healing,” Tariq said softly, his fingers brushing lightly over the edges of the wound. “But you will need to rest for a few more days.”

I nodded, unable to find the words. There was something about being this close to him, with his hands on me, that made my heart race. He was so calm, so focused. And it made me feel safe. Maybe, I was romantically attracted to Tariq.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He glanced up at me, his eyes locking onto mine. “You don’t have to thank me, Leah.”

But I did. I felt like I owed him everything. He had saved me when I had no one else. And as much as I wanted to deny it, a part of me wanted to believe him. To believe that I wasn’t just the broken omega I had always thought I was.

Maybe… just maybe… I was something more.

_Kayden’s POV_

I stormed into the packhouse. I was furious. How in the hell had she escaped? I had personally ordered my guards to keep that cellar heavily guarded. No one should have been able to slip in or out without my explicit command. And yet, Leah was gone. Disappeared, as if she had vanished into thin air.

The guards had searched everywhere, combing through the packhouse and the woods surrounding the territory. There was no sign of her. No scent. No tracks. Nothing. It was as if she had never even existed.

I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact cracking the wood paneling. “Find her!” I roared to the nearest guard. “I don’t care what it takes. I want every inch of this land searched again. Do you understand?”

The guard flinched, but he nodded quickly before running out the door to relay my orders.

Where could she have gone? I paced back and forth, my mind racing with questions. Who had helped her? There had to be a traitor in the pack. Someone had betrayed me, had defied my orders, and let Leah out. It was the only explanation. But who? I trusted my guards, or at least I thought I did. Now, I wasn’t sure who to trust anymore.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, the anger boiling hotter. Leah’s escape was a direct threat to everything I had built. If she was free, she could cause problems for Selena and me. She could reveal things that would tear this pack apart, and I couldn’t let that happen.

I should have killed her when I had the chance. The thought gnawed at me like a relentless beast. If I had just ended her miserable life, I wouldn’t be in this mess right now. She wouldn’t be a danger to us. But I had hesitated, thinking I could break her, punish her into submission. Now I was paying the price for my mistake.

The door behind me creaked open, and I turned to see Selena walking in. Her expression was calm, but I could see the slight worry in her eyes.

She walked over to me, placing a hand on my arm. “Kayden, you need to calm down. You’re going to drive yourself mad like this.”

“How can I calm down, Selena?” I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. “Leah is gone. We have searched everywhere, and there is no trace of her. She could be out there plotting something right now, for all we know.”

Selena frowned, but there was a softness in her eyes that I couldn’t ignore. “I understand, Kayden. But you have to remember that we have already increased security around the pack. There is no way she could get back in without being caught. And if she’s still in the area, the guards will find her.”

I shook my head. “But what if she’s already gone too far? What if someone took her out of the territory?”

Selena stepped closer, her hand resting gently on my chest. “Kayden, listen to me. It is possible that she is already dead. If she escaped into the forest, there are rogues out there. She wouldn’t have survived long on her own in her condition.”

I frowned, the thought swirling in my mind. Could that be true? Leah had been weak when I last saw her. Broken. The beating I gave her was meant to make sure she wouldn’t be a threat. If she had somehow made it out of the pack’s territory and crossed paths with rogues, they would have finished her off for me. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she might survive, that she might find a way to come back and ruin everything.

“I hope that you are right,” I muttered while running a hand through my hair. “I can’t afford any mistakes, Selena. Not now.”

Selena gave me a small smile and leaned into me, pressing her body against mine. “You worry too much,” she said, her voice soft and sweet. “Leah won’t cause any problems for us. And even if she does, we will handle it together. We are stronger than she is.”

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close, though my mind was still racing. Selena had always been able to calm me down, but this situation felt different. It wasn’t just about Leah being gone. It was the uncertainty, the feeling that I had lost control.

Selena tilted her head up to look at me, her eyes shining with excitement. “Instead of worrying about Leah, why don’t we focus on more important things? Like our engagement. I can’t wait to get married to you, Kayden. To finally be your wife and mark you as mine.”

Her words should have made me feel better. I should have been thrilled by the thought of our engagement, of marking her and making her my mate in every way. But a part of me, small and buried deep inside, felt uneasy. I had pushed aside my bond with Leah, convinced myself that it didn’t matter, that Selena was the one I truly wanted. But now, with Leah gone, that small part of me twisted in confusion and regret.

I forced a smile, trying to push the thoughts away. Selena was my future. Leah was nothing but a memory, a mistake that needed to be erased.

“You’re right,” I said, brushing my fingers through Selena’s long, golden hair. “We should focus on us. Leah is gone. She won’t ruin what we have.”

Selena smiled brightly, standing on her toes to kiss me softly on the lips. “That’s better. No more worrying about her. Soon, we’ll be married, and everything will be perfect.”

I kissed her back, trying to let go of the tension in my chest. “I love you, Selena,” I whispered against her lips.

“I love you too, Kayden,” she murmured, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “And I’ll always be by your side. Nothing can come between us.”

Her confidence was reassuring, and for a moment, I let myself believe her words. Leah was out of the picture now. Whatever had happened to her, whether she was dead or hiding somewhere, it didn’t matter. I had Selena. I had my pack. Nothing could threaten that.

But deep down, a nagging feeling lingered. A sense of unfinished business. I couldn’t shake the thought that Leah was still out there somewhere, plotting her revenge. And if she was, I would have to deal with her once and for all.