Maliyla's POV

I could feel the rogue's teeth digging deeper into my side; its growling could be heard as it bit deeper into me.

"Please help me, I don't want to die!" I screamed with tears streaming down my cheeks. As he licked his lips and lunged at my face, I saw his red eyes. My eyes filled with tears as I sat up straight on the bed.

'It was only a dream,' I thought to myself.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a tall, dark figure ran in, revealing a man's silhouette. The tiny amount of light that filtered through the sheer curtains drew my eyes to his abs; he was wearing just a pair of black sweats; at least, I assumed they were black. He moved quickly, crossing the room instantly. His face was hidden in the shadows, but I could feel his intense gaze. I felt my heart racing, and I could feel my body trembling as he stepped closer, my breath becoming labored as I anticipated what was to come.

His voice was deep yet soothing as he asked, "Are you alright?"

Due to my inability to formulate a coherent response, I nodded in agreement.

The man stood just a few feet away; I watched as he tilted his head before speaking, "It was just a dream. Try not to move too much; you'll tear your stitches," he said before turning to leave.

Since I had no idea where I was or who he was, I called out after him, "Where, where am I?"

Taking a moment to pause, he told me, "You're safe; you were attacked. We can discuss the details later. For now, just rest," before exiting the room.

I lay in bed, my head spinning with questions and confusion. Although I was relieved to be safe, I did not know what had happened. Ultimately, I had no choice but to trust the unknown man and rest as he instructed.

The sounds of curtains being opened woke me from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes to see a short woman hurrying around the room. Raising my head from the pillow, I noticed she had stopped in her tracks.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to wake you," the woman curtsied as she introduced herself as Jeanie, the housemaid. Jeanie apologized for entering the room without knocking but said she had been instructed to open the curtains and let in some light for me.

As Jeanie walked out, another woman wearing a white lab coat walked in. She was an older woman about five feet two inches tall with brownish hair. A pair of cat eyeglasses concealed her honey-brown eyes. She smiled and said, "Good morning, I'm Doctor Neal. I'm here to check on you and ensure you feel better."

With an understated nod, I sat up, wincing at the pain.

Doctor Neal looked up at me with an expression of concern on her face.

"How are you feeling aside from the pain?" she asked, walking toward the bedside and helping adjust the pillows.

I shifted on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. "I'm okay," I answered, my voice raspy from the pain and having just woken up, "It feels like I was run over by a truck."

Doctor Neal smiled sympathetically, "I know it hurts, but I'm here to help you through it," she said, placing her hand on my shoulder and gently squeezing, showing me she was there to help.

After taking my vitals, she checked the stitches on the wound bites, which had already begun to heal.

'At least I'll be able to get out of here soon,' I thought.

As she changed the wound dressing, it occurred to me that I still had no idea where I was. Looking up at her, I asked, "Where am I?"

A curious look crossed Doctor Neal's face, and she replied, "Crystal Blood Pack, you were brought here after you were attacked." She paused momentarily and then added, "You're lucky to be alive."

Despite feeling relieved, I was still uneasy about the situation. I watched Dr. Neal's' attention on my thigh as she finished dressing the wound.

"How long have I been here?" I muttered, wondering if she would tell me.

Dr. Neal looked up at me with a kind and concerned expression.

"You were brought here two days ago. But don't worry, you're safe here." She smiled reassuringly, "Rest now, and you'll be back on your feet in no time."

After packing up her medical bag, Dr. Neal walked out. The door closed behind her, and she left me in the room alone. As I sat on the bed, I glanced around the luxurious bedroom. The large bed and heavy velvet curtains gave the impression that it was expensively decorated. The walls were painted a deep navy blue, and a beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling. In a way, I wondered who might have stayed in this room before me.

Suddenly, the man from last night appeared in the bedroom door. Despite his formal attire, he possessed freshly combed hair, a set of light blue eyes that were mysterious and alluring, and a pronounced jawline. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, showing off tattooed arms, and his black slacks looked freshly ironed and creased. The scent of neroli and green tangerine filled the room as he stepped closer to the bed.

"Good morning, my dear," he said in a deep tone, never letting his gaze leave mine.

As he stepped closer, I felt shivers go through me. The closer he got, the quicker my pulse became. I knew I should be afraid, but I was strangely drawn to him for some reason. He seemed to sense this and smiled ever so slightly.

"So, what's your name, Bella?" he asked, a slight grin on his face.

My heart raced as I replied, "My name is Maliyla."

He nodded and replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Maliyla. I am Hector, Alpha of the Crystal Blood Pack."

Maliyla's POV

'Holy shit,' I thought, repeating his words in my head. Of all the packs I could have landed in, I landed in the pack with the Alpha, that nobody knew anything about. As I stared at him, I wondered what he was thinking, yet I couldn't help but admire his devilishly handsome looks. I found something intriguing about him, from the scars on his arms to his blue eyes. His expression was unreadable, but something about him pulled me in, and I couldn't look away. I felt my heart racing and my palms sweating as he stared back at me.

A smirk spread across his face as he approached the bed. He sat on the bed just inches from me when Jeanie, the housemaid I'd seen earlier, appeared. I watched as Jeanie handed Hector a tray, and he asked, "Are you hungry?"

Nodding in response, Hector placed the tray between us and lifted the silver top to reveal a selection of exotic fruits, cheeses, eggs, bacon, and a steaming cup of coffee.

"Eat," Hector muttered, offering me some fruit.

With a smile, I graciously accepted, and we both enjoyed a moment of awkward yet peaceful tranquility.

As I ate, Hector sat sipping his coffee; our awkward silence was finally broken when he spoke, "Tell me, Maliyla, what exactly were you doing out in the woods alone?" he asked with curiosity in his eyes.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, unsure how to answer. Since I wasn't ready to confess, all I could do was shrug and reply, "Exploring."

Laughing, Hector cocked his brow at me. "Exploring? At night? I find your lie rather interesting," he told me.

"You don't believe me?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly as I braced myself for his answer.

Taking a moment to study me, he replied, "No, I don't believe you. You're running away from something, and I'd like to know what it is."

It took me aback, and I didn't know what to say. I could feel my heart racing as I tried to come up with a response. Finally, I mumbled, "I'm not running away from anything."

"No? Then why carry a backpack filled with books and a duffle bag with a few clothing changes?" Hector challenged.

I gasped in surprise at his words. "You looked through my stuff?" I exclaimed, my voice shaking.

A flush of anger began to spread across my face when Hector nodded. "You can't just go around looking through people's belongings without permission," I yelled, "Have you ever heard of privacy invasions?"

As Hector rose from his bed, he laughed. I crossed my arms as I watched him gather the breakfast tray and place it on the dresser.

He stared at me for a moment before he spoke, "Invasion of privacy is something you do to help someone. As for your case, since you had been unconscious for two days, I had to find out whom to call to come get you." I watched Hector go to the closet and grab the bag I knew was mine. "However, nothing here tells me anything other than that you have a very odd choice in reading material," he concluded as he placed my backpack in front of me.

As Hector met my gaze, I could feel the tension in the air.

"So, are you going to explain to me why you were out there?" He asked, emphasizing the last word.

Unable to explain myself, I looked away. There was no excuse that he would understand, and lying seemed better than telling the truth. All I could do was shrug and mutter an apology, but everything in me said he deserved better than that.

Walking toward the door, he responded, "Very well; until I know who you really are, or until you tell me the truth, I am holding you captive. Consider the Crystal Blood Pack your new home," Hector advised as he left the room, leaving me in shock with my mouth open.

I could feel my heart racing as I tried to process what had happened. My eyes were wide in disbelief, unable to move or speak. As a result, I was still trying to figure out what to do. If I told Hector the truth, he could throw me out, and I was in no shape to fend for myself.

Thinking about it, I was in a new pack; I could turn it into a new home, like he said. However, the last thing I wanted was to be held captive by an Alpha who clearly had no respect for others' privacy.

As a result of my wounds, I was unable to go anywhere, so I read instead, trying to keep my mind off the conversation Hector and I had.

I was grateful for the fact that none of my books were damaged, as they were my only escape from reality. Many times in a book, I found I fantasized about the ruthless Lycan King I had fallen in love with. A smirk spread across my face as I closed my eyes and thought about him, "Alec."

He never failed to bring a smile to my face, and I wondered if I would find someone like him someday. Compared to my beloved book husband, Erick was nothing. A wave of sadness and anger washed over me when I thought of Erick. Even today, I still wonder why he rejected me and why my parents blamed me for everything.

Even after being kicked out of the pack and renouncing it, it felt like my world was crumbling around me, and I was powerless to stop it. I had to learn to regain control of my life and find the strength to move forward, but I had to get out of my current situation. Laying back in bed, I grabbed another book and began reading until I felt my eyes heavy; closing my eyes for a moment, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, I awoke to the feeling of someone watching me. Looking around the dark room, I saw a pair of blue eyes. The light brightened around him; he was as handsome as ever; everything in me wanted him. With a smirk, he came closer to me. He gently caressed my face as his fingers wrapped around my throat, and I gasped as he pushed me against the wall.

"You feel so fucken good, kitten," he said. My eyes flew open as I heard my wolf howl in pain. Tears fell from my eyes as I dropped to my feet and screamed out in agony.

I felt someone shake me and say my name: "Maliyla, wake up!" "Shhh... it's OK," Hector cooed as he knelt beside me, his hands on both sides of my face.

As he held my face, I felt a tingling sensation run through me. The only thing running through my mind as I stared into his eyes was, could it be what I believed it to be, or was this also a dream?

Maliyla's POV

The tingles his touch sent through my body awakened every fiber within me. The touch of his hand was gentle, and the tone of his voice was soothing. Immediately, I felt myself melting into him. Feeling his warmth and protection made me want to stay in his embrace forever. The feeling of homeliness was overwhelming to me. Leaving was no longer an option. Opening my eyes, I realized those weren't my thoughts, and my mind was suddenly a blur. After pulling away from Hector's embrace, I scooted to the edge of the bed and winced as the pain from the rogue attack struck me. Hector ran over to assist me, and I winced again.

"What are you doing?" Hector whispered.

I shook my head and mumbled, "I can't stay here. I need to leave."

As I stood up, he grabbed my arm and asked, "Please, just tell me what's wrong."

Looking into his eyes, I answered, "I'm sorry, I can't." A part of me wanted to get away from him, but his hold on me was intense.

While holding my arm, Hector asked, "Where will you go?"

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I yelled at him, "I don't have anywhere to go. The Alpha who rejected me for my best friend kicked me out of our pack!" Hector stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I took a breath and continued, "Two nights ago, I was asked to leave. That's why I was out in the forest. I was trying to get some sleep for the night, and in the morning, I was going to try to find a new pack, but then I was attacked, and you reused me, and I ended up here." I cried as I dropped to my knees and let the tears fall.

These tears had been in my heart for six months but had not been released. Clutching my hand to my heart and taking a few deep breaths, I said, "I apologize for any trouble I have caused you, and I will repay you for the medical treatments as well." I sobbed.

After wiping my face, I noticed Hector's expression had changed to anger, and I braced myself for whatever would come next when he asked.

"You said the Alpha of your pack rejected you six months ago? During the Wolf's Moon?" his voice was low and menacing.

"Yes," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper. I felt my heart pounding as I waited for Hector's response. A nervous rush coursed through my body as I realized what my answer meant.

Rather than responding, Hector just nodded and kneeled next to me. "Come," Hector cooed as he gently lifted my hand, helped me to my feet, and slowly encircled me in his arms. "Let's get you a warm bath; I'll have Jeanie assist you."

I felt tingles shoot through my body as his hands touched me. Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around his neck and whispered, "Thank you," as I looked up at him.

After guiding me to the restroom, he gently placed me on the vanity seat. Seeing his eyes glaze over, I knew he was mind-linking someone. When his eyes cleared, Hector asked, "Is there anything you need that you weren't able to pack?"

There were several things I hadn't brought, and it wasn't like I could have packed everything. I had only packed three changes of clothes and my essential items. In response, I shook my head and whispered, "No."

Hector smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I'll ensure you have everything you need," he told me.

My eyes lowered to the ground, unsure of what to say, when a knock on the bathroom door was heard, and Jeanie stepped in. "You asked for my help, Alpha?" she asked.

Hector nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes, please take care of Maliyla; ensure she has whatever she requires. I want her to be comfortable."

Jeanie nodded as she walked to the bathtub, ran the water, and grabbed towels. Sitting on the vanity seat, my mind was blank when suddenly I felt Hector's hand on my shoulder, and he called my name, "Maliyla."

Raising my eyes to meet his, I responded, "Hmm."

"What is the name of the pack you were kicked out of?" Hector growled.

"Blood Rose Pack," I muttered.

He nodded, reached out, and touched my arm. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. You're safe here." Hector assured, pausing before adding, "You're safe with me."

As I stared at him, my eyes filled with tears. It had been a long time since I felt safe or loved. After I nodded, Hector smiled, gently squeezing my arm and stepping away to give me privacy. After he left, Jeanie helped me into the bathtub. There was a look of curiosity in her eyes as she stared at me.

"What is it?" I asked. Jeanie shook her head, but I knew there was something she wanted to ask.

"It's okay. You can ask me anything, and it will stay between us," I reassured.

Jeanie hesitantly asked, "Are you really from the Blood Rose Pack?"

"That's right," I said firmly, "I'm from the Blood Rose Pack, or I should say I was."

Jeanie's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly composed herself. "It must have been difficult to leave," she whispered.

I nodded in response; Jeanie and I remained silent while I bathed before she aided me out of the tub and into a bathrobe. Jeanie helped me walk back to the bedroom, where I found a pair of black sweats and a white T-shirt laid out on the bed. While Jeanie helped me with the bandages, I asked about Hector, "Jeanie, are the rumors about Alpha Hector true?"

Jeanie stared at me confused. "What rumors?" she asked.

Shrugging my shoulders, I replied, "Several people believe he murdered his mate long ago; others believe the goddess is punishing him; some even think he is gay."

As Jeanie laughed, she asked, "Really? Why do they say such things?"

"As far as I know, Crystal Blood attends no ceremonies, including the Wolf's Moon Gala." Jeanie stared at me momentarily, almost contemplating what she would say. The response she gave was different from what I expected.

"If the rumors about Alpha Hector are true, then they must be true about what they say about the Blood Rose Pack, right?" she winked.

With a puzzled look on my face, I asked her, "What rumors?"

Jeanie smiled at me as she headed out of the bedroom, leaving me to wonder what the rumors about my former pack were.