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.

Maliyla's POV

As the day went on, it passed slowly. The only visitors I had were Doctor Neal, who came to check my vitals and change the bandages, and Jeanie, who brought me lunch. Dr. Neal informed me that the wounds should be fully healed in two days. Meanwhile, I was advised to take it easy and relax. The only comfort I saw in that was that I could stay here longer and develop a game plan for my next move. Although in the back of my mind, I honestly didn't want to leave. Something about this place just felt right, and of course, Hector was easy on the eyes.

Upon returning to the bedroom from the restroom, I heard voices.

A man I didn't know asked, "What will you do?"

"She can stay here for now. I'll figure out how to tell her eventually. The rejection hurt her wolf, but she will return with time." Hector replied.

"What about the Blood Rose Pack?" the other voice asked.

"It won't be easy, but I will devise a plan. I refuse to let her suffer longer than she has," Hector growled.

"I understand and don't worry, I will do whatever it takes to help," the other voice said.

A short silence followed before the sound of a door opening and closing caught my attention. I was just about to step out from behind the door when it suddenly slammed right into me, making me fall back on the floor. I yelled out in pain and rubbed my forehead; I looked up only to see it was none other than Hector, who stood in the doorway grinning.

"Did you know that eavesdropping on other people's conversations is an invasion of privacy?" he asked, crossing his arms. As I stood, I glared at him.

"Did you know? A door hitting someone intentionally is assault," I replied. Hector gasped as if I had just said something outrageous; a loud laugh erupted as he exclaimed, "Well, I never!"

A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I gave him the finger and walked away, knowing I had made my point. As I headed toward the bed, I noticed a tray.

"I had Jeanie bring dinner to the room for us," Hector smiled as he walked past me. The grin on his face suggested he already knew what I would reply.

My brows furrowed at his choice of words, "US?" I repeated.

"Yes, I thought you'd prefer company rather than eating alone. If not, I can leave, and you can dine by yourself if you wish." Hector teased, knowing I had already been in this room for two days.

As he removed the cover from the tray, I limped back to my bed and sat down in deafening silence. I watched as he pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down, his gaze never leaving my face. The warmth in his eyes softened my heart, and my anger melted away. I lowered my gaze and mumbled a quiet, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Hector murmured, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips as he handed me a plate of food.

There was nothing not to like about the food. It was a perfect meal with sirloin steak and steamed vegetables. Hector's face was filled with contentment as he watched me eat.

A sly smile spread across his face as he asked, "Tell me about the books you read?"

As soon as my books were mentioned, I felt my face flush. What could I say about the books? Even my parents didn't understand my fascination with them. I smiled shyly,

"Um, what would you like to know about them?" I asked.

"Well, tell me what they are about?" Hector replied as he stood up and grabbed one of the books off the nightstand. "What about this one?" he asked, holding up Alec, the Lycan King, who was my ultimate love.

I took a breath as my face flushed before I began explaining the book as quickly as possible.

"Umm, it's basically 50 Shades of Gray meets Twilight," I sighed as I shrugged my shoulders.

Hector looked at me perplexed; it was obvious that he was not understanding what I was saying.

I smiled and said, "It's a romantic fantasy novel full of drama, sex, and suspense."

"So porn basically, and about werewolves interesting," Hector chuckled as he placed the book down.

"Whatever," I replied, rolling my eyes as I took a bite of my steak. Then I tilted my head to the side and decided to ask him a personal question as well. "Is it true?" I asked.

Hector's brows furrowed. "Can you be vaguer?" he replied.

I chuckled at his reply, "Are the rumors about you true?" I responded.

His eyes narrowed as he frowned. "It depends on the rumor. Tell me, and I'll let you know if it is true," he answered.

"Well, I've heard you killed your mate. Some say you're being punished for past sins, and some believe you're gay." I feigned a couch at the end.

Hector stared at me for a few moments before he laughed. "The rumors are false," he said. "I'm not being punished, and I'm definitely not gay."

In response, I asked, "Well, if you're not being punished, why don't you let your pack attend any of the other packs' ceremonies?"

"Who said we didn't attend?" Hector challenged.

"Well, I've never seen you at any events before, so I assumed everyone wasn't allowed," I muttered.

In response, Hector smiled and said, "Well, they are free to attend, but I choose not to."

"What about your mate?" I mumbled.

As he looked at me, he asked, "What about her?"

"Do you not have one?" I asked.

A smirk spread across his face. He responded, "Who said I didn't have a mate?"

Having no idea what to say, I remained silent. As Hector stepped closer to me, he smiled.

"I have a mate. The only problem is, I'm not sure if she knows we are mates," he said as he leaned closer to me, just inches from my face.

I stared into his eyes, feeling a connection I could not explain.

He gently brushed a strand of hair from my face and whispered, "Maybe she'll find out soon." He stepped back, and I blushed, realizing what he had just insinuated.

Maliyla's POV

A second chance, mate? Is that even possible? How is that even possible? Did I even want one? What about my wolf?

All these questions ran through my head as I pondered Hector's words. I wasn't sure if I was ready to open my heart to someone else. As soon as we had finished eating, Hector left. He said he would come back to check on me in the morning. Yet, I couldn't sleep; I kept thinking about Erick's rejection, how my parents turned against me, the conversation I overheard between Hector and an unknown voice, and I was worried about the rumors Jeanie told me about the Blood Rose pack.

My head pounded after all the things I had running through my mind. My decision to get some fresh air led me to the balcony. There was a subtle calm in the air, the stars twinkling in the night sky, along with a gentle light coming from the moon. The cool air calmed my racing heart as I breathed deeply and allowed my mind to rest. After closing my eyes and listening to the wind rustling the trees, I relaxed, letting go of the worries that had been weighing me down. For a split second, my mind was at peace, and I was enjoying the tranquility of the night.

When suddenly, "What are you still doing awake?" Hector's voice startled me, and I jumped. I realized I had been so lost in the moment that I hadn't heard him approach. My eyes opened as I turned to look at him.

A small smile spread across my face as I said, "Just taking in the night." A knowing smile spread across his face as he nodded.

"It's so peaceful here, isn't it?" Hector whispered, looking up at the stars as he approached me. We shared a moment of peaceful silence, just admiring the night sky. As he leaned forward against the balcony, his arm brushed mine.

There was something stirring inside me, and I heard a whisper, "MATE." As my heart pounded, I quickly stepped away. Hector didn't seem to notice, still mesmerized by the night sky. I had to get away; 'there must be an explanation,' I thought. As I turned to walk inside, I felt the warm touch of his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, his eyes filled with emotion.

"Come here, let me help you," Hector said, effortlessly picking me up and carrying me back to bed. Having positioned me on the edge of the bed, I watched as he pulled back the covers, lifted me into the middle of the bed, and covered me.

"Go to sleep now, Bellissima," Hector said, gazing into my eyes before turning and walking out; suddenly, he turned and whispered, "Sweet Dreams."

'What the hell is happening?' I thought, covering my face in my hands, 'Nothing is happening apart from Mate taking care of us,' I heard a voice say.

"Who's there?" I wailed, looking around the entire room, only to find I was alone.

'There is no one else in the room but us, stupid,' I heard the voice say again.

Pulling the blanket over me, "W-who said that?" I gulped as I cowered in the bed.

The voice responded, 'I did. Close your eyes and focus on my voice.'

"Are you trying to kill me?" I whispered.

'You just need to take deep breaths and clear your mind,' the voice instructed.

After doing as the mysterious voice instructed, what appeared to be a white cloud began to form, and the feeling of peace gradually came over me as I relaxed. A beautiful meadow soon greeted me, and I smiled at its beauty.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I heard a voice behind me say. As I slowly turned, I saw a white wolf with bright blue eyes.

As I stared at the majestic animal before me, I felt a sense of familiarity. "How do I know you?" I asked.

With a slight giggle, she said, "It's me, Hathor, your wolf."

My eyes widened in surprise as I stared at her. "Where have you been?" I whispered as I threw my arms around her neck. The bristles on her white fur were so soft that they almost seemed like they had been made of cashmere.

"I've been here the whole time. I just needed to recover," Hathor sighed, pausing for a moment before adding, "Erick's actions caused more damage than you realize."

My gaze dropped to the ground as I pulled away and nodded in understanding, "I guess we both suffered in the same way? So you're back now? How?" I asked.

Hathor smiled, "Mate," she whispered.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "MATE?" I repeated.

My eyes grew wide in surprise as Hathor nodded. "Hector?" I whispered. Her eyes were glistening with pride as she nodded in confirmation.

"Thanks for returning, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for a mate. You remember what happened with Erick," I muttered.

As Hathor tilted her head, she muttered, "Mate is not like that asshole; he will protect us," she said confidently, then added, "He's strong and wise, so we can trust him."

The look on Hathor's face convinced me that her judgment was sound.

With a nod, I replied, "If you trust him, I may as well, but does he know we are mates?" I asked her. She smiled, her expression conveying the unspoken answer: "Of course he does. He's our mate, silly," Hathor's words trailed off as she slowly began to fade away. As I awoke in bed, I found myself lying on my back, which was odd as I never slept on my back. It felt uncomfortable, and I always slept on the right side. Turning to my head, I noticed someone had drawn the curtains, and sunlight was peeking through. There was a powerful aroma of coffee in the air. When I turned around, I saw Hector sitting beside me, holding a coffee cup. A smile spread across his face, "Good morning, Bellissima. Did you sleep well?" he asked, his eyes filled with a familiar warmth I did not know I had been missing. With a smile, I replied,

"Yes, I did. Thank you."

"I brought you some coffee," Hector smiled as he held the mug out to me. As I sat up and thanked him, we sipped our coffee and basked in companionable silence.

My gaze remained fixed on him at all times, never leaving his gaze. Once again, I felt Hathor's presence and heard her whisper, "MATE."