"Oh, I just got a bit suffocated by all the wolves in there," I said, my words coming out smoothly despite the lie. "And, uh, I have a habit of carrying something for self-defense..."

Daniel gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "Makes sense."

I tried to mask my tension with a casual smile, but he added, "It's dangerous here. Don’t stay too long."

I nodded, watching as he turned and walked away. There was something about him, a quiet intensity that I couldn’t quite place. He was a puzzle I couldn’t decipher, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many pieces he was hiding.

When I made sure he was gone, I let out a sigh of relief. I really had to be more cautious.

They’re not just Alphas. They’re hunters.

The earlier celebration felt like a distant memory. The music, the lights, the press of bodies—gone. The night now felt sharp-edged, dangerous. Wolves had tried crashing the party, and I somehow ended up caught in the chaos with the twins.

I didn’t plan on sticking around. But when rogues started circling, that changed.

Things happened quickly before my eyes. Next thing I knew, we were surrounded by uninvited visitors.

The air thickened with the metallic scent of wild wolves. Damon’s shoulders tensed, his smile slipping as his eyes narrowed. Daniel inhaled deeply, reading the air like a map.

“They’re close,” Daniel murmured, scanning the treeline. “South quadrant. Four, maybe five.”

Damon cracked his knuckles, his easy grin returning like he wanted the fight. “Let’s split up. Drive them out.”

I stayed in the shadows as they moved, silent as smoke. This wasn’t my fight. The rogues were Smith pack business. My orders were to get close to the twins—not play bodyguard.

But when one of the rogues lunged for Daniel, instinct kicked in.

Steel flashed in my palm before I even realized I’d drawn it. The rogue hit the ground hard, a dagger lodged clean in its throat.

Daniel twisted around, his golden eyes pinning me to the spot.

“You?” His tone was cold, slicing through the tension.

Shit. I rolled my lips inward, tasting blood as I bit down. A woman in a dress, fighting like a trained assassin?

Too much. Too fast. I never should’ve stepped in.

Damon emerged from the shadows, brushing stray leaves from his jacket. His gaze flicked between Daniel and me, his brow quirking.

“What the hell happened here?”

Daniel didn’t take his eyes off me. “She saved me.” He said it like it was an insult. “But I’d like to know why.”

I simply slid the dagger back beneath the slit in my dress, forcing a smirk. “Didn’t look like you had it under control.”

Damon chuckled. “She’s got a point.”

Daniel wasn’t laughing. His stare lingered, dissecting every inch of me like I was a puzzle missing too many pieces.

“You shouldn’t be here in the first place,” he said, voice flat. “This is Smith territory, I checked the records earlier and seemed like you were not---”

I tilted my head. “You’re welcome.”

Daniel opened his mouth to snap back, but I was already moving, slipping into the darkness before he could press further.

The motorcycle roared beneath me as I tore down the empty road, the wind burning my skin.

Reckless. I tightened my grip on the handles, the adrenaline refusing to fade. Daniel wasn’t stupid. He’d seen the way I moved—too precise, too fast for someone pretending to be just another curious wolf.

I should’ve let him handle it.

The curve ahead came out of nowhere, sharp and sudden. I barely registered the glass scattered across the asphalt before it was too late.

“Shit!”

The bike skidded. I felt the snap of control slipping away. For a brief moment, everything spun. The world tilted, and I crashed hard, rolling across the unforgiving road until the cold stopped me.

Pain flared across my side, jagged and unrelenting. The distant glow of the moon blurred as darkness took over.

Voices.

Distant at first, but they cut through the black like needles.

“She’s alive.”

“Barely.”

I forced my eyes open. The world swam, hazy and too bright. Two faces hovered above me, familiar and yet strange all at once.

Damon. Daniel.

Damon crouched at my side, his brow furrowed in something close to concern. Daniel stood stiffly a few feet away, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

“Hey,” Damon said, his voice unexpectedly gentle. “You’re okay. You’re safe now.”

Safe? The word felt foreign.

Daniel’s sharp gaze narrowed as he studied me like he was piecing together a crime scene.

“Who are you really?”

I parted my lips, but no sound came out. Panic swelled in my chest.

Who am I?

My mind was empty—a blank space where memories should’ve been.

“I...I don’t know,” I whispered, the words tasting strange in my mouth.

Damon and Daniel exchanged glances.

“She might’ve been caught in the rogue attack,” Damon offered, his tone hesitant.

Daniel’s frown deepened, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Or she’s hiding something.”

“Daniel,” Damon sighed, already lifting me gently into his arms. I barely registered the motion, too lightheaded to protest.

“We’ll take her home.”

I woke to soft sheets and the faint scent of cedar in the air. Morning light slipped through heavy curtains, casting dim patterns across the unfamiliar room—dark oak furniture, an ornate chandelier, and faint sounds from beyond the door.

Where am I?

The thought echoed, but no answer came.

I sat up slowly, wincing at the ache spreading through my body. Bandages wrapped around my ribs and forearm. Faint bruises marked my skin. I traced the blanket’s edge, searching for a memory that wouldn’t come.

A knock broke the silence.

The door creaked open before I could answer. Damon’s golden eyes met mine first, warm and bright against the shadows. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed.

“Look who’s awake,” he teased with a grin.

Behind him, Daniel hovered in the hallway, quieter but sharp-eyed. His gaze swept over me like he was piecing together a puzzle.

“Where am I?” I asked.

Damon stepped inside, brushing off the question. “Smith estate. Our place. You crashed hard.”

“More like face-planted,” Daniel added, his tone flat. “You’re lucky we found you.”

I swallowed hard. “I... don’t remember much.”

Damon’s brows lifted. “Not even the party you gatecrashed? Not even your name?”

I hesitated. The answer sat just out of reach.

“No.”

A flicker of concern crossed Damon’s face. Daniel, less subtle, frowned openly.

“Convenient,” Daniel muttered.

Damon shot him a look. “Relax, Danny. She’s not dangerous.” He dropped into the chair beside my bed, flashing his easy smile.

“You’re safe here. We’ll figure it out.”

Safe. They kept saying that word. I wasn’t sure I believed it.

Days passed. I lost count of time. My body healed, but the void in my mind stayed.

The twins introduced themselves properly—Damon, older by three minutes, with a laid-back charm, and Daniel, who carried the weight of the pack like a constant storm.

I helped around the estate, listened to the pack’s stories. They thought I was an orphan caught in a rogue attack. Was I really am?

It was afternoon. I was in the garden, kneeling, carefully untangling vines from wild roses.

I wasn’t sure why I kept tending the forgotten flowers. Maybe the quiet helped ease the emptiness in my chest.

“Didn’t peg you for a gardener.”

I glanced up. Damon stood at the archway, his smirk softer than usual.

“Me neither,” I admitted, brushing dirt off my hands. “I guess I like fixing things that can’t fix themselves.”

His gaze lingered longer than necessary.

“You’ve been at this all week,” he said, stepping closer. “Most people give up on this part of the estate. Daniel says the garden’s cursed.”

“Cursed?”

Damon crouched, tugging a leaf free. “Everything he doesn’t understand is cursed.”

I laughed. “Or maybe he just doesn’t like thorns.”

Damon grinned, but his eyes drifted over the blooms, like he was seeing them differently. The roses, once wilted and forgotten, were starting to stand tall again.

“You didn’t have to do this,” he said quietly.

“I wanted to. Besides I didn't like that I am staying here for free.”

The air shifted. His usual teasing faded, replaced by something warmer.

“Have anyone told you?"

"Hmm?"

"That....you’re different,” Damon said.

I frowned. “Different how?”

He twirled the rose between his fingers, careful not to bruise the petals.

“Most people take what they can in this life. Pack life isn’t soft. You survive by being tough.” His eyes lifted, searching mine. “But you… you’re even saving roses no one else even sees.”

Heat crept up my neck. I focused on the dirt beneath my nails.

“It’s just a garden. You're making a big deal out of it.”

“Maybe,” Damon said, smiling faintly. “But I think it says more about you than you realize.”

For the first time since I woke up, I felt seen—not as a stranger with no past but as someone Damon wanted to know.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Damon’s knuckles brushed against mine—light, fleeting, but enough to stir something in my chest.

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, smirking as he stood. “I expect fresh roses in my room by next week.”

I rolled my eyes, but the smile stayed long after he was gone because of the last thing he said.

"And oh, by the way, I expect you to be there too. It would be lovely to have two beautiful things in my room."

"Huh?"

"Flowers and you."

I was quickly becoming a part of this pack, no longer the stranger who had washed up on their doorstep. The walls had come down, and I found myself sinking into this life, not out of necessity, but because it felt right.

I passed by the garden where Mrs. Lila, the elderly healer, sat on a bench, her gnarled hands knitting quietly. She smiled as I approached, and without a word, I sat beside her, picking up a basket of herbs she’d left earlier.

"Your hands never stop moving, do they?" she asked, watching me sort through the herbs.

I smiled. "I guess I like to keep busy. It helps me focus."

“You’re a good one, Anastasia,” she said, her voice warm. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so kind, especially to those who don’t expect it.”

Her words lingered in the air. I wasn’t doing anything special—just helping when I could. But hearing it from her made me question myself. Maybe there was more to me than I realized.

The sound of children’s laughter drifted across the field. I turned to see the younger pack members chasing after a soccer ball, and I couldn’t help myself—I ran to join them. Their laughter was contagious, and I let them win just to see their joy.

“Looks like you’ve made yourself at home, huh?” Daniel’s voice called out.

I grinned and dusted off my hands. “What’s the fun in standing on the sidelines?”

Daniel’s eyes softened as he watched me interact with the children. His gaze held something deeper, something that made my chest tighten.

“You’ve done a lot for them,” he said, his voice steady but searching. “Won't deny, kids love you. And the elders too. It’s not easy being the one who keeps everything light around here.”

I shrugged, feeling my cheeks flush. “It’s nothing, really. Just being myself. Besides, they’ve all helped me so much. I don’t mind returning the favor.”

He chuckled, but there was something in his smile that made my pulse quicken. This was the first time I saw him smile. His pearly set of white teeth were showing.

“It pains me to admit, but my twin's right. You really are something, Anastasia. You don’t ask for anything in return. You could have taken advantage of your situation, but so far? You never did."

I tilted my head, feeling uneasy. “What do you mean?”

He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “It’s easy to be kind when you’re getting something back. But you—” He paused, his voice low. “You just give, without thinking about what you’ll get in return. You're carefree, you make other wolves easy to get along to. You....you just have that presence in you...even I couldn't fathom.”

These days, there was something shifted in Daniel. He became a little less strict on me, as if he was slowly bringing down his guard. Or maybe I was just hallucinating.

I looked away, suddenly feeling exposed. The weight of his words pressed on me, stirring something deep inside—something I wasn’t ready to face.

Before I could respond, the children ran toward us, pulling me back into their world of laughter. I tried to shake off the feeling that had settled over me, but Daniel stayed where he was, watching me with a smile that made my heart race.

The council was still skeptical about me—about my past, my true identity. But the more I gave, the more they softened. They still questioned who I was, but they were starting to trust me. It was enough to make me want to stay.

But just as I turned to leave, a voice called out from behind me—one that I didn’t recognize. The air grew still, and a chill ran down my spine.

“Anastasia... I need to speak with you.”