Chapter 6

The intensity of my heart race overshadowed the dark silence that lingered in the luxurious room. 

Was this the afterlife or another death trap? I didn't know. I just laid there. Still. Terrified. Tears blurred my vision.

Tiny sweat drops piled on my forehead as my eyes locked with his - cold grey eyes that pierced through my soul.

"Wh..who are you?" I asked with a shaky voice as I pushed myself up, trying to ignore the pain. Of course, It couldn't be ignored.

 "You're awake." He said with a calm deep voice, then began moving towards me.

"Wh.....where am...? Am I...... dead?" I muttered weakly. My voice ceased when I felt his large hands on my chin.

I tried to scream, but my voice was barely a whimper as I freed my chin from his gentle touch.

"You're not dead. If anything, you're safe now." His hands shot up like he was surrendering.

Safe? How could I be safe when a total stranger, all dressed in black was looming all over me like some serial killer just afterI was left for dead? Maybe I was far from safe. 

"I am the one who saved you, Layla." 

He knew my name, but I didn't know his. Who was he? What did he want? The fear in my eyes doubled. 

"Cian. My name is Cian - Alpha of the Shadow moon pack." He finally responded.

The famous shadow moon pack? He's the famous Alpha? No way.

"An.....Alpha?" I asked in a shaky whisper. I was impressed, but I was more terrified.

"Why did you save me?" I added. Tears fell freely down my cheeks as the cruel memories of how I passed out in the forest crept back in.

"Because I'm your second chance mate." He said with darkened eyes. 

"What?" I frowned.

Another mate? Was this a cruel joke? I stared at him in disbelief. My body stiffened. "No. That’s not possible."  I recoiled, distrust flashing through me. The last Alpha who claimed me almost destroyed me completely. 

"It is possible," he said simply. "The Moon Goddess has given you another chance."

"I don’t need another chance or even another mate. Oh, and definitely not another  alpha in my life." Anger and hurt reflected in my voice as memories of Derrick’s rejection pierced my heart, like a sword in the middle of my chest. 

"You don't have to want me, but I'm not going to let you die." He said with so much confidence.

I shook my head. I had to do something, or I was going to die.

 I freed myself from the duvet I was clinging to, just seconds ago.

"Owwww." I let out a loud groan as the pains on my back held me down. I was too weak to move or even run, but staying there was going to be a bad idea.

"What are you doing?" He asked with a startled look as he saw me struggling to get up from the high bed. 

"Leaving!!" I snapped weakly, limping towards the door.

"You can't! It is very dangerous out there. No one can hurt you as long as you are in here."

"Or maybe YOU will hurt me as long as I am in here." I fired back.

"What?" His eyes darkened.

I paused. Tears ran down my cheeks. I wiped it violently. After what Derrick did to me, trusting another Alpha was going to be hard, let alone an alpha who called me his mate. It was something I didn't want to ever try again. 

"I don't rust you, I never will," I said calmly. Struggling was only taking away the little energy I had left. I needed strength for the outside world.

I felt his steady gaze studying me for a long moment as I walked.

He cleared his throat.

"I wouldn’t trust me either, but I can't let you go."

"Bullshit."

"And I know everything about Derrick....even Freya and Liam." I froze. "I can help you get revenge, make them pay for everything they put you through. I want to help, but only if you want it too." 

He added as he walked up to me. I fought hard to stop the tears that wanted to flow down my cheeks. What was happening? How did he know so much about me?

"I see you know so much about me. I'll not ask you how. But why....why would you want to help me?" I asked, my voice sounding more broken than ever.

"Maybe I have my reasons." He said slowly.

My hands tightened into fists. I had been powerless before. Maybe I didn't have to be now. It was time to be strong for the first time in my life.

In less than a minute, I had already made my decision. I wanted it - revenge. 

My anger and thirst for revenge took over me as I thought about Freya's maltreatment and Derrick's cruel punishment towards me for no reason.

 Now I was desperate for it, more than anything else. I was given a second chance to live and I was going to make good use of it. A new strength grew from within me. All of a sudden, I felt a different kind of power. It felt like I was a different person, a stronger person. 

I was about to say yes when a knock sounded at the door. A broad-shouldered man rushed inside - a warrior. He looked a little tense.

“Alpha, we have a problem,” he said.

Cian’s eyes narrowed. My heart raced. “What is it?” he asked. 

The warrior hesitated, then looked at me.

“It’s Derrick. Looks like he has found her.” He gestured blankly towards my direction.

"How do you know that?"

"We saw someone snooping around. Must be a spy. I've done my research. He is from the Green Hills pack, and there could be others."

My blood turned to ice. I froze. All the new strength I thought I possessed just a few seconds ago turned into a double doze of weakness. My hands trembled and the sourness at the back of my throat became intense. 

Cian took off his hat and ran his hands through his hair. His hair - a neatly packed black bun, and his expression - was cold and unreadable. Then, with an unsettling smile and calmness, he turned to me.

“Looks like we don’t have much time.”