Chapter 5

Lilith's POV;

The bright morning light fell into my eyes the moment I opened them, causing momentary blindness, and I winced and shut them immediately.

My eyes fluttered a while later, and I frowned and sprang up, taking in the white, pristine wall of my surroundings. This wasn't my room in the cottage. Even the bed was way bigger than the one in my former room.

I stepped away from the bed, my eyes closing as I tried to remember how I had gotten here and, more importantly, where I was.

Just then, the door swung open, and my eyes immediately darted to it to meet those beautiful, deep blue eyes. I swallowed hard as my memories came flooding back.

Cassandra's and Raider's wedding!

Mate!

I had fainted!

He had called me'mate'; he was my mate! Lexi wasn't on the same page as me; she purred at the sight of him. He was good-looking, the most handsome man I had ever seen, but that didn't freak me out, as I wasn't going to forget everything and accept him. Besides, he seemed like a high-ranked wolf, and there was no reason for him to be with an omega like me.

I averted my gaze to the painting on the wall; it was a better sight than to stare into his eyes.

Although I was looking away from him, I heard his footsteps approaching after closing the door, and suddenly, the room filled with his woodsy scent. I was struggling with myself, but I soon found myself greedily inhaling his scent, and like magic, a warm fuzzy feeling began to spread through me, and I heard Lexi purr.

I curled my fist into a ball, ignoring the urge to roll my eyes. I wanted to keep my face expressionless, but then I saw him blocking my view of the window.

"You're in my home." His voice was sweet, and just as his face was, I tried to shut Lexi up. She was too trusting for her own good.

"I can't be here," I said slowly, avoiding his piercing gaze. I had no idea what happened or how I had gotten here, but I knew that it couldn't be good. My memories were hazy after he had called me mate, but I was sure Cassandra was there, and there was no way she was going to let me out of her sight.

"You were unconscious, and—"

"And you thought to bring me here?" I glanced at him sharply, glaring at him in disbelief.

The most admirable smile I had ever seen was etched on his handsome face, and he placed a tray of food I didn't notice he was holding earlier on the nightstand before he began walking over to me. My heart began fluttering wildly in my chest, and as I took a step backward, he leaned dangerously close to me, and a gasp escaped from my lips.

His smiles were immediately replaced with a frown, and I suddenly felt the need to explain my behavior.

"I'm a traitor." I swallowed hard, as I said, but it was for the best. I didn't want to get him into trouble, and if Cassandra were to find out that he was with me, she would surely go get him punished. It didn't matter which family he was from.

His brows pulled together in a frown. "What?"

"I am the daughter of a traitor, therefore a traitor. You must've heard about—" "How long have I been out?"

I had just realized that it looked like the day was just starting, and it couldn't be. It was already after sunrise when Cassandra yelled at me earlier. It couldn't be—

"Almost a day—"

"What!!" My eyes widened in disbelief. A day! The wedding!

"No, no, no, no!" I screamed as I shook my head. I wasn't scared of Cassandra; I only feared that she had other twisted things up her sleeve. I had lost everything, and frankly, I should be dead. It was better than living like this, but I couldn't take my own life.

"Calm down, Lilith."

I looked at him sharply. He knew my name! That means he knew who I was! "Don't tell me to calm down! Don't you—" I sighed and closed my eyes. I had to get out of here quickly.

"Look, Lilith, I don't want to hurt you. I just want to take care of you until you're better. You're hurt," he said quietly.

He was right. I was indeed hurting from all that pounding I had received from Cassandra, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

Our eyes locked, and I almost got lost in those deep blue eyes and the softened expression they held. The sight of him pulled my heartstrings, and I felt a nudge from Lexi, who was already referring to him as 'our Prince Charming'.

"You have to eat," he said, and I followed the direction of his eyes to the tray on the nightstand.

"And," he said, dropping some pills. "It'll help with the pain."

"I want to leave," I said slowly, eyes fixed on the painting.

He said nothing, so I glanced up, only to see his lips pursed into a thin line. He looked hurt. I frowned, wondering if what I said had hurt him in any way.

"Thank you for everything," I said slowly as I made my way to the door.

"Stay," he said, and I halted in my tracks. "If you're really thankful, stay."

I swallowed hard. I had many questions to ask. I wanted to know how I had gotten here. I was sure that I had heard him say something and yell at her, but my memories were hazy, and I wasn't sure.

I spun around. I had to ask questions to know what I was going to face when I got back to her.

"Did you—? Did you perhaps ask Luna Cassandra—why she—did you ask her anything?"

"Are you trying to ask if I had yelled at her for raising her hand at you? Yes, I did," he said nonchalantly, like he didn't do something unbelievable!

He took a step forward, and I clenched my fist to my side. I was already in hell and didn't need someone else to add to it.

"Why—"

"I will do anything for the people I love."

"Exactly! You shouldn't have! Except if you're the Alpha King, you can't help me!"

"But that's exactly why I can help you," he said, leaning dangerously close to me, so close that I feared that he would be able to hear each beat of my heart.

"I am the Alpha King, the Lycan of the werewolf race."