Chapter 4

Ophelia;

A few Months Later

My eyes flew open as a gasp escaped my lips. Pain in my lower belly erupted, making me scream out loud.

Discovering I was in a bed, I made to sit up, but I only fell back down. My breathing came out in gasps, as I clutched on my belly. 

Glancing down, I was surprised to see that my baby bump had increased quite a bit.

"What is going on? Ava? Where are we?" I asked, reaching out to my wolf.

But there was no response.

"Ava!!" 

I couldn't reach her. There was a brick wall separating us, which meant, she must have retreated deep into my mind.

This isn't happening!

"No! Ava! You can't leave me now. No, please!"

My eyes scanned the room I was in, the decor and feel of it so strange, I was sure I wasn't in my Pack.

The last thing I recalled was falling down the cliff, with Enzo's stoic face before me. My head throbbed badly, and the pain in my lower belly intensified.

"Ahhhhh!!" I cried out, "Help!!" My voice broke out in a whisper, as the pain shot up my spine, leaving me breathless.

Just as suddenly, the door burst open and a young man with grey eyes stepped into the room. Behind him was an elderly man in a white coat.

The grey-eyed man took two long strides toward me, his expression one of pure worry and concern as he held me. 

I was in pain, but his touch sent shivers down my spine, almost soothing me.

For a moment, I was lost in the captivating hues of his grey eyes, and at the moon crested mark by the side of his left eye.

"Get over here, Robert!" He commanded. And that was the last thing I heard as everything went dark again.

****

A few minutes later, I awoke. But this time, the strange man was sitting on a chair beside me.

I tried to sit up, and he came forward.

"I'm fine!" I said quickly, hoisting myself up slowly. 

I noticed my hand was fixed to a drip and I asked, "Where am I? What is this place?"

The grey-eyed man heaved a sigh, but he sat on the bed beside me. A shiver ran down my spine, as his arms brushed my hands. 

The shock made me quickly retract my hands, and I asked, "Where am I? What is this place?"

His eyes bore into mine like he was searching for something.  For a moment, he looked hesitant,  "You are in the Dark Mist Wolves Pack."

My eyes widened at that. No! That can't be. The Dark Mist Wolves Pack was a mile away from the Lone Wolves Pack and besides, what could have brought me here of all places? The Royal Pack!! 

I stared back at him, and he seemed like he read my mind, and he said, "Yes, you are indeed in the Royal palace, love."

Love?

What was that?

I couldn't make sense of his words, but if I was in the Royal Palace, that means he was...

"Yes," he spoke, "I am Alpha Axel of the Royal bloodline. And you, my dear, are in my abode."

No. That can't be. I thought. 

Alpha Axel was rumored to be a Ruthless and Powerful Alpha King ever since the death of his father, the  Alpha King Killian of the Royal Pack.

"Who is the father?" He asked, so suddenly and I gave him an incredulous look.

I bit my lips, as I felt rage build up in me. Recalling the ordeal back at the Lone Wolves Pack. 

I wasn't expecting Enzo to think so less of me. To think that the child we have been trying so hard for, all these years was not his. 

To top it all, he didn't blink an eye to accuse me of killing his mother. I wouldn't even hurt a fly, and he knows that! 

Worse, was the heartbreak Olivia gave me. She was willing to sacrifice me for her selfish gains. 

Everything finally made sense now. Years back, on our eighteenth birthday, after I'd found out my mate was Enzo, I had gone to the room to share the good news with her.

Hell, I was so happy. Enzo was my first love and I had a crush on him, way before we found out we were mates.

His parents had taken us in, when our parents, the Beta of the Pack, died. Liv, Enzo, and I were practically inseparable.

But as the reserved one, between my Sis and I, she was much closer to Enzo than I could ever be.

It never occurred to me that she was actually in love with him, all these while. 

That day, I found Liv in her room, crying her eyes out. Confused, I'd asked what the matter was, but she had snapped at me then, calling me a heartless wench.

I didn't understand her then, even as she woke up the next morning acting like nothing happened.

A week later, she announced that she'd miraculously gotten an admission at a prestigious school abroad and she left.

Only to return four years later and frame me up for a murder I didn't commit. Turning my husband against me.

It wasn't enough that he had accused me of sleeping with his half-brother, and less than five hours later, I was accused of killing his mother.

Hot sobs broke out of my chest, as I felt my chest constrict. 

Strong arms held me, pulling me into a warm chest as I cried my eyes out. "Who hurt you, Little wolf?"

I couldn't speak. I could only cry. At that moment, I didn't care I was in the arms of Alpha Axel of the Royal Pack. I just needed a shoulder to cry on, which he gracefully offered.

I felt his chest rumble as he spoke, "I promise you, little wolf. I will see to it that whoever hurt you faces my wrath. I promise you."

His words brought me comfort as much as his touch did. Confusing me the more. If Ava had been here, I might have been able to bear this grief. But the rejection hurt her as well, and I was beyond scared I had lost her forever.