Chapter 3

Aira’s POV

I woke up, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest.

Turning my head, I saw him—Alexander.

The sight of him made my heartbeat race even more, not from excitement, but fear.

Panic gripped me, and my thoughts scrambled. Without wasting another second, I hurriedly grabbed my clothes and other belongings. Every move I made felt loud in the silence of the cabin, but thankfully, he didn’t wake up.

Once I managed to slip out, leaving behind the place where he had brought me, a sinking realization hit me.

What happened between Alexander and me—it was a mistake. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself over and over.

Deep down, I knew the truth. A part of me had wanted it. Maybe it was the crushing loneliness that had consumed me. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter now. It shouldn’t have happened. I couldn’t face him, not after this.

With my chest tight and my thoughts racing, I wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go. My first instinct was to return to the village, my old pack—my previous life.

But as I thought about it, I asked myself, Why am I even going back there? That place was the very reason I had run away in the first place. My father had treated me as nothing more than property, planning to sell me off to an old man.

I had left to escape that life, yet here I was, heading back.

The irony of it stung. I had thought Alexander might help me, but instead, we had crossed a line we shouldn’t have.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus.

What if nothing has changed? The thought chilled me. What if they still saw me as a trade, something to swap for their benefit?

When I finally reached the outskirts of the village, I froze. My feet refused to take another step. A small part of me dared to hope that things might be different now, that maybe they had changed. But the moment I stepped into the village, that hope began to crumble.

Standing outside the house were my parents, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The second they saw me, they rushed toward me.

Before I could react, they pulled me into an embrace. Their sudden show of affection caught me completely off guard. I stood stiffly in their arms, unsure of how to respond. They held me as if they truly cared, as if they had missed me all this time.

“Mom, Dad… What’s going on?” I stammered, my voice shaky.

My mother pulled back, her eyes filled with what seemed like worry. But something about her expression felt off—forced. “We’ve been looking for you,” she said, her voice trembling just enough to seem genuine.

My father sighed heavily, his words laced with regret. “Aira, I was wrong. I should’ve never treated you that way. I’ve been struggling to fix my mistakes ever since.”

Their apologies sounded rehearsed, and the way they exchanged glances made my stomach twist. I wanted to believe them, but a nagging feeling told me something was wrong.

Even though I couldn’t shake my restlessness, I forced a small smile at my parents. Taking a deep breath, I decided to share something I wasn’t sure I’d regret later or not.

“I’ve found my mate,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervous lump forming in my throat.

“What?” my mother blurted out, her eyes snapping toward my father. Her expression shifted from disbelief to something unreadable, her gaze narrowing slightly.

“Your mate?” she repeated, as though she hadn’t heard me right the first time.

I nodded. “Yes. I met him after I ran away,” I admitted, my words hesitant. “But…I don’t know if I should go back to him.”

The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment. Mom tilted her head, her curiosity sharp. “Why not?” she asked, her tone probing but not unkind.

I hesitated, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “Because I barely know him,” I finally said. “I only know his name.”

Her reaction was swift. Her brows furrowed in frustration, and I caught the flicker of irritation in her eyes before she smoothed her expression.

She stepped closer to me, gently running her hand through my hair. The gesture, meant to comfort, only sent a shiver down my spine. Something about it felt unnatural.

“If he’s your mate, you should be with him,” she said softly, though her tone carried a hidden edge. “Have you considered that he might be looking for you? What does he look like? What’s his rank?” Her questions came one after the other.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a deep, commanding voice interrupted, slicing through the tense air.

“May I have a word with you?”

We all turned toward the source, startled. Standing at the entrance of our home was Alpha Chris, the alpha of the pack. His presence was like a thunderstorm—heavy and impossible to ignore. My parents stiffened immediately, their posture shifting to one of respect and fear.

“Of course, Alpha,” my father stammered, his voice nervous as he stepped forward to greet him. He gestured for Alpha Chris to enter the house, but the alpha raised a hand, stopping him.

“Not here,” he said, his tone cold and authoritative. “At the grand hall.”

A sinking feeling settled in my chest. Whatever this was about, it wasn’t going to be good. Despite my reluctance, we had no choice but to follow him. My stomach twisted with unease, and every step toward the hall felt heavier than the last.

When we arrived, the grand hall was packed. Warriors, omegas, and pack members of all ranks stood in attendance, their eyes sharp and full of judgment as they landed on me. Their gazes burned into my skin, making me feel exposed and small.

Alpha Chris strode to the front of the room, his aura commanding absolute silence. When he turned to address the crowd, his voice boomed like thunder.

“Our omega here,” he began, pointing directly at me, “will be leaving us. The alpha of another pack has been searching for her.”

I froze.

The words struck me like a blow. My breathing hitched as I tried to process what he’d just said. Leaving the pack? My mind raced, a chaotic whirlwind of questions and dread.

I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Before I could say a word, a figure stepped out from the shadows.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and an aura that demanded attention. His mere presence seemed to fill the room, making the air heavier. His sharp features, piercing eyes, and the way he carried himself sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

Every step he took toward me was deliberate, calculated.

In his hand was a scroll. Without a word, he extended it to me. I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached out to take it.

Unrolling the parchment, my eyes scanned the neat handwriting. The words made my heart race.

‘We are inviting you to join our pack.’

“Alpha Alexander has been searching for you since you left him.”

The breath hitched in my throat. My mind whirled with questions, but before I could ask, the man spoke, his deep voice steady and resolute.

“I am his Beta,” he said, his gaze fixed on me. “My name is Lucius, and I’m here to bring you back.”

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of his words settling over all of us. My parents exchanged shocked glances, their disbelief written plainly on their faces. My mother was the first to break the silence.

“Your mate…is an Alpha?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. After everything that had happened, after all the doubts and mistakes, he was still searching for me. The realization was both comforting and terrifying.

Lucius stepped closer, his movements deliberate but non-threatening. His expression remained unreadable, but his tone carried a certain weight.

“The Alpha is waiting for you, Aira,” he said firmly. “He is expecting your return.”

His words hung in the air, their meaning heavy and unavoidable. My pulse quickened as the room around me seemed to blur, fading into the background. All I could focus on was the letter in my hand and the implications it carried.

Alexander wanted me back.