Chapter 3.

Kira’s POV

The next morning comes too soon and my body still aches in places I didn’t even know could hurt, but I force myself out of bed and go to work as usual.

The bruises from last night throb under my worn out uniform as I walk, but I don’t dare complain because who can even hear me out or believe anything I say…

The pack hospital looms ahead, its cold white walls offering no comfort. I swipe my badge at the entrance and make my way inside, hoping I’ll be left alone today. But I have no such luck.

"Kira Everhart!"

I stop, turning as Nurse Yvonne strides toward me. Her usual look of disinterest is replaced with annoyance.

"You’re on cleaning duty in the west wing today," she says, shoving a cart toward me. "Do it properly this time."

The west wing? My brows furrow. That area is barely used except for private patients whom I refer to as the important ones.

Before I can ask why since most of the times, Gammas where responsible for cleaning that area, Yvonne is already walking away.

I sigh and grab the cart, pushing it toward the secluded hallways of the hospital… Soon the scent of antiseptic burns my nose as I work my way through the dimly lit corridors, wiping down surfaces and mopping the floors.

It’s too quiet and I figure that there are no patients today but my thought is wrong because I smell a familiar rich powerful scent. The same scent from last night.

My hands tighten around the mop handle as a shiver runs down my spine. It’s him. The one in the car who sent royal guards to save me in the forbidden forest.

What is he doing in our pack hospital?

My pulse quickens because I owe him a thank you for saving me last night even though I refused his offer to drive me home...

Slowly, I push my cart forward, following the lingering traces of his scent. It leads me past rows of closed doors, deeper into the west wing.

And then I see a sleek, black, custom-made wheelchair with no person in it.

Something about it sends a chill down my spine because as far as I know, Crimson crown pack had no member with a disability. So who does it belong to?

I lean in, just enough to catch a glimpse of the room beyond but a huge towering figure steps in my view.

"What are you doing, omega?"

The word stings more than it should as I nearly jump out of my skin. A royal guard steps into my view, his frame immediately blocking my line of sight... What is a royal guard doing in our pack???

My heart pounds as I scramble for words. "I—I was just—"

His eyes narrow. "You were just spying."

"No, no!" I blurt out. "I work here, so I was cleaning! I was assigned to this area today." I motion to the mop and cleaning supplies.

The guard doesn’t look convinced. His cold gaze momentarily flickers back into the room toward the wheelchair and then back to me, with a single step forward. "This room won't need your service. Leave. Now."

I grip the mop tighter. "But—"

"Now, omega."

I bite my lip, lowering my head. "Yes, sir. I'm leaving.”

Then, without another word, I turn and walk away. But my mind is racing.

Who was the royal guard trying to protect?

And why does it feel like I’ve just stumbled onto something I was never meant to see?

***

Hours later, the hospital cafeteria is loud, filled with the chatter of pack members on their lunch breaks. The smell of warm soup and bread drifts through the air, making my stomach grumble. But I grab the cheapest meal I can afford. Some watery vegetable stew and a slice of dry bread before settling at a small table in the corner.

"Hey, Kira." Naomi drops into the seat beside me, her tray piled high with food she can afford thanks to her nursing job and her Beta family background. Meanwhile, my own plate looks pitiful in comparison.

Before I can take my first bite, she's already talking.

"Can you believe the doctors today?" she huffs. "One of them actually told me I should smile more because I looked grumpy. I swear, I almost lobbed my clipboard at his head."

I chuckle. "I believe it."

Naomi is everything I’m not. Bold, outspoken, and fearless. She’s also one of the few people in this pack who treats me like a person despite my omega rank.

Her gaze flickers to my plate, and her smile falters. "Is that all you're eating?" she asks, frowning at my half-empty bowl of watery soup and stale bread.

I shrug. "It's all that I need." I lie.

"No, it's not." And before I can protest, Naomi scoops a generous portion of mashed potatoes onto a spare plate and slides it toward me.

"Here, take this," she says with a warm smile. "You need to eat more before you blow away in the wind."

Her teasing tone makes me chuckle, but I know she's only half-joking. My slender frame is a constant reminder that I barely get enough to eat most days.

"Naomi, you really don't have to—"

"I want to," she insists. "Besides, I ordered too much for myself."

I offer a tight-lipped smile, grateful in moments like this to have a friend like her. Truthfully, I do need the extra food for strength. And just as I pick up my spoon to dig in, Naomi's phone buzzes. She glances at the screen, then suddenly squeals, nearly knocking over her drink.

I nearly choke on my food as I'm startled. "What?"

Her eyes are wide, practically sparkling. "Kira! You’re not gonna believe this!" She turns her phone toward me, but I just blink at the screen.

"I don’t have a phone, Naomi," I remind her dryly.

"Right." She grins sheepishly, then clutches her chest like she’s about to faint. "The Alpha King’s heir is coming to our pack today."

Ah, now that explains the royal guards around the pack. I pause mid-bite before responding with. "And?"

Naomi gasps like I just insulted the moon goddess herself. "And?! He’s here to find his mate! All unmated she-wolves have to report to the pack house tomorrow morning. It's a royal summon!"

I scoff, tearing a piece of bread. "Good for them."

Naomi leans closer, whispering dramatically. "That includes you, Kira."

I almost laugh. "Oh, please. Even if I went, what are the odds? The Moon Goddess wouldn’t pair someone like me with an Alpha King’s heir." And I know I’m right—after all, the Alpha King is the most feared among all Alphas, rumored to be the last of the powerful Lycan bloodline, which includes his heir.

Naomi frowns. "You don’t know that."

I give her a look. "Come on, Naomi. Look at me. My whole life has been nothing but suffering. You really think fate is suddenly going to throw a royal mate bond my way?"

"You don’t know what the goddess has planned," she argues.

I shake my head. "It doesn’t matter. My stepmother wouldn’t let me go anyway. She’d probably say I was wasting my time and find some chore for me to do instead."

Naomi crosses her arms. "You could sneak out."

"And risk getting locked in the basement again? No thanks."

She huffs. "I hate that woman."

"Yeah," I sigh, stirring my soup. "Join the club."

But deep down, I wonder. What if, by some miracle, the goddess really had something different planned for me?

But no. That kind of hope is dangerous for someone like me. I know better.