CHAPTER 004

"How is she?" a voice I know too well asks as I slowly open my eyes.

I blink a few times as the blurry faces come into focus. I turn my head slightly and find Logan sitting beside me, his eyes filled with concern. I dart my eyes around, trying to familiarize myself with the surroundings and realize I am in my room.

I see my father standing near the door with his arms crossed, and standing next to him is the family doctor.

"What happened?" I manage to ask, my voice low and hoarse.

"We found you lying by the side of the road," Logan responds quickly, adjusting my pillow.

 "We think you were able to get away from the werewolves." He adds, a proud smile spreading across his face.

My father steps closer, his expression softer than usual. "We are all very proud of you, Ingrid. We thought they had killed you to teach us a lesson."

The doctor moves to check my vitals, pressing a hand to my wrist.

"She’s a bit dehydrated, but with enough water, food, and rest, she’ll be fine by tomorrow." He informs Logan and my father.

"Okay, we’ll leave you to rest. I can’t begin to imagine what you have been through, " my dad says, motioning both of them toward the door. I’ll tell the maid to bring you a  sandwich."

I nod weakly as they leave, locking the door behind them, and leaving me alone.

I sink back into the pillows, trying to piece everything together. Had I really escaped?

Something doesn’t feel right. I close my eyes and force myself to remember. I see myself running in the woods and hearing cars from a distance. I remember being so close to the highway and then stumbling on something.

Then the red glowy eyes. My heart clenches as the memory floods back. The Alpha. He found me before I could get help.

I remember the way he looked at me, his threat, and his fangs sinking into my wrist.

I gasp and sit up abruptly, yanking up my sweater. There is nothing there.

No bite marks. No scars. No sign that anything had happened.

My stomach tightens. That’s impossible. I am sure he bit me. I remember feeling the pain and blacking out after, or …was I just exhausted?

I press my fingers to my wrist, expecting to feel something—anything. But there’s nothing.

I take a deep breath and try to shake off the unease. “You are back home, and you are safe. Nothing happened.” I whisper to myself as I curl in my bed, squeezing one of my teddy bears.

I close my eyes and let myself drift away, but the only memory plastered in my head is him—the red eyes. I feel like he is still watching me.

I jolt awake, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I need a distraction.

I grab my pastry recipe book and start scribbling down ideas. My customers needed something special to compensate for closing for almost a week. A new pastry, something fresh to make them forget I hadn’t been there in the first place.

I throw myself into my ideas, but every time I close my eyes, he’s there.

Eventually, exhaustion takes over, and I pass out, still seated.

A loud knock jolts me awake and I force myself to stand up and open the door.

My stomach drops immediately.

"What are you doing here? How did you get past the guards outside?" I ask, my voice sharp and scared.

It’s the Alpha standing right outside my door, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine.

Without a word, he storms in and shuts the door behind him.

"I will scream. You’ll be dead in minutes," I threaten, clenching my fists, ready to fight.

He smirks, and for a second, I hate how that makes my cheeks flatter.

"Have you started to feel it yet?" he asks.

I shake my head, confused. I don’t know what he is talking about.

"What do you mean?" I ask my voice barely above a whisper.

"You know what I mean, Ingrid. Do you feel any different?" he asks again starting to pace back and forth.

I stare at him, struggling to grasp his words, but I shake my head.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Leave my room. Now." I order, but he doesn’t flinch.

Instead, he starts walking toward me, and my heart starts pounding violently in my chest.

"This house is full of hunters. I will scream," I warn, but he keeps coming.

He stops when he’s too close, and I can feel his breath warm against my skin.

"You need to find me, Ingrid, or you will die," he gently whispers into my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

Before I can react, he pushes me against the wall and starts kissing my neck—slowly, deliberately.

"What are you doing?" I whisper, but there’s no answer.

I push him back with all my strength, but he grabs my wrists and spreads them against the wall.

"You don’t like that, Ingrid?" he asks, his voice dripping with seduction.

Then, he closes the distance between our mouths and kisses me. Aggressively.

I find myself melting into it. My hands tangle in his hair, pulling out the band holding it together and letting it fall to his shoulders. My leg lifts slightly, brushing against his hip.

In one swift move, he lifts me off the ground and pins my body against the wall.

I let out a small moan as his hand begin to find its way to my chest, awakening every nerve in my body.

Another moan escapes me, louder than the one before and then—

"Ingrid. Ingrid! Wake up! What the fuck?!"

My eyes fly open, and I find Logan looking horrified beside me.

"Fuck. Was I dreaming??"

I sit up quickly, straightening myself.

"I’ve been knocking on your door like ten minutes," Logan says, still staring at me weirdly. "What were you dreaming about? You were making some strange noises."

I feel like my face is on fire, and I respond quickly, shaking my head.

"Nothing. I wasn’t dreaming." I snap. "What do you want?"

He tilts his head, clearly trying to figure me out and then he points to my dressing table. "Look at your clock, Ingrid. It’s almost 9:00 AM."

My head whips to the bedside table.

"Oh my God…the bakery! get out, now!" I grab a pillow and throw it at him, sending him on his way.

Once the door slams shut, I sink into the sheets. My fingers grip the fabric, and my stomach twists.

I pull the sheets back slightly and see the evidence. They’re wet.

“What the hell was that?” Why was I dreaming about a werewolf who locked me up for days?