Chapter 5

Veronica's POV:

I woke up to the sound of beeping machines and the faint scent of antiseptic. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself in a hospital room with white walls and a single window. It took me a moment to realize where I was, and when I did, I couldn't remember how I got there.

I tried to move, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive. Panic set in, and I frantically searched for some clue as to what had happened to me. My gaze fell on the flowers on the bedside table, and I saw a card that read, "Get well soon, Veronica. Love, Mom, and Dad."

Veronica. That was my name. But who was Mom and Dad? Why couldn't I remember them?

As if on cue, a nurse entered the room and saw that I was awake. She smiled warmly and checked my vitals, and walked out quickly. Only to re-enter with a man dressed in white whom I suppose to be the doctor.

"How're you doing Veronica?" He questioned, smiling broadly.

"Where am I? What happened to me?" my voice was barely above a whisper.

"My name is Dr. Grooves and don't worry you're in safe hands" he quickly turned to the auxiliary doctor and said, "Quickly put a call across to the King, informing him that the girl is awake".

At the last statement, I became even more confused.

"What connection do I have with the King? Am I some kind of Princess in Disneyland? Where exactly am I?" All these questions raced through my head as I stared at the auxiliary doctor who was on a call with someone I presume to be the King.

Barely, fifteen minutes after the call, a man walked into the room alongside a beautiful and petite woman in her late forties. As the man stepped into the hospital ward, his commanding presence drew the attention of everyone around. His tall frame, broad shoulders, and chiseled muscles were a testament to years of dedicated physical training. Despite his age, he carried himself with the confidence and grace of a warrior king.

Immediately he stepped into the room, everyone bowed briefly.

"Dr. Grooves, how is she doing?" His deep voice exuded authority.

"We've checked her vitals and everything seems just fine. Her memories are yet to be recovered but asides from that, she's perfectly okay and will be discharged in two days' time" Dr. Grooves explained.

The man drew in a deep breath and walked up to me, smiling broadly.

"Hello Veronica, I'm glad you are alive," he said with an emotion-laden voice.

As he took my fragile hands into his wide palms, I shuddered in fright. And just as if he read my mind, he smiled "Don't worry, you're in safe hands. Daddy's going to make sure you never get hurt again".

At the mention of the word 'daddy', I looked at the card on the bedside table and it all began to make sense. The man and the woman who walked into the ward were my parents.

But why don't I have any memories of them?

"Are you my father?" I questioned curiously.

"Yes," he said, stroking my hair lightly "And this is your mother" he looked at the petite woman who has been standing on the other side of my bed all this while.

She smiled lovingly at me and I couldn't help but force a smile back.

"My name is Tyler and your mother's name is Malia" he took in a deep breath and continued "I'm sorry that you have no memories about yourself but it's fine, with time you'll recover your memories".

"I hope so, dad," I said, still confused as ever. The word 'dad' sounded so strange to me as though I'd never spoken the word before.

After two days in the hospital, I was discharged and my parents came to pick me up. Despite being the king and queen, they were dressed in very simple attire. The broad smile on their faces quickly washed away the uncertainty that was buried in the pit of my stomach. 

I couldn't believe my eyes as I stepped out of the hospital and saw the convoy of royal cars waiting for me. The sight was both exhilarating and overwhelming, leaving me feeling a mixture of excitement and confusion. I had no recollection of being a princess, yet here I was, being treated like royalty.

As I approached the first car, the door was opened for me by a tall and handsome man dressed in a crisp black suit. He introduced himself as my personal driver and offered to take my bags. I followed him to the back of the car and was met with plush, cream-colored leather seats and a glass of champagne waiting for me.

As we drove through the streets, I couldn't help but wonder how I had ended up in this position. Had I been in a coma for years? Was this some sort of elaborate prank? I was lost in thought until the car pulled up to a grand palace, where a red carpet was rolled out for me.

As I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by a group of dignitaries, all dressed in their finest attire. They bowed to me, and one of them handed me a bouquet of flowers, congratulating me on my recovery. I felt like I was in a dream, and I couldn't believe this was happening to me.

As I was led inside the palace, I was greeted by the maids and servants who smiled at me as if they'd known me for ages. 

"My name is Beatrice and I'm your lady in waiting. I'll take you to your room, please follow my lead" Beatrice smiled exposing her side dimples.

As I stepped into my room in the palace, I was struck by its grandeur and elegance. The space was adorned with lavish decor and intricate details that spoke to the wealth and opulence of my position as a princess.

The walls were painted in a soft, pastel shade of pink, and intricate gold leaf patterns adorned the borders of the ceiling. The room was bathed in warm, golden light, emanating from the crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling.

The focal point of the room was a large, ornate four-poster bed, draped in layers of sumptuous silk and satin. The bed was flanked by intricately carved bedside tables, adorned with gilded lamps and vases of fresh flowers.

A plush, cream-colored area rug stretched out before the bed, and a delicate vanity table stood against the far wall. The table was adorned with an array of expensive perfumes and cosmetics, and a large mirror framed in gold took center stage.

In the corner of the room, a comfortable armchair was positioned beside a large window, which offered a breathtaking view of the palace gardens. The window was draped in heavy, velvety curtains, which blocked out any unwanted sunlight or noise.

The room was not only beautiful but also functional. It had a spacious wardrobe filled with designer dresses, shoes, and accessories, and a large en suite bathroom complete with a soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and marble countertops.

As I stood in the center of the room, taking in all its splendor, Beatrice's voice jolted me out of my wandering thoughts.

"I'll leave you to settle down now. Feel free to call me if you need anything else"

"Sure" I flashed a smile at her as she walked towards the door. 

Stopping in her tracks, she turned around and flashed her signature smile at me, "Dinner will be ready at seven. I'll be back in a few minutes to take you to the banquet hall"

"Alright"

"Oh, and by the way, there's a specially handmade designer gown in the wardrobe. You should dress up in it since you'll also be meeting everyone after the dinner " Beatrice added.

"And by 'everyone' you mean?" I asked with utter confusion.

"The members of the Nightshade Pack of course!" She shrieked, throwing her hands into the air with excitement.

My eyes popped at the mention of the word 'pack'

"Am I a werewolf? Or am I being held captive in a werewolf's pack? Are these people being nice to me because they want to feast on me?" I thought wildly as I stood transfixed in the middle of the beautifully furnished room.