Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Nineteen.

Rio’s POV.

 I had left the room quietly, leaving the beautiful  woman in the capable hands of our nurses to take care of. They had a lot of experience in handling injuries, not like this though, but injuries still. I knew she would be well taken care of. It wasn’t just her physical health that concerned me, though. The fear and stress she’d been through would take some time to heal, and I wanted to make sure that she had everything she needed to recover fully.

 As I walked down the corridor, my thoughts went back to the moment I first saw her. 

 Brielle. That was what the nurse told me.

 The name suited her perfectly, and she was a beauty. She had been in such a vulnerable state, yet there was an undeniable grace about her. Even covered in dirt and blood, she looked stunning, right before she woke up. And when she opened her eyes, I got lost.

 When I saw her in the forest, at first, I was taken aback by her beauty. Her long, dark hair, her striking eyes, and the way she carried herself even in the face of danger. Everything, it all captivated me instantly. But that moment of admiration quickly turned to alarm as I noticed the mountain lion stalking her. 

 I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. My instincts as an alpha kicked in, and I knew I had to protect her. The fight had been intense, but I felt the need to keep her safe, even though I had never met her before. The relief I felt when I finally killed the lion was indescribable, and seeing her face light up with gratitude made it all worth it. Before she fainted in my arms, that is.

!I reached the end of the corridor and paused, looking out a window at the pack’s territory. It was peaceful here, and I hoped Brielle would find some peace here too, at least until she was strong enough to leave.

 I didn’t want her to leave, though. Maybe she wouldn’t too.

As I stood there, my mind wandered back to her again. I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t help but think about how gorgeous she was, and I had never met anyone quite like her before. There was something about her that drew me in, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, and it was strange since we had barely had a proper conversation.

 See, I had met many women in my time, but none had ever captivated me the way Brielle did. There was a delicate strength about her, that made me want to protect her, to keep her safe from harm. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and be her refuge, and I know how craft my thoughts sounded. I also knew she had someone waiting for her back home, but the thought of her leaving made my chest tighten.

 Maybe she didn’t have a mate, but her family.

 I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This wasn’t the time to get lost in fantasies. Brielle needed to heal, and I needed to focus on helping her. Still, the idea of her being part of my life, part of the pack, was in the back of my mind, and it made my head calm. It was a thought I couldn’t quite shake off of me.

 I turned away from the window and started to head to my office. There were arrangements to be made, calls to be answered, and pack matters to attend to. But even as I sat down to soak myself in work for the rest of the day, thoughts of Brielle kept slipping in. Her voice, the way she looked at me with those deep, soulful eyes, the curve of her lips as she lay unconscious… it all played over and over in my mind.

 A soft knock on the door pulled me from my reverie. One of the nurses stepped in, her expression professional but she had a small smile on

   “Alpha Rio, the guest is now resting comfortably.” She reported. “Her injuries aren’t too severe, but she’s understandably shaken. We’ll keep a close eye on her and make sure she has everything she needs.”

   “Thank you.” I said, nodding. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for her.”

   “She’s pregnant, though…”

   “Yes, that much is obvious.” I cut in, and there was an obvious edge to my voice. “What happened?”

   “I just wanted to let you know, because I’d be sending someone to get some herbs that she might need.” The woman in front of me said. I was just jealous, and I let the anger take over me.

   “Alright, go on and do that, thank you.”

 The nurse smiled and left, and I leaned back in my chair, letting out a sigh. Knowing Brielle was safe brought a measure of relief to me. But it also made me realize just how much I wanted to be the one to take care of her, to make sure she was happy and healthy. I wanted to know her, everything about her.

 I spent the rest of the day working on pack duties, but my thoughts kept returning to Brielle. I couldn’t deny the pull I felt towards her, and so, as the evening approached, I decided to check on her one more time before calling it a night. I made my way back to her room, knocking softly before entering. She was lying back against the pillows, looking more at ease than she had earlier. The stress lines were t there, and as I got closer, I found out that she was asleep.

 I stayed in there to talk about some things while using the opportunity to stay by her side. She didn’t stir awake regardless.

 As the night wore on, I reluctantly left her room, knowing she needed the rest, and she would be better tomorrow. But as I walked back to my own quarters, I couldn’t shake the feeling that that woman was meant to be part of my life, part of the pack. 

BI knew it was too soon to think about such things, but the thought of her leaving filled me with a sense of loss. I had never felt this way before, and it both excited and terrified me. I was determined to get to know her better, to protect her, and maybe, just maybe, make her a permanent part of my life.

 Only time would tell, but I was going to do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy.