In a Pack

Kaelen’s Point of view

I woke up to the smell of antiseptic and the soft hum of machines beeping steadily in the background. The light in the room was soft, almost dim, but it didn’t matter. My head felt like it was going to explode, and every inch of my body ached. The sharp, metallic taste of blood was still in my mouth. I tried to move, but I was heavy with exhaustion, my muscles stiff and sore.

I groaned and shifted on the bed, the rough sheets tangling around my limbs. I reached up to touch my face, but my hands felt too weak to move properly. Something was wrong, but I couldn’t quite remember what it was.

Where am I?

The memories started flooding back in bits and pieces. The fight, the rogues, Lana and her family… the male Alpha. The bond. Galen.

I shot upright in bed, my heart pounding in my chest. Galen. The memory of him standing there, his eyes burning into mine, made my stomach twist. I was his mate. The mate I had rejected.

I snapped my gaze around the room, taking in my surroundings. It looked like a clinic—sterile and white, with machines and equipment lined up neatly on shelves. I was in a bed, covered with a thin blanket. I wasn’t in the woods anymore. No, I was somewhere else. Somewhere I didn’t want to be.

Before I could process more, the door opened. A nurse stepped in, wearing a white uniform. Her eyes widened when she saw I was awake. She was a she-wolf, but the scent was faint under all the medicine and antiseptic.

"You're awake," she said, her voice soft, as though trying not to startle me. But it wasn’t her voice that set me off. It was the sound of her movement, too calm, too familiar. I wasn’t about to let anyone handle me like I was some fragile thing.

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up, swinging my legs off the bed. The nurse immediately stepped back, her hands held up in a placating gesture.

“Calm down,” she said. “You’ve been through a lot. You need rest—”

“I don’t need your pity,” I spat, my voice rough from the pain. “Where am I? Where is he?”

The nurse hesitated, her eyes flicking to the door before she answered. "You’re in Alpha Galen’s pack territory. You need to speak with him before you leave."

My blood went cold. Galen. My mate.

I clenched my fists, the anger rising within me like a storm I couldn’t stop. How had I ended up here? In his pack? I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want anything to do with him. I had rejected him, damn it.

A wave of guilt hit me, but I shoved it away. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t going to give in to this bond. I was strong.

“I need to leave,” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. “Now.”

The nurse blinked at me, but she didn’t argue. She simply looked at me with those pitying eyes and sighed. “I’ll let Alpha Galen know you’re awake.”

As she turned to leave, I clenched my jaw. How dare he let me be here? How dare he just take me like this? But then I remembered what he had said—the rejection. He had laughed at me, told me that I couldn’t just reject him like that.

I should have listened to Lana’s mother when she tried to teach me about this bond. She had warned me that rejecting a mate wasn’t as simple as I thought. But no, I thought I could do it my way. I thought I was stronger than fate.

I closed my eyes and let the sadness wash over me for just a moment. Lana and her family… Their lifeless bodies. The pain of it all was so raw. But I couldn’t focus on that. Not now. I had to get out. I needed to leave.

The nurse came back into the room then, and her eyes were wide with confusion. “You—your wolf scent... It’s not… it’s different.”

I didn’t understand her words at first, but then she spoke again, her voice softer now.

“The rogues. You smelled like them. Are you—”

“I’m not a rogue!” I snapped, my eyes flashing. “Tell me where Galen is.”

She hesitated, her expression a mix of wariness and concern. "Galen's not far. He's probably in the pack house. Just… go out the door and follow the path. You'll see it."

Without another word, I pushed past her, my legs shaky but strong enough to carry me. As I stepped into the hallway, the walls were lined with old wood, giving off a warm, earthy smell that was oddly comforting. But I didn’t have time to appreciate it. My head was still spinning from everything that had happened, and I needed to find him.

I moved quickly, following the scent trail and ignoring the aches in my body. I wasn’t about to let myself feel weak. I could hear footsteps behind me, and I spun around, my body instinctively going into a defensive stance.

A she-wolf stood before me. Her eyes narrowed, and I could smell her hostility before I could even react. She had the scent of a wolf pack on her, but it wasn’t the same as Galen’s.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she snarled, stepping closer. Her eyes flicked to my face, then down to my hands, and she took a step back, sniffing the air. "You... smell like a rogue."

“I’m not a rogue,” I growled, but she didn’t seem to care.

The she-wolf lunged at me, her hands raised as if she intended to fight. But I was faster. I sidestepped her easily, letting her pass by, and I spun around to face her, my fists clenched and ready.

But before we could go any further, a voice bellowed from behind us.

“Enough!”

I turned to see Galen stepping into the clearing, his eyes blazing. The she-wolf froze, stepping back as he moved toward us. His presence was overpowering, and I could feel the weight of the bond between us like a heavy chain.

“This is not a rogue,” Galen said, his voice cold and commanding. “She’s a guest. Treat her as such.”

The she-wolf, who I now realized was probably part of his pack, opened her mouth to argue, but he silenced her with a single glare. He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Come with me,” he said, and for a moment, I wanted to refuse. I wanted to fight him. I wanted to scream and tell him to leave me alone. But instead, I followed him inside.

We entered the pack house, and I could feel eyes on me, but I didn’t let it bother me. I focused on Galen as he led me down a hallway and into an office. The room was dimly lit, with large windows that overlooked the forest. It felt more like a place of power than a home.

“Sit,” Galen said, pointing to the chair in front of a large desk.

I did as he asked, but my body was stiff, and I couldn’t help the tension that was building in my shoulders. I was about to speak when Galen interrupted.

“This is Collin,” he said, motioning to a man who entered the room. He was tall, with dark hair and sharp features. “My Beta.”

I nodded, glancing at Collin, but before I could say anything, I heard a gasp from the door.

Amber. She was back, and her eyes were wide with shock.

“I—I’m supposed to be Luna,” she said, her voice quivering. “Not her. I—”

“Take her out, Collin,” Galen ordered, his tone unwavering.

Collin moved quickly, grabbing Amber’s arm and dragging her out of the room before she could protest any further. The door slammed shut, and I was left alone with Galen.

“Now,” Galen said, sitting across from me. “You wanted to talk about rejection. But why? Why are you so desperate to reject me?”

I opened my mouth, ready to snap at him, but before I could speak, he slid his finger down my arm. The contact was so light, but it sent a jolt through my body, like electricity shooting through my skin.

“Tell me,” he said, his voice low, dark. “What’s so bad about this?”

My pulse raced, and my thoughts scattered. His touch was like fire against my skin, and it made my knees feel weak.

“You want me, don’t you?” he murmured. “Admit it. This could be good for both of us.”

But I wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet. And certainly not to him.

“Get off me,” I hissed, my voice shaky, but full of defiance.

And for a moment, I thought he might listen. But then, he smiled. A slow, dangerous smile.

“We’ll see about that,” he whispered, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure what he meant.