CHAPTER THREE: PAIN

Zayn’s POV

She's as light as a feather and barely weighs anything. How is she even alive. I carefully pick her up heading towards my parked car about a kilometre away. The rogues which had become the least of my problems now, took off in an opposite direction clearly seeing how futile fighting would be for them since they were outnumbered by my pack. I signalled a few of our warriors to go after them, Ryker leading them while Lucian was to come with me. 

Driving hazardously, I arrive at our mansion in a jiffy carrying her straight to my room while calling out to Elizabeth, our packs Doctor and Ryker's elder sister to come take a look at her. 

She storms in almost immediately as I lay her on my bed, running a full checkup on her body while laying out some tools. 

“I'll need to take her clothes off, can I go ahead?” She asks me finally sensing that the lady by her side was definitely my mate.

“Yea, sure…” I reply awkwardly, stepping back yet not so sure if I was to leave. Nonetheless I couldn't get myself to take my eyes off her, Venom wouldn't allow it and neither will I. 

She slowly peels the sweater off her, apparently the only piece of clothing she had on asides her underwear. 

I couldn't control the growl that erupted from me on seeing her bare skin, laying there, helpless. Venom was getting agitated as I tried my best to suppress him. The pain that hit me was something I had never felt before. It seemed as though my heart was being ripped out over and over again.

Her skin, pale and marred with bruises—ugly smudges of purple and blue across her arms, her ribs, her thighs. Each one felt like a dagger twisting in my gut.

She’s mine, Venom growled once again, the sound echoing in my mind, raw and anguished. And they hurt her.

I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides. The sight of her lying there, so vulnerable, was almost too much to bear. It wasn’t her exposed skin that shook me—it was the story written across her body. The pain she’d endured, the cruelty she’d suffered.

My hands itched to tear apart whoever had done this to her. The scent of old blood and fear still clung to her like a shadow, even after I’d carried her to safety. My wolf raged beneath the surface, howling for vengeance, but it wasn’t vengeance I could think about now. It was her.

I approached the bed slowly, careful not to disturb Elizabeth. She looked so small, so breakable, like she’d been fighting a war all on her own and barely survived. My fingers hovered above her wrist, hesitant to touch her, afraid I’d make it worse.

A deep ache settled in my chest, one I couldn’t ignore. The bond between us was already forming, pulling me to her in ways I didn’t fully understand yet. But one thing was clear: she was mine, and I’d failed her before I even knew her name.

“I should have found you sooner,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

She shifted slightly, a soft whimper escaping her lips, and I froze. She was still trapped in whatever hell haunted her dreams.

I knelt beside the bed, my knees hitting the cold stone floor as I bowed my head. The weight of my failure pressed down on me like a storm.

“I don’t know who hurt you,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. “But I swear on the Moon Goddess, they’ll never touch you again. You’re safe now. You’ll always be safe with me.”

It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough to erase what had been done to her, but it was all I could offer in that moment.

Elizabeth was done tending to her visible wounds and then told me she needed a lot of rest but I could stay by her side for now. 

She handed me the sweater she had taken off her initially which was now replaced with a light, transparent gown. Packing her things quickly she let me be after giving me a slight tap on the shoulder in a bid to comfort me. 

But at this point, I don't think anything could make me feel better. 

I reached for the blanket draped over the chair and carefully spread it over her. My hands trembling as I tucked it around her shoulders, trying to shield her from the cold—and from the world.

For the first time in years, I felt helpless. Not as an alpha, but as a man. A mate.

All I could do now was protect her, no matter what it cost me. Because she was mine. And I would burn the world to ash before I let it hurt her again.

I instinctively sniff on her sweater, inhaling her scent, it seemed to be the only thing that could calm venom down. Then I saw the small imprints on the hem of the sleeve, Ariel. That was her name… Ariel.

I quietly leave the room trying not to wake her as I fought the tears that threatened to fall. 

It's been hours now and she's still asleep. I know Elizabeth said she needed a lot of rest but I was too anxious and scared she might have died in her sleep. 

I was having a meeting with the leaders of the pack but I could barely focus. 

Lucian sensing my restlessness leans in towards me and whispers, “maybe we should end already, I think the pack will be fine for a day without you. Your mate needs you more”. 

I was so glad he said that and without wasting a second more, I adjourned the meeting. 

I zoomed off to my office, Lucian and Ryker slightly behind me. 

I couldn't help but pace back and forth my office, Ariel being the only thing on my mind. 

A loud laughter from Ryker shot me out of my daze as I sent him a death glare wondering how he could find this situation funny.

“Who would have thought that the Almighty Alpha Zayn truly had a mate, one that could make him all jumpy. I mean we had all given up including you, people literally called you the “Mateless Devil” but hey what are the odds?” he said admist laughter. 

“What are the odds that I kill you here and bury you right underneath this office?” I reply him clearly not in the mood for jokes. 

“Stop joking around Ryker, it's your Luna we're talking about here… nothing can be more important than that” Lucian finally spoke. 

“And how are you even here? Weren't you supposed to be chasing after the rogues? Don't tell me you left the other warriors behind and came back!!!” 

“Mmmmm…” was all Lucian got as Ryker shrugged his many questions off. 

Well the answers to all these questions were clear. Sometimes I can't help but wonder how he is the Gamma of our pack.

Nonetheless, I had weightier matters at hand now.

Unable to control myself anymore, I head out towards my room stopping just behind the door as I take deep breaths to calm myself. 

I slowly open the door and peel myself inside, finding her sitted on the bed somehow put my heart to rest.

“You're awake?” I say to her, relief rushing through my spine. 

I keep replying all her questions trying to make sure she isn't scared anymore and gets comfortable, although I wasn't so shocked at the fact that she wasn't aware she's a wolf. She's lived amongst the humans all her life, it's normal to think she was a part of them, she was like them. 

Still, I try my best to correct her wrong notion. 

All I can think about all through our conversation is this one question that has been on my mind all day, I've been dying to ask her this one thing… i knew i just had to. 

She refuses to believe me when I tell her she's a wolf and also refuses to accept her true nature. I guess I just have to show her.

I let Venom take over briefly, revealing my other side to her. 

I could feel the fear emanating from her as she whimpered backwards. 

I held her gaze as I drew closer to her, unrelenting, deteremined to show her what i wanted her to see and tell her what i needed her to hear. 

I bent slowly to meet her gaze, how beautiful she looked so up close. Touching her face, I took it all into my hands, inhaling deeply her now familiar scent.

I stared at her eyes, every unspoken words of hers evident in them as I subconsciously moved my eyes to her lips. 

There was a split there, I wanted to kiss the pain away, I needed to, I needed her. 

Still, one thing i needed more right now were answers.

So I finally spoke the words that hung at the back of my throat all along… “Who did this to you?”