Saved.

The pain that surged through my body upon regaining consciousness made me wish I could retreat back into the comforting embrace of sleep.

As I surveyed the unfamiliar room, adorned in cream and brown tones, I mustered the strength to prop myself up, but the throbbing ache in my hand forced me back onto the soft pillow.

Memories flooded back to me, the last thing I remembered being the excruciating pain of having my left pinky finger severed by that deranged man.

I glanced at my hand, now swathed in a protective wrap, uncertain whether my finger had been saved or merely bandaged for healing. Regardless, the fact that I was still alive filled me with a sense of relief.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the memories of my harrowing ordeal resurfaced. It was a miracle that I hadn't awakened in the basement, though I couldn't yet determine if it was a fortunate turn of events.

While I tried to discern my location, the door swung open, and a woman entered the room. Immediately, I sensed her lycanthropic aura—a fellow werewolf. Struggling to sit upright, I found her gaze fixed upon me, her silence causing a growing unease within me.

"Who are you?" I inquired, my voice tinged with a hint of anxiety, uncertain whether she posed a threat or a potential ally.

"My name is Alicia. Nice to meet you," she responded, her voice devoid of emotion. It was difficult to gauge her intentions, leaving me uncertain whether she could be trusted.

"I'm Selena. Nice to meet you too," I replied, attempting to maintain a respectful tone. Alicia appeared to be in her late thirties, though there was an air of maturity and authority that surrounded her, hinting at a high-ranking position within a pack, perhaps even that of a Luna.

"You look terrible," she commented, her voice still devoid of emotion. "You're worse off than an omega. If you choose to stay here, you'll face hardships. I advise you to leave as soon as you can."

Though her words lacked concern, I took them seriously, despite their limited usefulness. I was in the territory of a pack—a chance to uncover the truth behind the devastation that had robbed me of my family and pack. Determination welled up within me as I sought answers.

"Where am I?" I asked, my tone serious, my eyes scanning the room for any hints about my location.

"CV Pack," she responded, causing a slight furrow in my brow as I struggled to recall any pack with such an abbreviation. Alicia seemed to relish my confusion, a faint smile crossing her lips as our eyes met.

"Crescent Vista Pack," she clarified, a touch of warmth entering her voice. "You should focus on resting, not on exploring. You're not strong enough for exertion," she cautioned, observing my attempt to rise and glimpse the outside world obscured by floral curtains.

Reluctantly, I conceded, my body unwilling to cooperate as I obediently settled back onto the bed. "Did the Alpha save me?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could fully consider their implications. How could I, a mere human, explain my knowledge of the werewolf's status as an Alpha?

Alicia's gaze narrowed slightly, but she chose not to address my slip and instead nodded in affirmation. "He saved you, and you've been asleep for several days. You still need rest. I'll have the doctor check on you and bring something for you to eat."

Shortly after, the doctor arrived, but his words barely registered in my weary mind before unconsciousness reclaimed me.

***

"Honey, wake up," I heard my father's urgent voice rouse my slumbering

mother beside me. "Get up," he whispered to her, as if to prevent me from awakening. However, being a light sleeper, I was already alert.

"You're back?" my mother inquired, sitting up.

"We lost to the Crescent Vista Pack. They attacked us. I don't think we can escape this fate," my father replied, his voice filled with despair.

"Dad, what happened?" I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The word "fate" sent a chill down my young spine. My father had gone off to battle against another pack and had just returned. I wrapped my arms around his neck, embracing him tightly.

He offered a gentle pat on my small back before prying my grip loose and rising to his feet. "Come with me. Change into comfortable clothes."

Compliantly, I followed his lead, but when it was time for me to leave with my nanny, I shook my head and wept. Through the room's window, I could witness the flames devouring the once-familiar homes of our pack members. The cacophony of screams and impending doom filled the air.

"Dad, no! I don't want to leave. I can't leave you," I cried, slipping my wrist from the nanny's grasp and rushing to my father. Desperation surged within me as I clung to him, unwilling to let go.

"The packhouse is already ablaze. They know you weren't there," my father murmured, gently detaching my clinging hands. Squatting down, he caressed my head, a warm smile gracing his face. "There are people who seek to harm us, and you must escape, or they will kill you. You're the only one I can save."

The anguish in his voice left me with no choice but to obey, yet it only intensified my tears as I turned and reluctantly made my way back to the nanny. Sensing my struggle, my father smiled and approached me. He kissed my forehead, and that's when I woke up, my mother's lips still lingering against my skin.

As my eyes adjusted to the familiar ceiling, I wiped away the perspiration and tears, sitting up. The Moon Goddess had led me to the pack responsible for the destruction of all I held dear. A fierce determination to survive and make them pay for their deeds surged within me.

Without knocking, the door swung open, revealing the Alpha who had saved my life—the Alpha of the pack I now sought to dismantle to avenge my fallen kin. And as I beheld him, I couldn't help but notice that he appeared even more striking than the day we first met.