Chapter 21: Questions

Chapter 21: Questions Kaya I struggle to open my eyes; my head feels unbearably heavy, as if filled with lead. I’m not sure when exactly I passed out or drifted into sleep, but the last thing I remember was... Alpha Magnus! I jolt upright, my eyes snapping wide open. But they widen even further as I take in my surroundings. Where the hell am I? The room is spacious yet shrouded in darkness, with heavy, dark green drapes drawn tightly over the windows, allowing only the faintest sliver of light to seep through. My legs feel weak and unsteady, as though I’m a newborn fawn learning to walk for the first time, but I force myself off the bed and stumble toward the nearest window. With trembling fingers, I grasp the thick curtain and yank it aside, only to be instantly blinded by the harsh brilliance outside. Goodness! I squint against the glaring light, momentarily stunned. I’ve never seen a sky so bleak and unforgiving. Though the sun fights to pierce through the dense shroud of rain-heavy clouds, a ghostly gray fog blankets the ground, adding an eerie whiteness to the world beyond. After being cloaked in darkness, the sudden contrast is a cruel assault on my burning eyes. At least now, I can finally see the room. And honestly, I’m shocked all over again. It’s vast, far larger than Alpha Damien’s quarters, with towering ceilings and imposing walls adorned with matte, dark green wallpaper. Dark green. Everything is dark green. Whoever owns this room must have a strange obsession with the color. Noted. The furniture is sparse and unassuming—muted browns and blacks dominate the color palette, with soft silk bed sets draped over the mattresses. My gaze drifts over the room, my mind struggling to make sense of my surroundings, when something catches my eye. Wait. Two beds? The realization strikes me like a lightning bolt. There are indeed two beds here. One is neatly made, untouched, while the other... mine, I assume, is slightly disheveled. So... I’m not alone in this room. Or at least, I wasn’t. A new kind of heaviness settles in my head, a mixture of confusion and unease. My heart thuds against my ribcage as I bolt toward the nightstand beside the second bed. I yank open each drawer in a frantic search for answers. Empty. Not a single thing inside. I pivot to the nightstand next to the bed I woke up in and repeat the process, but once again, I’m met with nothing. Panic coils in my chest as my eyes dart toward the door on my left. Without hesitation, I rush toward it, my pulse quickening with every step. I push the door open and stumble into yet another dimly lit space. My hand fumbles along the wall until my fingers brush against a switch. I flip it on. A walk-in closet. Rows of clothing hang neatly from dark wooden racks—shirts, jackets, and suits, all distinctly masculine. The faint, musky scent of cologne lingers in the air. This room... belongs to a man. Could it be...? My thoughts spiral as dread grips me. I need to get out of here. Now. I whirl around and make a beeline for the door that seems to lead out of this suffocating maze. I grasp the handle and swing it open, ready to bolt— But before I can step through, a strong, warm arm snakes around my waist, effortlessly pulling me back. "Whoa! Where are you running off to?" The deep, velvety voice sends a shiver down my spine. I freeze as the man’s grip remains firm yet oddly gentle, his presence towering between me and the doorframe. The moment our eyes lock, he flinches slightly and withdraws his arm, though he remains firmly planted in front of the door, effectively blocking my escape. It doesn’t take much effort for him, I realize. He’s tall—so tall that the crown of his head nearly brushes the top of the wide doorframe. Broad shoulders and powerful arms strain against the tight gray t-shirt that clings to his muscular build, leaving little to the imagination. His skin is pale, fitting the grim weather outside, but the contrast of his short, spiky brown hair and warm, coffee-colored eyes adds an unexpected vulnerability to his otherwise imposing presence. I catch myself lingering on his features for a moment too long and inwardly scold myself. Now is not the time to be distracted. Taking a cautious step back to create some distance between us, I force myself to meet his gaze. "Who are you? What is this place?" He hesitates, his dark eyes trailing over me in a way that makes my skin prickle with discomfort. His expression shifts to something... awkward, almost guilty. "Uh... perhaps you’d like to cover yourself first..." My heart skips a beat. My eyes dart downward, and horror floods me as I take in my state. I’m not naked, but the oversized shirt Alpha Magnus gave me yesterday hangs open, leaving far too much of me exposed to this stranger’s gaze. A strangled gasp escapes my lips as I scramble back toward the bed. I dive under the soft, silk-covered blanket, pulling it tightly around me as heat floods my cheeks in embarrassment. I keep my wide eyes fixed on the stranger, searching for that all-too-familiar glint of lust. It’s what usually happens when men lay eyes on me—something about my body captivates them, igniting a primal hunger to possess me in any way they can. But this man... he’s different. Strangely so. The moment I pull the blanket around myself, shielding my body from view, I catch the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he exhales a breath of relief. A faint pink blush dusts his cheekbones, making him look almost... boyish. "Alright," he says at last, stepping cautiously into the dimly lit room. "Now that this issue is out of the way, would you like me to answer your questions?" I blink in disbelief. He isn’t here to hurt me? To use me like the others? I want to be cautious, but something about him—his calm demeanor, the way his eyes soften when they meet mine—feels oddly safe. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I allow a sliver of hope to creep in. "Y-yes," I stammer, my voice trembling as I clutch the blanket tighter. "What is this place?" His expression darkens slightly as he responds, "The Blood Moon pack house." My heart plummets. Any fleeting sense of safety vanishes in an instant.