Ariella's POV
PACK HOUSE – CORRIDOR
The pack house felt quieter than usual, but it wasn't peaceful. It was the kind of silence that came after something terrible had already happened, the kind that sat heavy on the chest and refused to lift.
I walked slowly down the long stone corridor, my fingers brushing lightly against the cold wall as I moved. The torches fixed along the sides flickered gently, their light casting soft shadows that stretched and moved with every step I took.
My heart felt heavier with each step.
Sky had been quiet for a while now, but I could feel her there, watching, thinking.
"You're going to see him," she finally said.
I swallowed.
"Yes."
There was no point pretending otherwise.
Rohan had always hated me. I never understood why. From the very first day, his eyes had always held something sharp whenever they landed on me. Disgust, maybe. Or something deeper I couldn't explain.
But this… this was different.
He was dying.
And I knew, deep down, that I had a part in it.
"I should have said something," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Sky didn't respond this time.
Because she knew I was right.
I stopped in front of the door to the healing room. My hand hovered slightly before I pushed it open.
Ariella's POV
HEALING ROOM
The room smelled the same as before, thick with herbs and medicine, but now it felt heavier, like the air itself carried sorrow.
Rohan lay on the bed, his body still, his breathing faint and uneven. The strong Beta I had always known looked completely different now. Weak. Fragile. Like he was slipping away slowly.
My chest tightened.
I stepped inside quietly.
"I just want to apologize," I said softly.
Rohan's POV
HEALING ROOM
The moment I heard her voice, something inside me snapped.
Ariella.
Of course it was her.
I forced my eyes open, my vision slightly blurred, but I could still make out her figure standing there. Small. Quiet. Always looking like she didn't belong anywhere.
Anger rose instantly.
Even in this state, I could feel it.
What was she doing here?
Was this some kind of joke?
Had she come to watch me die?
My hand tightened weakly against the bed as I tried to push myself up slightly.
"Get out," I said, my voice rough and strained.
She didn't move.
"I said get out," I repeated, forcing more strength into my voice despite the pain burning through my chest.
But she stepped closer.
"I just wanted to—"
"I don't need anything from you!" I snapped, my voice breaking as a sharp pain shot through my body.
Why was she still here?
Why wouldn't she leave me alone?
"You think I don't know?" I continued, my breathing uneven. "You think I don't see it? You bring nothing but trouble!"
She froze.
Good.
Maybe now she would leave.
But she didn't.
Instead, she took another step forward.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Something about the way she said it made me hesitate for a second.
But I pushed it away.
I didn't need her pity.
I didn't need her anything.
"Just go," I muttered, trying to turn away from her.
Then it happened.
She reached out.
Her hand touched mine.
And everything changed.
It started small.
A warmth.
Soft at first, like a faint heat spreading through my skin where she touched me.
Then it grew.
Fast.
Too fast.
The pain that had been tearing through my chest suddenly eased. The tightness loosened, the burning sensation fading as if it was being pulled away from me. My breathing steadied without me trying, my body responding in a way that didn't make sense.
My eyes widened.
What…?
The warmth spread through my entire body now, moving through my veins, pushing back whatever had been consuming me. It felt clean. Pure. Like something powerful was forcing the poison out.
I could feel it.
I could actually feel myself getting better.
My grip tightened slightly around her hand without thinking.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't possible.
I slowly lifted my head, my eyes locking onto her face.
She didn't know.
Her expression was the same as before, filled with guilt and uncertainty, her brows slightly drawn together as if she was expecting me to push her away again.
She had no idea what she was doing.
Who the hell is she?
The thought hit me hard.
Because this… this was not something an omega could do.
Not even close.
The warmth slowly faded, leaving behind something I hadn't felt in days.
Relief.
Real, actual relief.
I could breathe.
Properly.
My chest no longer felt like it was being crushed from the inside.
I stared at her, my mind racing.
I should tell her.
I should say something.
But the look on her face stopped me.
She looked so unsure. So unaware.
If I told her now… she wouldn't even understand it.
She slowly pulled her hand away.
"I'm sorry," she said again, her voice soft. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
She turned before I could say anything else.
And walked out.
I watched her go, my thoughts spinning.
Who the hell is she?
Kael's POV
ALPHA'S OFFICE
The office was quiet, but my mind was not.
I stood near the window, my arms crossed as I stared out at the training grounds. Wolves moved below, carrying on with their duties, but my attention wasn't on them.
Something was wrong.
Ever since the forest.
Ever since that moment.
Damon had not stopped reacting.
Then the door opened without warning.
Rohan walked in.
I turned immediately, my eyes narrowing slightly.
He shouldn't be walking.
Not in his condition.
But there he was.
Standing.
Breathing.
Looking… better.
"What happened?" I asked.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked further into the room, his expression serious, his gaze sharp in a way it hadn't been before.
"She came to see me," he finally said.
I didn't need to ask who.
Ariella.
My body tensed slightly.
"And?" I pressed.
Rohan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair as if trying to process it himself.
"She touched me," he said.
Damon stirred immediately.
"And?" I asked again, my voice lower this time.
Rohan looked directly at me.
"I started healing."
Silence filled the room.
For a moment, I thought I heard wrong.
But the look on his face told me I didn't.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"I'm saying," he replied slowly, "the moment she touched me, the pain stopped. My breathing stabilized. The poison… it reacted."
Damon was fully alert now.
That wasn't possible.
Not for an omega.
Not for anyone.
Rohan took another step closer, his voice dropping slightly.
"She didn't know," he added. "She looked just as confused as always. Like she had no idea what she did."
That made it worse.
Because if it wasn't intentional…
Then what was it?
My jaw tightened slightly as my thoughts shifted.
The forest.
The power.
The way the bond reacted.
Everything was starting to connect.
I turned away from him, my gaze hardening as I stared ahead.
Damon's voice echoed clearly now.
"She is not what they think she is."
I didn't respond.
Because for the first time…
I was starting to believe it.
Who the hell is Ariella Frost?