Melina POV
By the time training ended, my whole body ached, but not in a bad way. It was different. I felt stronger… lighter… like something inside me had finally woken up.
I stepped out of the training field, wiping the sweat off my neck, my mind already drifting.
This is my chance, I thought.
If I kept getting stronger like this, if I learned the layout of this place properly… I could run away. Not now, not yet—but soon.
Far away from this pack.
Far away from Mason.
"Run away?" a voice cut in suddenly.
I froze.
"…from our hot mate?"
My heart skipped.
I looked around sharply. No one. Just a few wolves passing by like nothing happened.
"What the—" I whispered.
"Oh, don't act surprised," the voice said, louder now, confident… and annoyingly amused. "You heard me. Why are we running away from our hot mate?"
My cheeks heated instantly. "Hot? Are you serious right now?" I muttered under my breath. "He's dangerous, not hot."
The voice scoffed. "Please. Tall, strong, intimidating, that voice? He's very hot. Don't lie to yourself."
I blinked.
"Okay, that's enough," I snapped quietly. "You're not real. I'm not doing this."
"Not real?" it laughed softly. "Then why are you answering me, Mel?"
I started walking faster, my heart racing.
"He's our mate," the voice continued, smoother now, persuasive. "He can protect us. You felt it, didn't you? The way he looks at us? The way he notices everything?"
I clenched my jaw. "Protect us? Or cage me?"
"Oh, please," it shot back. "If he wanted to cage you, you wouldn't even make it out of your room."
I stopped walking.
That… was annoyingly true.
"They might just get hungry one day and decide to feed on me," I muttered.
The voice went silent for a second. Then—
"Mel… we are one of them."
A chill ran down my spine.
"No," I said immediately, shaking my head. "No, I'm human."
"Keep telling yourself that," it replied, voice now softer… but still confident. "But you felt it today, didn't you? The strength. The speed. That wasn't human."
My breath hitched.
"Besides," it added playfully, "if anyone's eating anyone… it won't be them eating us."
"What is that supposed to mean?!" I snapped.
It chuckled. "Relax. You'll find out soon."
I pressed my hand against my chest, my heart pounding wildly.
"This is crazy," I whispered. "I'm talking to a voice in my head."
"And I'm a very smart voice," it replied smugly. "You're welcome."
I groaned softly. "You're imaginary. That's final. So stop talking."
"Sure," it said casually. "But just so you know…"
I waited.
"…running away from our hot mate is a terrible idea."
I rolled my eyes, even though my hands were still shaking.
"This place is really messing with my head," I muttered.
But deep down…
That voice didn't feel imaginary.
It felt… like me.
And that scared me more than anything.