Chapter 5

A low and steady beeping wakes me first. The pain really wakes me next. My head is throbbing so bad that I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. My whole body feels like it's been run over by a truck.

"Shanna, are you there?" I search my mind for her. Instant waves of relief wash over me when I sense her presence.

"I'm here Lizzie. I've got a little more left to go to finish healing you, so please stay in this bed." She replies back with a huff of exhaustion.

"Bed? Shanna, where are we?" I ask her.

"The pack hospital. You've been out for almost two days. I think you're ready for me to release the memories. Are you ready?" She asks me.

Without opening my eyes, I do a self-check on myself. Ten toes, two legs, back, and abdomen seem okay, ten fingers, two arms, and all things considered, physically I think I'm okay. Emotionally is a whole different story.

"Yes, let me have it," I tell her as I relax further into the pillow in preparation for the onslaught of memories. The memories flood my mind like watching a movie in fast forward. All the feelings that went with them knocked my breath out of my chest for a half second. It takes a moment before I register that someone is holding my hand, and that hand is shooting enticing electric sparks up my arm. Suddenly, the smell of chocolate, roses, and a touch of something exotic invade all of my senses. Everything starts to click into place like a puzzle that had missing pieces.

"Mate?" I ask Shanna.

"He found us, he saved us." She replied in an adoring tone.

I'm in a very unfamiliar room. I gingerly open my eyes and see a white bare ceiling. I'm in an unfamiliar room. I sit up ever so slowly, trying to balance myself while still feeling some soreness from the aftermath of the beating and the increased healing from Shanna. I look to my left and see a weird machine that seems to be monitoring my heartbeat. The pinch in my right-hand causes me to look down and see a needle taped to the back of my hand.

"It's morphine, leave it alone," Shanna instructs me.

The sparks of electricity are feeding me, what one might call superhuman strength. I follow the sparks down my left arm to where my left hand is intertwined with another hand. My breath catches in my throat as I take in the incredibly hot and steamy guy that is holding my hand. I can guess that he's over six feet tall by gauging how slumped over he is in the chair. He's wearing a clean white V-neck t-shirt and some washed-out blue jeans. The arm that's extended to hold my hand is covered in intricate black tattoos. In sleep, his prominent nose and square cheekbones enhance the peaceful look on his face. His lips are plump and slightly parted. He has light brown hair that's a shaggy mess.

Probably from lack of care while he's been here, I muse to myself. Overall, I have zero complaints about this gorgeous man next to me. I just hope that his personality is as beautiful as he is on the outside. I try to shift my weight and stretch some on the bed as lightly as possible so as to not wake him, but he jolts straight upright as if he were electrocuted.

"You're awake!" He practically shouts, sleeps still evident on his face. I wince a bit at his sudden outburst.

"Ye...Yeah... I think so. Unless I'm dreaming?" I stammer out. My throat is so dry that my voice comes out all scratchy. I lose all sense of thought as I stare into his teal-colored eyes.

"Let me get the doctor," He gives my hand one last squeeze before letting go and getting up to do so. The sparks still lingering on my skin.

"Shanna, why would the moon goddess really give me this hunk of a man as my mate?" I ask her.

"The moon goddess doesn't base her decisions on looks, she bases them on personality compatibility, strengths, and weaknesses." She simply replies back. After a minute or so, the pack doctor comes into the room with our mate and another attractive guy, I'd never seen before, following close behind him.

"How are you feeling?" The kind doctor asks me, tearing me away from my thoughts.

"Um.. err... I'm a little sore, my throat is really dry," I manage to scratchily tell him.

"You seem to have healed quite nicely, but you shouldn't wander around on your own just yet." He explains as he pours me a glass of water and holds it out for me to take. I take it and drink it all in one gulp.

"I wonder... I mean... Can I ask who they are?" I ask him shyly and point to the two guys standing by the doorway.

"Ah, I'm sure by now your wolf is telling you one of them is your mate?" He asks me gently. I nod and let my eyes meet the teal-colored ones that are boring into my straight to my soul.

"The other one is his Beta." He simply explains.

"Beta?" I squeak out. "You're an Alpha?" I ask him directly as shock runs through me fast and hot.

"I am." He nods at me. Shock, fear, depression, and loneliness, all course through me. There's no way he'll accept me once he knows how weak I am. I take a few deep breaths to ensure I don't burst into tears. I look between all three men and try to keep myself from shaking. I refuse to look into those magnificent teal-colored eyes now.

"I wonder... can we um... can we get this over with so I... so I can return to my chores?" I feel my tears start to cloud my voice causing my words to come out messy and jumbled. I close my eyes and wait. The tension in the room immediately rises to the point of suffocation.

"I understand you think you still need to go do the chores; however, you need rest, and as the pack doctor, I'm ordering it." He instructs me directly after a few moments.

"But, you're not allowed... I'm not allowed..." I try and stammer out.

"You are now." He cuts me off again. "I ran your bloodwork and found that you are severely anemic. I've given you an iron injection, potassium, and some vitamins. You are going to rest at least until your wolf finishes healing your injuries." He gives me a stern look. "I will have a nurse bring in some ice water, I think the three of you need to talk." He gestures between the two other men and me. He walks out and gently closes the door until we hear it latch.

"Nathan," My mate speaks clearly.

"Yes, Alpha?" The other response.

"Leave us,"

"Sure thing," he says. He bows his head at him. "Luna," he bows his head at me before walking out of the room. I look back at this god-like man and already feel my heart starting to break and panic set in. He's going to reject me now.

"Please..." I practically whisper. "Please just get it over with." I manage to get out.

"Get what over with?" He asks. His eyebrows furrow together like he's trying to figure it out.

"Reject me of course." I choke the words out. I watch as anger flashes across his features. Great, now I've made him angry on top of this.

"Knock it off Lizzie!" Shanna scolds me.

"Why on this holy earth, do you think I'm going to reject you?" He asks me.

"That's why you're still, aren't you? To reject me so you can find someone more suited for your Luna duties." I manage to get out while holding back my tears. Time seems to stop, he doesn't move an inch or say anything. I close my eyes and prepare myself for the heartbreak that's about to occur once he rejects me. However, I suddenly feel his hand back in mine causing those electric sparks to shoot back up through my arm. I open my eyes and meet his intense gaze.

"May I sit?" He asks me in a gentle tone. The same soothing tone I briefly remember from the night he found me.

"Su...Sure." I stutter.

"I promise you, rejection is nowhere on my radar. You are my mate. I've been all over this godforsaken planet looking for you." He says while intensely continuing to gaze into my eyes.

"Oh." I manage. Relief starting to seep into my body. "Is that why that guy called me his Luna?" I ask him.

"Yes, you are his Luna. He's showing you the respect you're owed." He replies simply.

"Who are you?" I ask him inquisitively.

"My name is Luke Rawlins. I'm the Alpha of the Clear Water Pack." He replies as he rubs soothing circles on the back of my hand. The sensation is sensual and amazing. "May I ask your name?" He asks.

"Elizabeth Ann Laurent, but I go by Lizzie for short. Though, nobody here calls me that." I tell him.

"Hold on, did you say, Laurent?" He asks as his eyebrows shoot upward in surprise.

"Yes," Here we go. Moment of truth. I swallow hard.

"As in Alpha James Michael Laurent's daughter?" He asks in a shocked voice.

"He was my father. Did you know him?" I can't tell if it's panic or excitement I'm starting to feel. Maybe both. Luke lets a giant sigh.

"He and my father were great friends when my father was Alpha. My pack heard what happened to your pack, and that Blood River was responsible. How did you survive?" He asks with a look of awe.

"My mother hid me away during the fight. A warrior from this pack found me while they were demolishing the house." I tell him with a hint of bitterness in my voice.

"Do they know you're an Alpha's daughter?" He asks.

"No, I've only ever told Doctor William so he understood why I healed the way I did prior to having my wolf," I say as I shake my head.

"Well, that should be fun explaining to them as we leave." He says with a sly smile on his face.

"I know that you are my mate, but you don't even know me. Why are you being so kind to me?" The question flies off my tongue faster than I can stop it.

"Apart from the obvious of you being my mate, I can tell already that you possess every bit of strength, personality, and so much more that I could ever hope for." He says sincerely. "Plus, I honestly can't wait to get to know you better, if you'll accept me as well." He says as bores his gaze straight through to my soul again.

"Alpha Luke," I gulp hard.

"It's just Luke, love, you never need to be formal with me." He instructs me.

"Luke, I don't know if I can do this," I say honestly.

"Do what?" He says with furrowed eyebrows again.

"I'm really not Luna material, let alone yours. I'm broken, technically a rogue even." I feel a tear finally escape and fall down my face.

"It's a good thing you don't get to decide. The moon goddess decides. She paired you with me, and I plan on keeping, cherishing, and loving you. So, don't even think about rejecting me. Unless you want me to die of heartbreak," He gives me a pearly white smile.

Did he just use reverse psychology on me? I can't help but just stare

"I... um..." I can't manage to form any words now. I take the glass of water to quench the dryness again.

"Lizzie, love, will you at least give me the chance?" He asks with the utmost sincerity. I meet my eyes with teal-colored ones and lose all my self-control. I can see his desire, his silent pleading.

"Yes, I think I can do that." I finally decide and tell him. He smiles so big that his pearly whites practically blind me. He bends down and kisses the back of my hand causing some of the most intense tingles to shoot straight to my core and leave a low simmering burn. For a split second, I wish his lips were on my lips.

"Is this the mate bond?" I ask Shanna.

"Yes and no," Shanna replies cryptically.

I can accept that. I think to myself as I feel a smile form on my lips.