What Do You Mean?

Karina

"Look at the state she's in!"

Someone's irritated voice slices through the fog in my mind as I struggle to wake up, though part of me wants to stay still, pretend I'm still unconscious.

"Roger said the herbal ointments might help," another voice adds, calmer but no less tense. As my thoughts begin to settle, I recognize it—Alpha Ronan."Alternatively, the Lunar Temple can send a healer. They're sending the priest anyway."

A priest?The word rings in my head. Is it for Alpha John? It must be for his birthday... or maybe something worse. Goddess, I don't even know how long it's been since I passed out. Time feels like water—slipping through my fingers every time I try to grasp it.

The memory of Selene's claws tangled in my hair, her eyes wild and unhinged, sends a violent shiver down my spine. The pain had swallowed me whole, dragging me into unconsciousness, and now that I'm back, I have no idea how long I was out.

"I don't even want to think about it," the first voice grumbles again, and this time I know it's Lucien. "And letting the priest see her like this? That's a bad idea. Everyone already knows what happened."

I bite down on my lower lip, forcing myself not to cry out. Frustration burns hot in my chest.So they're not even going to hide it. They don't care if anyone sees the aftermath of the abuse. But then again... why would the Lunar Temple care?

"Her wounds are still oozing," Ronan mutters, clearly annoyed now. "How the hell is she supposed to get through the ceremony like this?"

"Who cares?!" Lucien snaps, and I nearly flinch with my entire body at the sheer force of his voice."Our father is dead—that's what matters right now, do you understand? She killed him! Just like she killed her! She doesn't deserve a fucking ceremony, no matter what Dad ordered. We're burying the Alpha of this pack, and that's the only thing we're doing!"

I hear him whirl around and storm out, the door slamming shut with a bone-jarring thud. I lie as still and silent as possible, praying that not even a single strand of hair shifts and gives me away.

But it's hard, because I can't seem to wrap my head around what I just heard.Is Alpha John... dead?

"Gentlemen," the doctor's voice slices through the lingering silence, his footsteps brisk and controlled as he approaches. "I thought I made myself clear—no disturbances. How do you expect to rule this pack if you can't even listen to reason?"

"Voice of reason," Ronan echoes flatly, then lets out a low, humorless chuckle as he walks closer to my bed. "Will she be able to stand tomorrow?"

"That's too soon," Roger replies, and there's an edge of irritation in his tone. "Especially if a certain rabid fox keeps dragging her claws down her spine."

I hold my breath, doing everything I can to suppress a scoff. He's talking about Selene's little performance earlier.Roger might just be the only person in this cursed pack who isn't charmed by that vile woman.

"Well, she has to," Ronan growls, turning away. His boots strike the floor with a hard rhythm as he stomps toward the door."Pump her full of painkillers or whatever it takes—I don't care. She needs to be out of this room by tomorrow morning."

With that, he slams the door shut, and silence falls over the room once again.

I try to collect my thoughts, but there are too many of them—chaotic, tangled, relentless. No matter how hard I try to focus, my mind remains a frayed mess.The conversation I just overheard doesn't make any sense.

Is Alpha John really dead? Is that why the Priest is coming?But then… why do they need me up tomorrow? Do they want me to start working already?Tsk. Of course. I wouldn't even be surprised.

My spiraling thoughts are interrupted by a quiet knock at the door.

"Enter," Roger says softly, and I hear the distinct snap of rubber stretching—he's putting gloves on.

"Ah, Anna," he greets warmly, and just like that, a wave of relief crashes over me. Finally, someone I like. Someone I trust.The pain from my wounds almost fades into the background just from hearing her name.

"It's good that you're here," Roger adds, his voice lower now as his hand moves gently across the bandages on my back."Maybe she'll finally stop pretending to be asleep now that someone familiar is around."

Ugh. Busted.

I try not to flinch, but now that I've been caught, there's a strange part of me that wants to keep pretending. Just to prove him wrong. 

Doc must've noticed—I hear the disapproving click of his tongue, followed by the rustle of fabric as he rises from his seat and walks away.

"All right then," he says, fidgeting with something wrapped in plastic. "I'm going to grab some ointment from the lab. Keep her company for a bit, will you?"

"I will," Anna's soft voice cuts through the quiet, and I exhale again, this time a little deeper.

The door clicks shut behind him, and the moment it does, Anna leans over me. Her hand gently strokes through my hair, and her touch alone almost brings tears to my eyes.

"Hey," she whispers, "how are you holding up?"

"Not great," I grumble through clenched teeth, too exhausted to even open my mouth all the way. "What's going on? Did Alpha John really… die?"

"A couple of hours ago," she says quietly. "But that's not what you should be worrying about right now, Karina."

"What do you mean?" I wince as I make the mistake of shifting my shoulders even a little. The pain roars back, sharp and merciless.

"What do I mean?" she repeats, incredulous. "Don't you remember what happened yesterday?"

I force my eyes open, the memory crashing into me like a wave of icy water. Selene hadn't come to hurt me just for fun this time—she had a reason. A brutal, personal reason.

And that reason is...

"You are their mate, Karina!" Anna's voice trembles, choked with emotion. "The Moon Goddess chose you. You're their fated mate!"