I awoke to the feel of soft sheets beneath my fingers. The lingering scent of lavender filled the air. For a moment, I was too disoriented to move.

Where was I?

The room around me was large and luxurious, unlike anything I had seen before—certainly not part of the Dark Moon Pack.

Panic surged through me as I sat up quickly. Flashes of the previous night rushed back.

The birth, my father’s fury, and the darkness that followed.

But where was Brielle?

Fear clawed at my throat as I scrambled out of bed. My legs trembled beneath me.

I scanned the room, desperate to find her. My breath came in shallow bursts, and every muscle in my body screamed in exhaustion. But none of that mattered.

I needed to find my daughter.

I had barely taken a step when a voice stopped me from cold.

“You’re awake.”

I turned sharply. My gaze locked onto a tall figure leaning casually against the doorframe.

A man.

His presence dominated the room. He watched me with a cool, indifferent gaze that made my skin crawl. The sunlight streamed in from the balcony behind him, casting shadows across his face.

“Where is my daughter?” I demanded. My voice shook as I forced myself to stand tall, despite the weakness in my limbs.

I needed to be strong. But my body was still recovering. And I knew I couldn’t shift even if I wanted to.

The man didn’t flinch at my question. Instead, he smirked. “You’re really something, aren’t you? Just woke up and already ready to fight.”

I glared at him. “Don’t play games with me. Where is she?”

“She’s safe,” he replied calmly, pushing off the door and taking a few steps closer. “No need to be so defensive.”

I didn’t trust him. I didn’t know this man. And the fact that he seemed so unfazed by my panic only made me more suspicious.

I was banished. And now I was at the mercy of a stranger. My daughter was somewhere unknown.

And he expected me to stay calm?

“I want to see her,” I growled, though it came out weaker than I’d intended. My body wasn’t ready for this confrontation. But my instincts screamed at me to protect my child.

He stopped a few feet from me. His expression softened slightly as he regarded me. “You need to rest. You’ve been through a lot. Your daughter is being cared for—”

“I don’t care what you think I need!” My voice cracked. Frustration and fear overwhelmed me. “I want my daughter. Now.”

For a moment, his eyes flickered with something—sympathy, maybe—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Look, I get it. You’re scared, and you don’t trust me. But you need to calm down, or you’ll end up hurting yourself. Your daughter is safe. I swear it.”

His words did little to ease the storm raging inside me. But I couldn’t ignore the exhaustion that was dragging me down. I hated feeling weak, vulnerable.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want from me? Why are we here?”

He raised an eyebrow at my question. “Maybe we should start with proper introductions.” He gave a small, almost mocking bow. “I’m Lucian, Alpha of the Ravenclaw Pack.”

His words hung in the air. I felt my heart stutter in my chest.

Alpha?

Of Ravenclaw?

I had heard stories of their pack, whispered tales of their ruthlessness. But I never thought I’d find myself in their territory. My mind raced, trying to piece together why he had rescued me, why I was here.

“What do you want with us?” I asked again.

Lucian crossed his arms over his chest, studying me with those cold, unreadable eyes. “You were found on the edge of our territory, unconscious, with a newborn in your arms. I don’t take kindly to intruders, but your situation was… different.”

I swallowed hard as my hands trembled. “Different how?”

“You were banished from your pack, weren’t you?” His voice was softer now, less mocking. “Thrown out like you meant nothing.”

His words hit too close to home.

I looked away. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Maybe not,” he said with a shrug. “But you’re in my territory now, and that makes you my concern.”

The weight of his words settled over me, leaving me both intrigued and unsettled.

What had I gotten myself into?

And what did this mysterious Alpha want with me and my daughter?

The silence between us stretched. I didn’t know what to say. This was the pack we’d been warned about growing up.

How had I ended up here?

Before I could gather my thoughts, a knock came at the door, breaking the tension.

Lucian shifted slightly. His eyes flickered toward the entrance.

The door opened.

A woman stepped inside, cradling Brielle in her arms. My heart leapt at the sight of my daughter.

I instinctively reached out. All of my earlier panic rose again.

The woman approached. Her smile was warm and kind. “You must be Elara,” she said softly. “I’m Thalia, Lucian’s sister.”

She moved closer and placed Brielle in my arms. Her touch was careful and tender.

I immediately checked my daughter. My fingers brushed over her small face.

Her soft, steady breaths calmed the frantic beat of my heart. Brielle was dressed in clean, soft clothes. Her tiny body was wrapped in a beautiful blanket. She looked peaceful. Her lips parted in a contented sleep.

Relief flooded through me, easing some of the fear that had gripped me since I woke up.

“I’ve been taking care of her while you rested,” Thalia added as her smile widened. “She’s a lovely little one.”

I looked up at Thalia. Her presence was so different from Lucian’s. Where he made me feel on edge, wary of every word, she seemed open and genuine. There was a warmth about her that made me want to trust her. But I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Why did you save us?” I asked. “What do you want from us?”

Thalia’s expression softened. She sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes never left mine. “I heard your howl that night. It was desperate, filled with pain. I couldn’t ignore it. No wolf should suffer alone like that, especially not with a newborn.” Her voice was filled with empathy. But I remained skeptical.

“And Lucian?” My eyes darted to him, still standing by the door with his arms crossed, observing our interaction. “He agreed to help?”

Thalia glanced at her brother. A knowing smile played on her lips. “I can be very convincing,” she said with a slight laugh. “He didn’t want to at first. But I knew you needed us. We both did.”

Despite her sincerity, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this.

Why would the Alpha of Ravenclaw Pack, of all people, take in a rogue like me?

My distrust lingered. “And now what? You saved us, but why keep us here?”

Lucian stepped forward. His expression was still unreadable. But there was a sharpness to his gaze. “You’re free to leave if that’s what you want,” he said bluntly. His tone was cold, indifferent, like it didn’t matter to him one way or the other. “But where will you go, Elara? You no longer smell like you belong to any pack.”

His words were a knife to the gut. The truth of my situation crashed over me. Banished. I had no pack. No place to call home. Brielle and I were alone.

I looked down at her. Her small fingers curled unconsciously against the fabric of her blanket.

What kind of life could I give her out there on our own?

Lucian seemed to sense my hesitation. “You’ve been banished, haven’t you?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question. He already knew. “No pack will take you in now. And out there… you won’t last long.”

I swallowed hard. My throat tightened.

His words were brutal. But they weren’t wrong. I had nothing and nowhere to go. Still, I didn’t want to admit it.

“You think I have no choice but to stay?” I asked.

He tilted his head slightly. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m giving you options. You can leave if you want, but I suggest you think carefully about what’s best for your daughter.”

My chest tightened, anger mixed with fear. I didn’t have many choices.

Where would we go?

How could I protect Brielle on my own?

Without another word, Lucian turned and left the room. His exit left me reeling and my mind racing with uncertainty.

Life with the Ravenclaw Pack was not what I expected. At first, I kept my distance, too overwhelmed by everything that had happened.

Lucian’s words haunted me. The realization that I had nowhere to go weighed heavily on my mind. But as the days passed, Thalia’s warmth broke through my shell. She was persistent, always checking in on me, offering help or simply sitting with me while I cared for Brielle. It was hard to remain cold to someone so kind.

Soon, I found myself easing into a rhythm. I wasn’t used to the luxury around me—the Ravenclaw Pack lived in a grand estate, the likes of which I’d never seen. It was intimidating at first. But I didn’t want to be a burden.

Out of gratitude, I started helping out where I could, mostly with small chores while Brielle napped. Thalia didn’t seem to expect anything from me, but I couldn’t just sit around.

One day, I decided to bring snacks to Lucian. Despite living under the same roof, he had kept his distance since our tense encounter. I rarely saw him. And when I did, it was only in passing. His gaze was cool and indifferent. Still, I wanted to show my appreciation, even if he didn’t ask for it.

It was a strange feeling, being in a place that felt safe but not quite like home. Yet, slowly, I started to settle. Brielle thrived here. And for that, I was grateful. She smiled more, her tiny hands reaching out to explore everything around her. Watching her grow brought me a peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.

One evening, after a long day of caring for Brielle and helping Thalia, I decided to take a bath. The warm water was a welcome relief, soothing the tension from my body. I let my thoughts drift, trying to ignore the constant undercurrent of anxiety that had become my companion since my banishment. But that peace was shattered by the sound of Brielle’s cry, piercing through the silence.

My heart raced, and I jumped out of the bath, hastily rinsing the soap from my skin. I grabbed a towel. Panic surged through me. But then—nothing.

Silence.

I froze.

Had she fallen back asleep?

Or worse, what if something had happened to her?

Wrapping the towel tightly around me, I rushed out of the bathroom. But when I stepped into the room, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Lucian was there. He stood by the crib, cradling Brielle in his arms. The sight of him, holding my daughter with such care, sent a jolt through me. I didn’t know what shocked me more—the fact that he was here, or that I was nearly naked, dripping wet and standing frozen in place.

For a moment, neither of us moved. Lucian’s eyes flickered over me. And then, as if realizing the situation, he quickly turned his back. “I—sorry,” he muttered, his voice stiff. His usual calm demeanor faltered. And I felt my face flush with embarrassment.

I scrambled to grab my robe. The towel slipped from my grasp as I tried to cover myself. “I… didn’t expect anyone to be here,” I said. My voice turned shaky as I tied the robe tightly around me.

Lucian cleared his throat, still facing the wall. “I heard her crying,” he explained, his voice more composed now. “I couldn’t ignore it.”

My heart still raced. But not just from the surprise of seeing him. The image of him holding Brielle, his broad form somehow gentle with her in his arms, lingered in my mind. “Thank you,” I said softly, moving closer to take Brielle from him. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Lucian handed her to me carefully. His fingers brushed mine for the briefest moment. The contact sent a strange warmth through me. And I quickly looked away, focusing on Brielle. She had stopped crying and now peacefully asleep in my arms.

“It’s no trouble,” Lucian said, his voice low. He hesitated for a moment, then added, “You should no longer see yourself as a guest here, Elara.”

I blinked, surprised by his words. “What do you mean?”

He turned slightly, just enough to meet my eyes without looking at me fully. “You’re part of the Ravenclaw Pack now, whether you like it or not. You and Brielle belong here.”