He stared at me with a worried expression on his face. "Y—Yes, she's currently being cared for in the hospital's ward. The fact that she is covered in bruises and appears to have been subjected to severe abuse is the reason why her mother is caring for her. In addition, there were remnants of wolf's bane found within her. Perhaps the time after that?

When I heard that, the wrinkles in my brow deepened. "No, I will visit her at the hospital," she responded. Then you should come with me. After rising from my seat, I moved toward the door of the room, but Aaron intervened and stopped me.

"Wait a minute, Luther..."

"What?"

"She… It's possible that she won't work out well with us."

"What? What on earth prompted you to say that?"

He exhaled deeply and then looked through the window. He gave off the impression that he was extremely reluctant to reveal the truth, but in the end, he did so with contempt. "She looks a lot like Serenity. I don't want you to be influenced by her.

After dealing with the children, Luther went on to talk to the two bad guys. In addition to this, he admitted them into the pack without any further resistance, saying, "You mentioned that there were three adult rogues. Where is the one that's been left?" Luther asked in a hushed voice as they were walking away, content in the knowledge that they had been welcomed into a new pack.

Luther picked up on Aaron's anxious demeanor the moment he made eye contact with him. "Uhm, well, regarding that... She is currently being treated there for her injury. She was covered in cuts and bruises when her mother found her, and she is currently receiving medical attention from her. It was as if she had been beaten to within an inch of her life... Currently, she is working to eliminate any remnants of Wolf's bane that may still be present in her body. So maybe the time after that?"

Luther gave this some thought, but he ultimately decided to go in a different direction. Luther stood up, and Aaron watched in shock as he reached for the doorknob. He had just gotten up.

At that precise instant, Aaron reached out and grabbed his Alpha's arm to halt him.

Even Aaron sensed it and cowered for a moment as he felt the emotions of the pack's Alpha rising. Luther's expression suddenly took on a tinge of annoyance as a result of what had just happened.

Is it not in everyone's best interest to wait until she has fully recovered? Luther gave Aaron's beta a cold look as the former said some blubbering.

If what you say is true, which it appears to be, then it is imperative that we learn more about this individual. You are aware that I am unable to watch other people go through difficult circumstances without having a conversation with them about it.

The weight of Aaron's voice caused him to cower once more, and he spoke to Luther in a hushed tone, saying, "Wait, Luther," as more of that irritating emotion whirled around Luther once more. "I think she might not be a good fit for us..."

"What?" Luther said this while turning his undivided attention completely to his beta.

It's clear that she doesn't belong with the rest of us.

"How could you say so?" Luther questioned while looking at his second in command with his mouth welded shut, and his jaw welded shut.

Aaron turned his sad eyes toward the window and said, "It's because she looks exactly like Serenity." I do not want this person to have an effect on you now that you have moved on from the loss that you experienced.

Luther's rage flared up once more, and he jerked away from Aaron's grasp on his arm, muttering, "Why would I be affected by this person?" I have long since reconciled myself to the idea that Serenity will pass away. In point of fact, he did not. When Aaron said that the last criminal looked like his mate, it tore at his heart and made him ache.

After a moment, he turned and walked away, and Aaron followed closely behind him, obviously terrified of what was about to occur. They had quite a distance to walk from Luther's office to the ward, but they arrived there without any trouble.

It was obvious that Aaron had sent a mind-link message to inform them of Luther's impending arrival at the ward, and as a result, they prepared to meet their newly arrived Alpha. Jason was already present and waiting for them when they arrived.

Jason addressed him as "Alpha Luther" and bowed his head politely as he continued, "I understand that you are doing your duties." However, it would be best if you did not look at the patient that we have in front of us right now.

"You too?" Luther remarked, irritated but controlling his anger that this was a physician who had helped save people's lives. He was not at liberty to say anything demeaning to Jason about the president.

Luther said, in a tone that suggested annoyance, "My duty is my own," and then he added, "Now stand down." He then released another one of his auras, and everyone immediately moved away from him.

He made his way towards the ward where the rogue was, and Amelia was there, looking after her. The rogue's eyes were closed, she had significant bruises, and her body had suffered a great deal of damage, but one thing was certain. Amelia was looking after her.

As Luther looked at the woman lying in bed, his heart stopped beating completely. "Serenity...?" he managed to mutter through his tears.

Amelia immediately picked up on it, and Luther observed that her posture changed as soon as she heard her name being mentioned.

As he thought back on the final moments he shared with his late companion, the tears in his eyes came dangerously close to overflowing.

"Alpha Luther," Amelia whispered, her voice also laden with regret and sorrow. "I know that it hurts you to see her face on someone else's body," Amelia continued, "I know that it pains you to see her face on someone else's body." This is the nature of the mystery that is our world. There are people we recognize, but upon closer inspection, we will see that it isn't actually them. It's just another person who shares their appearance. But please, do not let her appearances cloud your judgment. She has a very tough exterior, but on the inside, she is a very sweet child. I will teach her the skills necessary to become my apprentice, and one day she will succeed me as a physician.

Luther did not utter a single word; instead, he simply stared at the patient, who was asleep in the bed, while fighting back the tears that were welling up in his eyes. Amelia continued by asking, "Has your wolf said anything to you?"

Luther remained fixated on the patient as he continued his monologue. "I have not heard from him since Serenity died," he stated in a tone devoid of emotion. "It seems he has retreated to the furthest corner of my mind and is refusing to speak with me." It was true that he had not heard the voice of his wolf in years, but at the same time, he was wondering where the hell did that woman come from. He had no idea where she had come from.

During the time that Luther was pondering the situation, something that stunned everyone in the room took place.

Luther's eyes widened at once, and even Amelia gasped and put a hand on her mouth to cover her shock. The rogue muttered, "Lui, Lui," and both of these reactions occurred simultaneously.

"WHAT?!" Aaron spoke out loud while he was approaching Luther from behind; however, Luther appeared to have heard the rogue as well. It appeared as though the rogue was having difficulty putting up a fight against something.

Luther took a step back as she whimpered, "Lui Lui, please help me," and his thoughts were filled with agony and sorrow as he fled the hospital in horror, sorrow, and anger. "Lui Lui, please help me," she pleaded with him. Only Serenity ever referred to him in that manner, and sadly, she has since passed away. Who was the woman in question?

As soon as he stepped outside of the mansion, his pent-up rage and frustration at the predicament erupted, and he immediately transformed into his wolf form.

His transformation into a wolf allowed him to escape into the nearby woods, where he howled nonstop for several hours. Hearing that symphony was like being ripped apart at the seams and made my skin crawl. Everyone who heard it was tormented by the sufferings and tribulations of the Alpha.

"Serenity, I am so sorry that you aren't able to be here with us right now. I regret not being able to spend that day with you. It was my fault; I should have rescued you. I ought to have looked more closely. I continue to run until I feel like I am going to collapse."

When he finally made it back to the woods, it had been several hours, and Amelia was waiting for him on the patio.

Luther simply nodded his head in response to the doctor's announcement that "She is fine now, Alpha." Amelia was quick to pick up on the fact that he was considering returning the girl to her group, and it was almost as if she had read it written all over his face.

"Alpha Luther, her wounds were not entirely inflicted by rogues," they said. There were indications of multiple wounds scattered all over her body, as well as traces of silver and a variety of poisons in her bloodstream. The end of a whip appears to be responsible for at least some of the lacerations that can be seen here. Do not go through with your plan to send her back if you are considering doing so. I am convinced that you will cause her demise if you continue in that manner. Amelia had a commanding presence, and she had a history of deferring to the Alpha's authority. However, the Alpha frequently sought her counsel and heeded her recommendations.

"I know. Luther admitted his defeat and said, "I intend to let her stay." "I saw"

—-

Samantha witnessed men accompanying Serenity as she was being dragged through the forest. They were moving stealthily, and the young girl could be heard whimpering the entire time.

The kidnappers and the attackers that had taken the child yelled, "Lui Lui, help!" as the kidnapped child fought back against them.

"Shut up!" Serenity whimpered quietly as she held her cheek in pain and cried out as the blonde man growled at the helpless child before slapping her across the face.

"Gabe, it's time for us to leave. The individual with brown hair spoke in an anxious tone and said, "The Alpha is going to be here very soon."

"Why don't the two of you just keep your mouths shut?" When an angry voice that was both familiar and authoritative shouted at them, both of them stopped and somehow recognized the voice's authority. Even Samantha was able to recall that it was Beta Menard all along. Her mouth opened in shock as she realized he was involved, but he was standing apart from his two friends at the time.

While Samantha was thinking about the situation, Serenity started sobbing once more. "Lui Lui!"

"I said shut up!" Samantha passed out after receiving the second slap from Gabe, who was becoming increasingly irritated with her.

—- When Samantha opened her eyes, she was once more confronted with the realities of life. Aaron was towering over her, and he was looking down at her with a grin on his face as he watched her.

"How are you doing right now?" Aaron inquired politely, his smile appeared sincere, and even his eyes were moist with concern as he spoke.

Samantha's voice was shaking as she muttered, "A little better," despite the fact that her body was still burning severely, the pain was gradually disappearing.

The Beta exclaimed with a cheer, "Oh jeez, that's good to know," as he exhaled his relief and heaved a sigh. My mother and father, both of whom are physicians, are having a conversation with the Alpha. I'll fill in as your nurse for the time being!"

Samantha was immediately overcome with feelings of guilt, but she forced herself to laugh at his enthusiasm. "You Know, You Don't Have to Stay with Me," Aaron laughed, immediately comprehending what Samantha meant by these words "Don't have stay with me." It's not a problem. I'll get used to it in due time. His eyes sparkled with compassion as he continued, "Besides, what would Serenity say if she were here right now and I wasn't helping out a person who is in need?"

"If I were to confide in you about something, would that be alright?" As soon as Samantha said it, she was unable to shake the dream that was running through her head, and Aaron nodded in agreement.

"I have been getting dreams ever since I got here. There was a scene that took place in a pool with your sister, a boy who she referred to as Lui Lui, and you. You were all laughing and having a good time while you were swimming in the pool. Oh, and even both of your parents were there as well...

Aaron pushed himself to his feet and took a few steps back as he tried to make sense of the situation while his eyes widened in shock.

Aaron chuckled nervously as he tried to process what Samantha had just told him, but he was unable to do so, so he changed the subject as soon as he noticed two children enter the room. "Next was a dream about three men taking Serenity off in a forest somewhere," Aaron said.

"Oh, Elise and Danny want to see you!" he exclaimed. Elise flashed a broad smile at Samantha. They had grown accustomed to each other's company in the dungeons, and they always talked whenever they could. "Oh, Elise and Danny want to see you!" he exclaimed.

Samantha beamed a smile at the two of them from the comfort of her bed, and the moment she looked at them, all of her thoughts shifted away from Aaron. "We're in with the rest of them!" Elise exclaimed with glee that even Danny was grinning widely and that he appeared to have candy in his mouth.

"The Alpha bribed us with some sweets!" As Samantha beamed, Danny remarked in a smug tone.

"You all have a place to live!" As the two children cheered, Samantha said, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Yeah, and all the other children are very pleasant as well!" Danny added. Samantha giggled. They were adorable in every way.

"So all of you agree that this place is awesome?" She inquired. They both grinned and nodded their heads in agreement.

It felt odd for Samantha that everybody would be staring at her like she had committed something taboo. There were glances and whispers as they passed by her. Even Aaron had become distant, and he would always find a way to pass on talking with her. If he saw her coming his way, he would immediately turn away and go somewhere else.

Maybe it was because she told the Beta about her dreams of his little sister, Serenity, a girl who had been missing and assumed dead after a rogue attack a year ago. It was a heart-wrenching memory for many members of the pack because Serenity was beloved by almost everyone. Amelia and Jason still have not moved on from her ‘death’ and such, and it was because of said Serenity’s death that they persevered even further to become better doctors. Aaron spiraled into depression but got himself up by conjuring a personality that was warm and nice to everyone. Even the Alpha, who was Serenity’s mate, lost all sense of his sanity because his spirit wolf had not spoken to him in years.

It has been a week since she was accepted into the pack, and being treated right for once was refreshing for Samantha. Away from the horrors as an Omega back with the Mountain Peak Pack, but the weariness that everyone had for her chilled the girl to the bone.

One time, she was just hanging out at the hospital while Amelia was cleaning her wounds, and two members of the pack came by and asked her to leave.

“Please go. You are ruining the harmony of the pack,” they said blandly. Samantha just stared at them stupidly while Amelia looked up and chastised them for their words.

“Do not bother her!” Amelia said angrily, making the two members of the pack step back in fear at the doctor’s sudden fierceness, “She has done nothing to you two, yet you come up to her and speak to her as if she has done something awful! Do not isolate her because she happens to look like my late daughter.”

Amelia’s anger shooed them away and left, apologizing profusely.

Right now, she was in her private room in the hospital, and Elise was hanging out with her.

“Can you do my hair?” Elise asked innocently, and the TV was blaring out a movie that Elise seemed to love so much. It was about the main character with ice powers that she could not control.

“Sure. What kind of style do you want me to do it?” Samantha told her with a smile, and she always loved having Elise around. It was as if she was a calming presence in her otherwise bland and boring routine as she recovered from her wounds.

“Like that one!” Elise said in a cute voice, pointing at the main character, ‘Elsa’ who had braided blonde hair.

“Like Elsa’s?” Samantha answered, and Elise nodded energetically. It was her favorite movie, and Elsa was her favorite character. “Very well!” she started working on Elise’s hair immediately as the child watched the movie. She had watched this multiple times already, and she never got bored of it.

As Samantha braided Elise’s long, flowing hair, Amelia came by with a smile. She was fond of these two, and seeing them together always warmed her heart. In the days that they had spent with the pack, they came together like siblings, and one was always with the other.

“Well, glad to know you’re keeping busy,” Amelia commented, grinning at Samantha, who returned the smile, “She wants the princess braid, huh? Who are you putting on that hair for, Elise?” Amelia asked the little girl, who started to blush profusely.

“Danny,” she said in a clipped voice, “He said that I would look better with braided hair.”

Samantha giggled at this, realizing that they were probably mates. To find a mate at such a young age must have been quite the experience.

“Can you put some makeup on me after?” Elise asked Samantha. Amelia shook her head and started to check in on Samantha’s wounds.

“They seem to be healing nicely, don’t over-exert yourself too much, the wound might open, and we would not want that. You’d be bleeding all over again, okay?”

“Yes, mom!” Samantha said jokingly, and Amelia put a hand to her chest, a gasp. In a way, she was reminded of Serenity. Aaron had told her about the dreams, but even Amelia could not believe them. It was too vivid, too specific, which is why she simply chose to ignore it and treat her like everybody else.

“I’m old enough to be!” Amelia said, grinning, tapping Samantha’s shoulder, “So you best follow my orders, okay?”

“Now then, what was that about makeup?” Samantha said, turning her attention to Elise, who was facing her now. The braid was finished, and she looked like the Ice Queen Elsa with that braid.

Elise blushed again, “I want to look pretty for Danny. I want him to adore me.”

Samantha rolled her eyes, and even Amelia chuckled at what she heard, but it was normal for things to be like this. The doctor put a basket of food at Samantha’s side table and quietly made her exit while Elise and Samantha stayed put.

“Honey…” Samantha said, putting her hands on both of Elise’s cheeks, “You don’t need to look beautiful. You do not need to put on thick makeup for Danny to absolutely adore you.” She squeezed tightly so that Elise’s lips started to pucker up, “You are beautiful the way you are. But if you truly want to, I can teach you how to apply makeup. But I am telling you now, and I am not that well versed in it. Just the basics.”

Elise nodded and hugged Samantha tightly, and the older girl smiled at this show of affection. Later on, Danny arrived with drinks, and Samantha offered them her sandwiches. Peanut butter and Raspberry without seeds. It was her favorite, and she wanted to share it with the two children.

They were giggling, laughing, and just all around having a good time as they ate their lunch. Samantha started to hum a lullaby that her mother used to hum to her, and memories started to come back to her as she looked at the two children with her.

She was six years old, and she was given her first bicycle. Samantha was ecstatic and had given her parents tight hugs for the gift, and as she started to pedal off, she immediately crashed and scraped both her knees. Her parents came to check in on her immediately as she cried because of the pain. They immediately helped her up and comforted her without a second thought.

It was these memories that made Samantha tear up, a distant longing for affection that she had not experienced in years. In turn, she is giving that affection to these two children who had just lost their parents in an attack that she experienced years back.

On the other side, Luther watched the three of them quietly. He had not spoken a word, and he was not even seen by them. He lingered in an area of the hospital where he would not be seen immediately. He could not help but smile as he saw Samantha braid Elise’s hair, their banter as Amelia entered, and how comfortable they had seemed with each other after only a week.

The Alpha looked on as memories of his dead mate flashed before him. She looked exactly like her, same eyes, the same hair, and the same smile. The way she spoke and the way she moved it was reminiscent of Serenity. He could not help but feel his heart be torn to pieces as he remembered how his mate would be.

“You good?” Amelia asked gently as she walked out of the room. Luther smiled at the doctor, “Why don’t you go speak with them, Alpha?”

Luther shook his head, “No. It would be better for me to observe from the shadows first. I heard that Aaron is having troubles?”

Amelia frowned and stared at the floor, “Yeah. It was because Samantha had told him about her dreams. It freaked him out that he wants nothing to do with her.” She immediately stared the Alpha in the eyes, “Please, Alpha Luther. Speak with him. Samantha does not deserve to be treated like this just because she had the awful fate of looking like Serenity.”

Luther’s heart shattered again at the mention of the name, “I will. How is Samantha anyway?”

“She is recovering nicely, and the wolfsbane is slowly being excreted from her system. She should be okay in a few days.”

Luther nodded now and walked away, remembering how Aaron had approached him a few days ago with tears in his eyes.

“She dreamed of us. That day in the pool, she dreamed of it vividly, even the day when Serenity died.” Aaron had said, crying, and I could not even say anything about it.

I just stared at him, confused, shattered, and broken.