Chapter 4 Happy Vacation

Nova woke up to the steady beeping of a heart monitor. When her eyes fluttered open, she was met with the soft glow of an unfamiliar room. It was a hospital room.

She groaned softly and lifted her right hand to her throbbing head. Memories of last night rushed back in fragments, making her panic for a second.

But she quickly calmed down when she realized she was safe in a hospital room. 

She let out a shaky breath and scoffed at herself. A wolf turning into a human? Impossible. Clearly, she had a weird dream. Jenna's conspiracy theories must have gotten to her.

She was still processing when the door slid open.

A woman in a white coat stepped inside, tablet tucked under her arm. She paused when she noticed Nova awake, surprise flickering across her face before it smoothed into a professional smile.

"You're awake already," the doctor said. "I expected you to be unconscious for another day or two. You took a pretty nasty hit." She glanced at the monitor. "I'll inform the Beta."

Nova's eyes drifted to the name tag clipped to the woman's coat. Dr. Sarah Hale.

"Where am I?" She asked. "And what time is it? I need to leave. I have somewhere to be."

Sarah studied her carefully.

"You're in Ashfall Pack," she said. "It's nearly eleven in the morning. You were brought in after a crash last night. Do you remember what happened?"

Nova nodded slowly.

"Yes, I think I hit a wolf," she said cautiously. "I was trying to call animal control when..." she stopped herself, forcing a small laugh. Who would believe that crazy story? "Honestly, the rest must've been from shock. You said Ashfall Pack? I've never heard of it. I'll cover the medical expenses, just discharge me, and I'll be on my way."

Sarah didn't smile. Instead, something unreadable flickered in her eyes. Pity, maybe.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Miss Nova Lane."

Nova stiffened. A chill crept down her spine. "What? How do you know my name?"

She tried to sit up but found herself restrained. Her gaze dropped to her left wrist. She was handcuffed to the bed.

Nova's breath hitched. "What the hell? Why am I restrained? I didn't do anything."

The door slid open again, and two more people walked in. One was an unfamiliar man with a big build, and the other... her blood ran cold when she recognized him. It was the naked man from the forest. It hadn't been a dream after all. This meant that the werewolf was real, too. It was fucking real!

"Beta Cassian. Warrior Leo." Sarah greeted, giving them a slight nod.

Nova's eyes widened. The bitch was in on it, too.

"Does she remember?" Cassian asked.

Sarah nodded.

He exhaled sharply. "What a mess."

Nova's gaze darted between them.

"Hold on," she snapped. "Who are you people?"

She yanked at the handcuffs, panic clawing up her throat. 

"No. No, no, this can't be happening."

"I think she figured it out," Leo said with a sneer.

"Good. She's sharper than she looks." Cassian replied.

Nova shook her head violently, whispering, "This isn't real. This can't be real."

The heart monitor beside her began to beep faster.

Sarah stepped forward, gripping her shoulders. "Easy. Calm down before you send yourself into shock."

"Don't touch me!" Nova shoved her away, breath coming out in ragged gasps. "Get me out of here!"

"Leave her to us, Sarah. We will make her understand." Cassian said coolly.

Sarah hesitated, then nodded and quietly left the room. The door slid shut.

Nova tugged at the cuffs again until her wrists burned. When they didn't budge, she turned to the men, tears spilling freely now.

"Please," she said hoarsely. "Just let me go. I won't tell anyone about what I saw. I swear. I'll disappear."

"That's what the last one said, but he didn't keep quiet, though." The man replied. He tilted his head slightly. "I'm Cassian. This is Leo. The three of us met last night."

Leo's stare was cold.

"Don't mind his mood," Cassian went on lightly. "You ran over his mate. She survived, but he's still displeased."

Nova's eyes flicked back to Leo. He was the wolf. Her stomach twisted violently.

"Just let me go," she whispered again.

Cassian sighed. "Believe me, we don't want you here either. But you saw something you weren't meant to, and it's our responsibility to contain the situation."

"C-contain?" Nova stammered. "Are you going to kill me?"

Cassian laughed. "Relax. We're not monsters."

Nova let out a broken, hysterical scoff. "I beg to differ."

Cassian raised a brow. Leo growled low in his chest.

Nova swallowed hard, cursing herself and her smart mouth.

Cassian continued calmly.

"Forget whatever stories you've heard. We are not the mindless beasts humans paint is to be. We keep to ourselves." His tone hardened. "That said, what were you doing on our pack land in the middle of the night, Miss Lane?"

"I was traveling. I took a wrong turn." Nova said quickly.

"You don't just take a wrong turn and end up this deep," Cassian replied. "No one wanders this far by accident."

"It was an accident," she insisted. "I was about to turn around when-"

"When you ran over my mate," Leo growled, stepping closer.

"She came out of nowhere!" Nova snapped, desperation breaking through.

Leo looked over her, his fingers lengthening, nails sharpening into claws.

"No," he snarled. "She was exactly where she was meant to be. You weren't. So tell the truth. Who sent you? Or I'll tear your eyes from your skull."

Terror froze her in place.

"Nobody!" She cried. "I'm not a spy. I don't even know who you people are or who your enemies are. I was just trying to reach the city."

She said as sincerely as she could. She just wanted to go back home.

Cassian studied her for a long moment before lightly pushing Leo back.

"If you insist." He said with a shrug.

Her hope flared. "Does that mean I can go?"

Cassian snorted, and her face fell. "Of course not."

"What?" Her voice cracked.

"While you were unconscious, we looked into you," he said evenly. "You're an orphan, recently single, and on your way to a three-month vacation to escape the chaos of your life. We texted your friend Jenna and told her you arrived safely at your hotel. No one is looking for you."

Nova's eyes widened. 

"No. You can't do that. That's kidnapping."

"Your laws don't apply to us, Ms. Lane," Cassian said softly. "Your vacation starts today. Though I doubt it'll be as relaxing as you planned, especially when the Alpha returns. He doesn't care much for humans."

"The Alpha..." Nova whispered.

Cassian turned toward the door. "If you truly wandered into our territory by accident," he said over his shoulder, "then you have incredibly bad luck."

Leo left first. Cassian followed, pausing at the doorway.

"Welcome to Ashfall Pack," he said with a smile. "And don't worry, you can scream all you like. You're the only one on this floor."

The door slid shut. And when it did, Nova did just that. Scream.