A wave of pain washes over me, seeping into every fibre of my being. The ache is relentless, throbbing in sync with the rhythm of my heartbeat.

I groan softly, opening my eyes as I try to make sense of it all.

Blinking against the morning light streaming through the window, I squint as my surroundings come into focus.

The room is bathed in sunlight, casting warm rays across the floor and illuminating the space around me.

I shift on the bed, my movements slow, and that's when I notice it—I am naked.

Panic surges through me as the memories of the previous night flood back with startling clarity.

Soren's touch, his lips on mine, the raw intensity of our encounter—all of it comes rushing back in a dizzying whirlwind of sensations.

I can still feel the lingering heat of his skin against mine, the weight of his body pressing down on me, and his hand on me igniting a fire that burns deep within.

Then there is the pain.

The sharp sting of his bite, the searing ache as his teeth pierce my skin—it is a feeling I will never forget.

Wrapping my arms around my bare stomach, I trace my fingers over the marks that adorn my skin.

With a heavy sigh, I close my eyes, allowing the weight of exhaustion to pull me back into the realm of sleep, knowing that when I awake, I will have to confront the emotions that threaten to consume me.

I stir in my sleep as I feel gentle tapping on my shoulder; it continues until I blink my eyes open.

Before me stands an unfamiliar face—a boy with vibrant red hair and a curious expression.

"Hey there," the boy says softly, offering a tentative smile. 

"You awake?"

I blink a few times, trying to clear the fog from my mind. "Yeah, I think so," I mutter, my voice groggy with sleep.

I shift into a sitting position, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Woah, when did that happen?" he exclaims, pointing to the spot where Soren had marked me.

My hand flies to my neck instinctively, fingers tracing over the tender skin where the bite had been.

"I don't want to talk about it," I say, point blank.

The boy's expression softens with understanding, and his gaze fills with a mix of sympathy and curiosity. "Well, it looks like it's healing. Mine looked exactly like that after Tyler marked me," he says reassuringly.

"I'm Caleb, by the way."

"I was going to ask who you are," I say.

Caleb smiles. "Soren and Tyler had to leave for pack business, so I'm here to look after you while they're gone."

I blink in confusion, trying to process his words. "Look after me?" I echo, my voice hoarse from sleep.

Caleb nods, his smile faltering slightly. "Yeah, make sure you eat and that everything's running smoothly while they're away," he explains.

I nod slowly, still feeling a bit disoriented by his unexpected presence. "Okay," I murmur, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"You should freshen up," he suggests, gently gesturing to the bathroom. "I'll be here when you're ready."

I offer him a small, awkward smile in return. "Thanks," I say quietly. "Um, could you, uh, turn around?"

Caleb's eyes widen in realisation, and he quickly averts his gaze, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Oh, right, sorry about that," he mumbles, turning towards the door. I watch him leave and close the door behind me.

I hurry into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I see a pair of new clothes folded on the top of the sink. Did Caleb bring them for me?

I let the warmth cascade over my body.

As the warm water cascades over my skin, I can't help but feel a sense of

...

When I open my bedroom door, I am surprised to find Caleb standing in the hallway, a bright smile on his face.

"Morning, Sam!" He greets me cheerfully, motioning for me to follow him. "I made breakfast; come on, let's eat!"

I follow Caleb down the hallway to the kitchen, his chatter filling the air as we walk. He seems to talk about everything and anything, from the weather to the latest news in the pack.

I can't help but notice how talkative he is, and a part of me wonders if I can use this opportunity to gather some much-needed answers.

As we reach the kitchen, Caleb gestures for me to take a seat at the table, where a delicious spread of food awaits us.

I eagerly dig in, trying to keep up with Caleb's rapid-fire conversation.

But as I eat, I can't help but feel impatient, waiting for the perfect moment to ask Caleb about Soren. I know I have to tread carefully, as Caleb's loyalty to Soren is evident, but I also know that I need answers if I am ever going to make sense of the situation I find myself in.

So I wait, biding my time as Caleb continues to talk.

And finally, as he takes a sip of his drink and pauses for a moment, I see my opportunity.

"Hey, Caleb," I begin, trying to sound casual. "I was wondering if you could tell me more about Soren. You know, since you're here looking after me while he's away. I just feel like I don't know him, and he doesn't like to talk about himself."

Caleb's expression shifts slightly, his smile faltering for a moment before he recovers. "Oh, Soren?" he says, his tone carefully neutral.

"Well, he's the alpha of our pack, strong and capable, but he can be a bit intense at times."

I let out a fake chuckle. "Tell me about it." I jokingly point at my mark.

Caleb awkwardly laughs. "That's an alpha thing," he shrugs. "Tyler marked me without my permission."

Who's Tyler? I have heard that name 30 times in the last hour.

"I guess the reason he is so intense at times is because of his unwavering determination and his fierce loyalty to the pack.

Soren would do anything for us and put his own life on the line without a second thought. And because of that, we trust him with our lives."

I nod, taking in Caleb's words. "What about the people he loves? How does he treat them?"

I don't know why I even asked those questions. I am taken back by it.

A warm smile spreads across Caleb's face, saying, "Soren is... good to the people he loves. He's fiercely protective and would never hurt anyone close to him. He may seem tough on the outside, but deep down, he's got a heart of gold."

I mull over Caleb's words, feeling something stir in me.

"What pack was he from before he came here?"

Caleb's smile falters slightly, and I can sense a shift in his demeanor. "Soren doesn't talk much about his past," he says carefully. "But I can tell you that he's always been with us, ever since his pack was attacked and wiped out, leaving only him and his brother as the sole survivors," Caleb says, his voice barely above a whisper.

He clasps his hands over his mouth as if he has just revealed something he shouldn't have, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and regret.

I stare at him, my mind reeling with the implications of his words. "His pack... was attacked?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper. "And he lost everyone?"

"I DIDN'T SAY THAT!" Caleb yells, making me jump.

I knit my brows together. "It's okay, I won't tell anyone," I assure him. "Thank you for telling me; I just can't believe it."

The thought of that happening sends a cold shiver down my spine, mingled with a strange sense of empathy towards Soren.

"It was a brutal attack, orchestrated by one of the major packs who sought to eliminate any potential threats," Caleb explains, his voice tinged with sorrow.

"Soren's pack was on its way to becoming a major force in the region, and they didn't like that. So they struck without warning or mercy."

One of the major packs did this to him. Which of the major packs is it, I wonder? This explains so much. Soren has been building an army to exact revenge.

Author's Note. 

Not edited. Apologies will do that later.