Althea – POV
I woke in a room I didn't know.
Soft, warm light filtered in through pale curtains. A faint herbal scent lingered in the air—lavender, maybe rosemary. Somewhere, a fire crackled low, and a candle flickered on a small wooden table. The room was modern, but quiet. Calming.
It took me a moment to realize I wasn't in pain.
The last thing I remembered was the forest. The river. The shift.
Then—nothing.
I sat up slowly, blinking against the light. My body felt like it had been wrung out and pieced back together. I half expected the shredded ceremonial gown I'd worn during the choosing ceremony to still be clinging to me like a cruel reminder.
Instead, I wore a black hoodie—clean and soft—and matching leggings. Warm socks covered my feet.
Someone had found me.
Someone had dressed me.
My chest tightened.
I slipped out of the bed quietly, toes pressing into warm hardwood. The furniture was minimal—light woods, soft earth tones. The room felt… new. Nothing like the Bloodfang Pack's cold stone walls.
But where was I?
Before I could move further, the door opened.
I stilled.
A tall woman stepped inside with effortless grace, her presence commanding without being harsh. Her dark curly hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She wore a fitted forest-green jacket, black leggings, and boots that whispered against the floor.
Power radiated from her—not like an alpha's sharp edge, but steady, confident.
She met my eyes with a calm expression, then offered a warm smile.
"Good," she said. "You're awake."
I stared at her, unsure whether to speak, sit, or shift.
"You're safe," she added, lifting one hand in reassurance. "You're not under threat."
I found my voice. "Where am I?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she moved to a low cabinet, poured something steaming into a ceramic mug, and brought it to me.
"Drink this. It'll help."
I hesitated.
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to trust me. But it's just tea. Nothing in it but herbs and a little honey."
I took the cup and sipped.
The warmth hit my throat, then sank into my chest. Calming. Steadying.
"You were found near the river," the woman said after a pause. "Hurt. Exhausted."
I nodded faintly. "I remember collapsing."
She folded her arms lightly. "You were brought in by the king."
I froze. "The… king?"
She nodded once, as if it weren't the strangest sentence in the world.
"Why… why would a king save someone like me?"
She didn't answer.
Her silence wasn't cruel—it was deliberate.
I glanced away. "Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize," she said gently. "You've been through something. And you're here now. That's enough."
The silence sat between us like a question left unread.
Then, her voice softened. "I'm Kaelani. Beta female. My mate's the royal beta."
I looked back at her. "You're the Beta's mate?"
She smiled slightly. "One and the same."
Then, after a breath: "And you?"
I hesitated.
It had been so long since someone asked.
"…Althea," I said finally.
Her smile widened just a little. "Nice to meet you, Althea."
She stepped toward the door, then paused with a hand on the frame. "The palace gets boring, honestly. Formal faces, stiff conversations, same old stories."
She turned back toward me with a teasing gleam in her eyes.
"So… what do you say? Friends?"
I blinked.
"Friends?"
Kaelani gave a light shrug. "Only if you want to. You don't owe me anything."
I didn't know what pulled the answer from me. Maybe the soft voice. Maybe the tea. Maybe just the fact that she hadn't pushed. Hadn't pried.
I nodded slowly.
"…Yeah. Okay. Friends."
Kaelani's grin was real.
And something in me—something raw and quiet—eased, just a little.
For the first time in longer than I could remember, I didn't feel like I was bracing for the next blow.
Maybe… I had my first friend.