Chapter 10 My Wolf, Kira

"Wake up," my wolf whispered.

I stirred on the hospital bed, eyelids heavy. I lifted them slowly, still drowsy. The scent of antiseptic hit me-sharp, sterile, unfamiliar. I had hoped to wake in my mate's arms. Yes... my mate. But instead, I woke up in a hospital.

My eyes landed on a tall, brown-skinned man standing at the door. His chiseled jaw and sculpted frame spoke of strength-he looked like a warrior. As he stepped closer, I saw his eyes: grey, with a faint blue halo. You wouldn't notice the scar beneath his collar unless you looked closely. It whispered of a past he didn't share.

"Luna, you are finally awake," he said, bowing. His voice was smooth, almost melodic.

"Luna?" I shifted upright, confused.

"There's no better way to greet the queen of this land," he replied.

"But I'm not married to him. Not yet. I don't even know this world. None of this makes sense."

"I'm sure it doesn't," he said gently.

He extended his hand. "I'm Jackson, beta to King Alpha Crimson Stark. First king of the Land of Six. The Demon Wolf. Strongest alpha to ever exist."

Okay... that was quite the introduction.

"I'm Trisha," I said.

"Queen Trisha Crescent," he corrected. "We've been waiting for you for a long time. You've been in bed for two days. A walk might help. Clear your head." His eyes searched mine.

I didn't know if I could trust him. I still didn't know how I'd been abducted.

"I'm not going. I just want to rest. I don't have the energy."

"The King insisted, my queen."

"Whatever. I'm not going." I pulled the covers over my head-a clear signal. I was queen, and there wasn't much he could do about that. A small smile crept onto my lips, then quickly vanished.

"Oh yes, you are the queen, Trisha."

He was here. I knew that voice. It had been a week in this world, and I still didn't know my own room. The maids all looked the same to me. I hadn't adjusted to the title. But in the midst of all this confusion, his voice was the only familiar thing. It was embedded in my mind.

Wait... did he read my thoughts?

I pulled the blanket down-and gasped. He was standing right beside me. That was fast. Jackson bowed slightly and exited quietly.

Crimson sat on the edge of my bed. Our eyes locked. The air tightened. That feeling again. Those eyes. I forced myself to look away. My wolf wasn't pleased.

"We are werewolves, Trisha." The way he said my name-it felt like this wasn't our first time. Or maybe it was all in my head.

"I've searched for my mate for years. Never imagined you were in the human world," he continued. "Humans think werewolves are myths. Some of us hide among them. I guess your parents are no exception. You're my mate. And I believe your wolf, Kira, has told you about Legend."

"Kira? Legend?"

"You don't know your wolf?" His voice softened. He patted my head. "I'll explain everything. Legend is my wolf. Kira is yours. That feeling you've had-that pull-that's the mate bond. We're fated."

Mate bond. So that's what this was.

"What does it feel like? Do you feel it?"

"I do now. Not before." He paused, searching for the right words. I was his mate. His first feeling. I looked into his eyes-and I already knew. I felt it too.

My wolf was jumping up and down. She couldn't hide her excitement. Nothing else mattered anymore. He was the one for me. This couldn't go wrong. Fate doesn't lie-and it doesn't fail.

"You are the one for me," he said gently, his fingers trailing across my skin, sending sparks of joy through me.

"If you don't want to walk today, we can go tomorrow. Whenever you're ready," he added.

"Tomorrow," I mumbled.

"Sure." He stood and left. I didn't take my eyes off him. And my wolf... was having strange thoughts about him being on top of her.

Trisha, my wolf called. When do we mate with our mate?

"Kira," I said softly. It was my first time speaking to her. "Why is that your first thought?" I could talk to her with my mind. I didn't know how, but it felt natural-like I'd always known. She was part of me, and I was part of her. That made sense.

Well, I just wanted to know, she said dryly.

"Why are you talking now? I thought you only came out when I was in danger."

"I hid myself. I was afraid you wouldn't like me. This was a big change for you. Because of that, the mate bond felt extinct and Legend couldn't find us."

"So that's what he meant when he said he didn't feel it before." I nodded. It was starting to make sense.

"So tell me more-about you, about us, and about him."

Let's start with him, Kira grinned.

Alpha Crimson Stark is the first king of the Land of Six. His wolf, Legend, is the largest and strongest ever to exist. He's called the Demon Wolf for a reason. He tears down packs, slaughters alphas, and takes them as slaves...

She went on and on. How did she know so much?

I was mated to the Demon Wolf. I should've been scared. But I wasn't. I felt safe. I felt like I belonged. Maybe my father hadn't lied after all.

Tomorrow, I would explore this new world. My world.