_Lisa’s POV_ The next few days passed slowly. The hospital room was quiet, clean, and peaceful, but honestly… it was boring. I had nothing to do but lie there and stare at the ceiling or watch the curtains sway in the breeze. Sometimes, a nurse would come in to check on me or bring me food, but most of the time, I was alone. Well… not completely. Every single day, without fail, Alpha Rylan came to visit me. At first, I thought he was just being polite. But then he started bringing flowers. One day it was lilies, the next day daisies, and then wildflowers from the forest. He would sit beside my bed and talk to me about little things—how the weather was, how the pack was doing, even silly things like how his wolf hated the scent of hospital disinfectant. And he always smiled when he talked to me. That soft, warm smile that made my heart feel strange in my chest. I didn’t understand it. No one had ever treated me like this before. Not my parents. Not my sister. Certainly not Kael. Why was Alpha Rylan being so kind? He was an Alpha. He could’ve had anyone caring for me. He didn’t need to do it himself. But every day, he showed up. Always asking how I felt. Always making sure I was comfortable. I started to look forward to his visits. It scared me. The doctor was kind, too. He explained everything in a gentle voice. He told me that I was healing well and that Sierra, my wolf, had been working hard to fix the damage. “You’re lucky,” he said on the third day. “If the Alpha had brought you even a little later, you would’ve lost too much blood. Things could’ve gone very differently.” I nodded and whispered, “Thank you… for saving me.” But the truth was, it wasn’t the doctor who had saved me. It was Rylan. Finally, on the fourth morning, the doctor came in with a smile and a clipboard. “Well,” he said, “looks like you’re ready to be discharged. Your body’s healing well, and you’ve regained some strength.” I blinked at him. “Really? I can leave?” “Yes,” he chuckled. “But no running through the woods just yet. Take it easy. And stay close to the pack.” I sat up slowly, my heart fluttering with nerves. Where was I going to go? Before I could ask, the door opened—and there he was again. Rylan. But this time, he wasn’t carrying flowers. He was standing tall in the doorway, wearing a dark jacket and jeans. His hair was wind-tousled, and his brown eyes lit up when he saw me sitting up. “Perfect timing,” the doctor said with a grin. “She’s ready to go.” Rylan smiled. “Good. I’ll take her home.” Home? He walked over and offered his hand to help me up. My fingers trembled a little as I placed my hand in his. “I-I thought someone else would pick me up,” I murmured as we walked slowly out of the room. He looked down at me and raised an eyebrow. “And miss the chance to finally get you out of that boring hospital room? Not a chance.” I stared at him. “You… don’t have more important things to do?” He shrugged. “Nothing more important than making sure you’re okay.” My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t used to this. Not used to being cared for. I kept expecting it to be some kind of trick. But he kept proving me wrong. He opened the car door for me like a true gentleman. I slid into the passenger seat and buckled up, still feeling weak but stronger than I had in days. Rylan got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The car purred softly as we rolled down the gravel path. “My house isn’t far,” he said, glancing at me. “Just a few minutes’ drive.” I nodded, watching the trees pass by outside the window. For a while, the silence between us was comfortable. Then he spoke again. “You look better today,” he said. “Less like a ghost.” I blinked and looked at him. “Gee, thanks.” He chuckled. “No offense. You just looked half-dead the day I found you.” “Well, I was half-dead.” “Fair point.” He gave me a sideways grin. “Still, I’m glad you’re looking more alive. I was starting to think you enjoyed scaring the hell out of me.” I laughed, surprising myself. It had been so long since I laughed like that—light and real. He kept teasing. “Next time you want to meet an Alpha, you could just show up at the gate. No need to collapse dramatically in the forest.” I looked away, embarrassed. “I wasn’t trying to meet anyone…” “I know,” he said softly, voice more serious now. “I’m just glad I found you when I did.” I swallowed hard and said nothing. My chest felt warm again. But my mind whispered: Why is he being like this? Why does he care? He could have any she-wolf in his pack. They were probably beautiful, strong and powerful. I was none of those things. I looked down at my hands. I wasn’t even pretty. Just… plain old Lisa. Soon, we reached a huge metal gate, guarded by two tall men in black uniforms. As the car rolled closer, the guards stood straighter and waved at Rylan. He rolled down the window and nodded. “She’s with me.” The gates opened with a slow, loud groan. And beyond them… was the largest house I had ever seen. No. It wasn’t a house. It was a mansion. The walls were stone and glass. The roof was high and sharp. There were balconies and tall windows, and the entire place was surrounded by trees and open land. It made the Nightshade Pack Alpha’s house look like a cabin. My mouth dropped open. “This is… your house?” I whispered. “Mm-hm,” he said, parking in front of the massive front door. “Come on. I’ll show you inside.” He got out and came around to open my door again. I stepped out slowly, staring up at the mansion. I turned to him. “Alpha Rylan, I… I don’t want to bother you.” “You’re not.” “I mean it,” I said. “You’ve done enough already. I don’t want to stay here and take up space. Maybe I can find a small house to rent somewhere in your pack. I’ll work and pay rent. I can clean houses or—” “Lisa.” I stopped rambling. His voice was calm but firm. “I’ve already asked my sister Alexandra to prepare a room for you,” he said. “You’re staying here.” I shook my head. “You don’t have to do this.” He looked at me. There was a gentle expression on his face. “I want to.” “But—” “No,” he said. “I’d prefer you stay here. It puts my mind at peace. Otherwise, I’ll be worrying about you constantly.” I crossed my arms. “I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.” He smirked. “Maybe. But I’m the Alpha of this pack, remember? If you want to stay here, you have to accept my decision.” I stared at him, annoyed. My jaw tightened. “That’s not fair.” He raised an eyebrow. “It’s not supposed to be. I’m the Alpha.” I glared at him, but he just laughed. “You should see your face right now,” he teased. “You look like you want to throw something at me.” I couldn’t help it—I let out a small snort of laughter. “You’re impossible.” He smiled. “So I’ve been told.” Then his smile faded slightly. “There have been rogue attacks near our borders recently. More than usual. That’s another reason I want you here.” “Rogues?” I frowned. “Yes. And I trust the pack members who’ve been here for years to handle themselves if there’s trouble. But you’re new, Lisa. You don’t know the territory. You don’t know who to trust yet. I’d feel better if you stayed somewhere I could keep an eye on you.” I blinked up at him. He was… worried about me? The warmth in my chest returned, stronger this time. I didn’t know what to say. I was used to being told to get lost. To stay out of the way. But now, someone wanted me safe. Someone cared. “Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll stay.” His smile returned. He seemed to be satisfied. “Good.” He reached for the door handle. “Come on. I’ll show you your room.” As I followed him into the mansion, I felt something strange blooming in my chest. A feeling I hadn’t known in years. Maybe… just maybe… I was starting to feel like I belonged. Even if it was just a little. Even if I didn’t understand why. I stepped inside the grand hallway, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like a burden. I felt… wanted. And that feeling was more powerful than anything.