Chapter 5

*Isabel*

The first thing my brain registered when I opened my eyes were the strange walls. My dingy room had never been this spacious and the walls had never looked this nice either. I blocked my eyes from the blinding light coming through the window, trying to understand how I'd gotten here in the first place. I looked down at my side, raising the clean shirt I was putting on to take a stare at the bandage on my stomach. I let the cloth fall down gently, the events that happened in the forest coming back in tiny pieces.

I had met my second chance mate.

I wasn't sure I could ever come back from the realization. Why did the goddess feel the need to give me a second chance when I didn't want it? I stood up from the large bed, limping as I walked closer to the mirror. I was looking significantly better than I could remember. The eye bags and dark circles beneath my eyes were almost completely gone. I was still looking ashen and pale but at least my hair had been washed and combed.

My mate had obviously asked someone to look after me but I couldn't help but wonder why. He didn't seem excited to have found me. Hell, saying he'd been indifferent would definitely be putting it mildly. He'd looked a lot like he'd been trying to hide his suspicion and irritation. I vaguely remembered noting a beard and tattoo as he took me in his arms. I could bet good money that the only reason he'd brought me back to the pack was because he wanted some kind of service or help. It was the only reason people paid attention to me.

I didn't expect him to be different.

The bedroom door swung open just then, jarring me out of my thoughts. I snapped my attention to the door, watching as an older woman walked in. She looked like she was in her early thirties, her hair tied into a loose bun behind her head. Her eyebrows lit up with surprise when she realized I was awake and standing on my feet rather than lying in bed. She turned to shut the door quietly before bringing her attention back to me.

"You're finally awake," She said, walking further into the room. I was glad when she stopped a few meters away from me. I didn't like having strangers in my personal space. I didn't like having anyone in my personal space, period. She studied me, curiosity clearly written in her expression. I could name a number of things she was curious about. And I bet my purple hair was one of them. "I don't think you should be standing."

"How long was I out?" I asked, ignoring her last statement. I pushed my hair behind my ears, taking the time to take in the room I was in. I didn't care what she or my mate was up to. I had to leave. Soon. I'd thought I would be happy finding another pack to live in even if I was their slave but now that I was here, I was terrified out of my mind. Because I hadn't counted on having a second chance mate or on finding him so soon.

Especially when it was looking like he didn't want a mate either.

The woman tilted her head, a thoughtful expression taking over her face. "I'd say three or four days maybe. You were here Monday . . . yeah, four days." My mouth fell open in shock. What the hell? I've been out for four days? How was that even possible? She must have read the confusion on my face because she tried explaining. "You were really weak and injured when he brought you in and your wounds weren't healing." I respected the fact that she didn't ask me why that was. I didn't want to relay my sad story to anyone.

Ever.

I swallowed. "Who's he?" I asked on a whisper. It was time for the moment of truth. I needed to find out who my second chance mate was. It would help me know the best way to escape from him. The woman gave me a small frown as if trying to decide whether or not to take me seriously. Her nose wrinkled as she searched my face. "I really don't know who he is." I added sincerely.

Did she know we were mates?

Not like it mattered if she did. I was telling the truth. I didn't know who he was. Or why he'd been out in the woods fighting off three rogues all by himself. Shaking her head, she gestures for me to get back in the bed. I walked slowly, sitting down and waiting for her response expectantly. She adjusted the blinds in the windows, her heels making light tapping noises with each step. "He's Dante." She finally replied, drawing her lips into a tight line as she turned to face me. "Alpha Dante."

The words registered slowly.

Alpha.

Dante.

The goddess had gone from pairing me with someone in the werewolf council to pairing me with the actual leader of the pack. What the hell? Obviously that had to be some kind of mistake. I was too much of a weakling to have anything to do with the council in general, not to mention an Alpha. If Alvin could wield so much power just being the Alpha's best friend I didn't want to imagine what Dante was capable of.

The woman pushed me gently on the bed, saying she needed to quickly check my vitals. I watched her as she worked, moving around and touching me in different parts of my body with different instruments. "You're the pack healer, aren't you?" Her eyes lowered to connect with mine. She gave me a brief nod, continuing with her work. I bit my lip, wondering what story Dante had cooked up and given her.