Danica’s POV
I spent the entire day in bed and it was unlike me.
I wasn’t the type to lie around, doing nothing. If I wasn’t training, I was sparring with one of the warriors. Even on days when there were no battles, I found ways to keep my hands busy. But now, I was stuck here, forced to rest.
When I had woken up in the Pack’s clinic last night, the doctor had given strict instructions to rest. My body needed time to recover. So, I had done just that. I had slept like a baby, even though every fiber of my being resisted the idea of staying idle.
And now, I was awake and I had nothing to do but think.
I hated thinking. Thinking meant remembering. Remembering meant facing the truth about my bond with the Alpha, and the consequences of it all.
I pushed myself off the bed, shaking the thoughts away. I needed a distraction. Anything to keep my mind occupied.
Leah.
I hadn’t seen her since I woke up. Usually, she was the first person by my side after anything happened to me. But not today.
Frowning, I left my room and headed toward the kitchen. Leah and I shared a room because of our friendship, but she was also a servant in the kitchen. If she wasn’t with me, then she was likely there.
When I entered, the warm scent of spices filled my nose, but my focus was on finding Leah.
“Where’s Leah?” I asked the kitchen head.
“She went to the market square,” she replied without looking up.
I frowned. “For what?”
“To get some meat.”
That made me pause.
We hardly ever cooked meals with meat. It was considered too much of a luxury for regular meals. I crossed my arms. “Why?”
Before the kitchen head could answer, one of the other girls spoke up. “The Alpha is in a good mood today. He ordered that we all have some meat.”
My heart stopped.
The Alpha?
I forced my expression to remain neutral, but curiosity sparked inside me.
Nicholas had never been the type to care about what the pack ate, let alone go out of his way to provide something special. So why today?
What had changed?
I was still lost in thought when the kitchen door swung open, and Leah walked in, carrying a bag. The moment her gaze landed on me, she froze.
Then, without warning, she grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.
“Leah—” I started, but she cut me off.
“When did you wake up?” she demanded.
“A few moments ago,” I answered, eyeing her suspiciously. “I couldn’t find you, so I—”
“Did you hear?”
I blinked. “Hear what?”
Leah exhaled sharply, as if debating whether to tell me.
I wasn’t in the mood for games. “Leah, just spit it out.”
She hesitated before saying, “The Alpha is expecting Alpha Kendrick tonight.”
I frowned, confused by why this was relevant. “Okay… and?”
Leah gave me a pointed look. “He asked me to get you and Simon to escort Alpha Kendrick when he arrives.”
That caught me off guard.
Nicholas was giving me orders again?
I had just woken up from a twenty-four-hour sleep, after losing consciousness and he was already putting me back to work?
I wanted to be irritated, but the truth was, I needed this. I needed a distraction. If escorting an Alpha meant keeping Nicholas out of my head, then I was all for it.
I nodded and turned to leave, but Leah grabbed my wrist, stopping me with a frown.
Something was wrong.
Her usual sharp eyes softened with something that looked like pity.I didn’t like it.
“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
I tensed. “I’m fine.”
She studied me for a moment, as if searching for a lie in my words. Then, she sighed. “I spoke with the Alpha.”
My breath caught. Shit. I knew it.
I had suspected it the moment I woke up and didn’t see Nicholas anywhere near me.
Still, I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “And?”
Leah hesitated for only a second before blurting out, “He rejected you.”
I felt the words like a punch to my gut. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
I knew it was coming. I had known from the moment I woke up, from the moment I realized Nicholas wasn’t by my side, that this was the only logical outcome.
And yet, hearing it out loud still shattered something inside me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and squared my shoulders. “Good,” I said. My voice didn’t waver. “That’s what I wanted.”
Leah’s lips parted slightly, as if she wasn’t sure whether to believe me or not.
But I didn’t give her time to say anything. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked away.