'It's so soft,' Lily thought as she lay in a field of flowers. Vines wrapped around her, holding her close, enveloping her like a cocoon. She felt herself sinking lower and lower, but she didn't care.
Then, Lily heard a soft, soothing voice echoing in her mind. It wasn't Dina. It was a voice she had never heard before, but its presence oddly brought her comfort as if she heard it before.
"Wake up. It's time to wake up Lily."
Lily ignored the voice at first, closing her eyes again. The voice became more urgent with its plea. "Wake up! You need to wake up, Lily."
Lily didn't want to leave the comfort, but she also didn't want to disobey. Lily's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light in the room. As she blinked away the remnants of her sleep, the voice faded away.
"Oh my god! You're awake!" To Lily's bewilderment, she found herself in a lavish bed in a room she did not recognize with a woman that she did not know. She bared her teeth at the woman and the woman brought her hands up to show her that she meant no harm.
The woman wore maid's uniform. She approached her with a gentle smile. "Ah, you're finally awake, miss. How are you feeling? My name is Janet and I am here to take care of you."
"Take care of me? Did Garrett bring you here?" Lily sat up, still trying to grasp the reality of the situation. She moved to fast and it seemed like the world was spinning. "Ugh, my head."
Janet fluffed her pillows to allow Lily to lean back on them. "Don't move too fast. You've been asleep for a long time." Janet poured her a glass of water that Lily took a gulp down.
"How long have I been asleep?" Lily asked, rubbing her eyes, and leaned up again.
"Two weeks," Janet answered. Lily gawked at Janet as if a lizard had crept out of her mouth.
"Two weeks?! What do you mean two weeks?" Lily exclaimed, trying to find a clock or anything to confirm this.
"Please calm down miss. It took you so long to recover from the poison. I don't want you to have a setback," Janet stated, trying to calm Lily.
Lily's mind was racing as she tried to remember. She called out within her to Dina, who felt weak within her. 'She is telling the truth,' Dina said weakly.
"Where am I?" Lily asked.
"You're in the Alpha King's home, miss. His Majesty brought you here," Janet replied, nonchalantly.
"Why... why would he do that?" Lily questioned. "Why would he want me?"
Janet was taken aback by her question. "Because you're practically royalty."
Confusion and shock coursed through Lily's veins. She wasn't anyone special; she was just an Omega wolf, struggling to survive, struggling to find a mate. Royalty was the last thing she expected to be associated with.
"But... I don't understand," Lily stammered. "Why would he want to see me? I'm nobody important."
Janet's eyes softened with understanding. "You may not know it, miss, but you have a lineage that connects you to a noble family. It seems the Alpha King has taken an interest in you."
Lily's mind raced with questions, but before she could ask more, Janet gently reminded her, "You've been asleep for two weeks. Your rest was necessary; the Alpha King wanted to ensure you recovered fully before meeting him."
Feeling a mix of fear and curiosity, Lily got out of bed and walked to the window. Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld a breathtaking scene outside. The snow-covered forest stretched as far as her eyes could see, painted in shades of white and silver under the soft glow of the morning sun.
"Where are we exactly?" Lily wondered aloud, still in awe of the beauty before her. She knew this was nowhere near the city she grew up in.
Janet joined her at the window, her eyes filled with admiration for the landscape. "The Alpha King's estate is situated in the heart of Bursisle forest. It's said to be a place of tranquility and protection." The Bursisle forest was protected by the Alpha King and only two other packs lived there, both were rank first and second oldest and strongest packs.
"Why would he bring me here, though?" Lily asked again, feeling the weight of uncertainty bearing down on her.
"I'm not privy to all the Alpha King's decisions, miss," Janet replied gently, "but I believe his reason is very important as he wanted to speak with you as soon as you awoke. You'll have to speak to him directly to find out why the matter is so urgent."
As Lily turned away from the window, her thoughts returned to the voice she had heard in her dreams-the voice that had guided and comforted her. Could it be connected to the Alpha King?
Janet escorted Lily to a luxurious bathroom where she freshened up, wearing a dress that had been laid out for her. She looked at herself in the mirror, noticing how emaciated she looked. 'So, she was telling the truth. I have been asleep for a long time,' Lily thought.
'We need protein and carbs. We have to build our strength back up,' Dina said.
'Food. That's the first thing that you think of,' Lily responded. 'We should be worried about what the Alpha King wants from us.'
Leaving the room, Lily followed Janet through grand hallways adorned with fine art and tapestries. The opulence of the Alpha King's home was overwhelming, but she felt a sense of familiarity as she walked further. It was as if some part of her recognized this place, even if her conscious mind did not.
Finally, they arrived at a set of large double doors. Janet gestured for Lily to enter, giving her a reassuring smile. "The Alpha King is waiting for you inside, miss. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine."
With a deep breath, Lily pushed the doors open and stepped into the room beyond.