CHAPTER 23

I felt something touch my cheek. Because of that, I slowly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was the ceiling of a room, but I couldn't immediately register where I was until I heard people talking beside me.

When I turned to see who it was on my right, the first thing I saw was Shiena's wrinkled forehead as she talked to Felix.
When I looked to my left, I saw Alec, staring at me as if he was just waiting for me to turn or look at him.

"Hi," he greeted in a gentle voice.

"How are you feeling? Do you have any pain? Are you dizzy?" he asked.

I saw something in his eyes. I was confused because it seemed like... the emotion coming from them was full of worry and love.

Before I could answer, Shiena and Felix quickly approached me. They asked me how my head was or if I felt any pain in my body. I just shook my head at their questions.

I looked at Alec again and quietly asked, "How's Allison?" At my question, I felt him stop.

He suddenly looked away, having no intention of answering my question.

"Ken, you should rest first. Don't ask about people who aren't worth it," Shiena commented.

"Hey, watch your mouth, Shiena," Felix stopped Shiena.

"Why? It's true, isn't it? Because of her, Ken became like this? Tsk.”

I was left speechless after everything I heard from Shiena. I didn't know what to say, as everything was still so confusing.

"Anyway, how are you feeling, Ken? Do you want anything to eat, or anything?" Shiena asked.

She suddenly moved closer to me, completely covering my view of Alec, who was sitting quietly beside me.

My eyes widened, and I couldn't understand what was happening.

I whispered, my voice parched, "Uhm... I'm thirsty..."

My words were barely audible, but Shiena immediately sprang to action, reaching for a glass of water. Yet, before she could hand it to me, Alec was there, moving with a speed that surprised both of us.

He stepped around to the other side of the bed, a silent, determined presence. Gently, he helped me sit up, holding the glass to my lips. As the cool water soothed my throat, he carefully guided me back down onto the pillows.

A deep sigh of frustration escaped Shiena. Her voice, laced with suspicion, broke the silence."What are you doing, Alec? Is this about what Allison did to Ken?"

Alec's response was sharp and unwavering. "Allison has nothing to do with this, Shiena."

Shiena turned to face him fully, her body tensing. We were now separated by the bed, me lying in the middle, them standing on opposite sides—a silent, physical chasm between them.

"Nothing to do with it?" Shiena's voice rose, edged with anger. "Do you even know what she did to Ken? She insulted him. You don't know, do you? Because you're always protecting her!"

The sudden outburst startled me. Before the argument could escalate further, Felix swiftly intervened.

He grabbed Shiena's arm and pulled her from the room, ignoring her struggles and protests, her desire to continue the fight with Alec.

I felt like an unseen war was brewing between Shiena and Alec, and I was the battleground.

Once they were gone, I looked back at Alec. He was massaging his temples, his face etched with a silent, profound weight, as if the words he'd just heard were a crushing burden.

"Ken—" he began.

"Alec, you don't have to do this for me," I said, cutting him off. My words came out quickly, an automatic reaction.

He stopped, his gaze fixed on me, a look of confusion on his face. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean..." I looked down at my hands, my fingers fidgeting nervously. "You don't have to look out for me. I'm fine now. You should check on Allison; she might get even angrier with me because you're here."

I managed to force a small smile. Despite the odd, irritating ache in my chest, I tried to appear calm, as if everything was perfectly okay.

He was still looking at me when I glanced at him. My eyes quickly darted away, feigning ignorance, as if I hadn't seen him staring.

"I don't have any plans to visit or talk to Allison," he stated bluntly, his voice firm and final.

"But... isn't she your guest?" I persisted, trying to convince him to leave. "You should check on her and see how she's doing after what happened."

I was secretly hoping he would agree, that he would go to Allison. I knew she was the one he was supposed to be with, not me. I was just an Omega, a weak creature despised by many.

"Ken, whatever Allison said to you... it's not true. Don't you ever believe anything she says because none of it matters," he said, his voice softening with reassurance.

Despite his words, I could still hear Allison's voice mocking me for being an Omega.

The echoes of her insults still resonated in my mind.

I couldn't help but wonder. Why did Alec accept me into the Dark Moon Pack? What was his reason?

But did it really matter why? He had helped me. He had clothed me, fed me, and given me the life I had always wanted for myself.

I had been through so much. I'd always dreamed of going to the east side of Vinizia City. My late mother had told me that the territory in the east part of the City would give me a new life.

And it did.

So why was I questioning Alec's kindness now? I knew that without him, I wouldn't have survived.

Maybe I needed to forget the insults from his not so good guest, Allison.

I wanted so badly to fight back that time, but I knew I couldn't. She was stronger than me, even though she was a woman.

I wouldn't let her be the reason for my downfall again.

I took a deep breath and looked directly into Alec's eyes. "Did you accept an Omega like me because... you have a plan for me?" I asked bluntly.

He was surprised. "What? Where did that question come from?"

"It just popped into my head. But what is your reason?"

He held my gaze, and his soft look slowly returned. "Because as an Alpha, I want to help you. I don't know where you came from, I don't know why you were on the east border of my territory. But I didn't question any of that..." He took my hand, and my eyes widened.

"I wanted to help you. Whether you were an Omega, a Beta, an Alpha, or a normal citizen, I would still help you. Nobody told me what I should do because it's my responsibility. And even though you're an Omega," his grip on my hand tightened, and he stared intently into my eyes.

A strange feeling of nervousness washed over me.

It wasn't the kind of fear that something bad was about to happen.

It was a kind of nervousness that I couldn't explain, but I knew Alec was the cause. It felt as though my throat was constricting. I couldn't move, like a statue sitting on my bed.

"You're important. You're important to me, Ken. That's why I'm here, isn't it? I want to take care of you, to protect you. I find it funny... I never thought I could do these things for someone... like you."

After what he said I immediately rolled my eyes and pulled my hand away from his. "Isn't Allison your ex-girlfriend?" I asked a question that had been nagging me for days.

Allison had been here for a few days, and the question hadn't left my mind.
"I'm just asking," I said with a pout, worried that Alec might misunderstand.

I didn't want him to think I was jealous when I wasn't.

"She's not my ex-girlfriend," he answered with a smile, seeming amused by my reaction.

"Really? So why are you smiling? Are you making fun of me? Do you want me to call Shiena to argue with
you?"

"Why? Is it wrong for me to smile when I'm with you?”

I felt my cheeks burned by what he said. What was that?!