Chapter 24
Astrid woke up slowly, her senses slowly adjusting to her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was the smell—a mix of chemicals, medicine, and something sterile. She tried to open her eyes, but it felt like trying to lift heavy bricks. Everything hurt, but the sharp pain she had felt before was gone. Her body still felt weak, drained of all energy.
She lay still, trying to focus on the voices she could hear nearby. One voice was familiar, deep and commanding. It was Alpha Jeremiah. The other was softer, feminine, and filled with concern.
“How could you let this happen to your mate?” the female voice asked, frustration evident in her tone. “What were you thinking?”
Astrid tried to focus more, her heart racing. She wanted to know what Jeremiah had to say, why he was doing this to her. The woman’s voice had an edge of authority to it, like she wasn’t afraid of him. Whoever she was, she had to be close to him to speak so bluntly.
“This has nothing to do with you, Helena,” Alpha Jeremiah responded, his tone cold, shutting down the conversation. “And stop defending her. She’s the daughter of a murderer. Her family destroyed mine.”
Helena’s voice softened. “Jeremiah, this isn’t her fault. You can’t keep punishing her for something she had no control over. She’s your mate now, part of your family. Don’t let the past ruin your future.”
Astrid’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the tension in the air, but she was also shocked. Was that why he hated her so much? Something between their families? But how could that be her fault?
“I can’t just forget, Helena,” Jeremiah said firmly. “She’s not innocent. She’s still a threat. Call me when she wakes up.”
Astrid heard the heavy footsteps of Jeremiah leaving the room, followed by a door shutting with a soft click. She lay still, trying to process everything. Her mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what she had just heard.
She felt someone walking toward her and tried to pretend she was still asleep. Maybe she could learn more. But the woman—Helena—was sharp.
“I know you’re awake,” Helena said gently. “You don’t have to pretend. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Astrid hesitated, then slowly opened her eyes. At first, everything was blurry, but after a moment, the room came into focus. She was in what looked like a clinic—clean, bright, and bigger than the room they had locked her in before. It smelled sharp and sterile, but at least she wasn’t in pain anymore. Her body still felt weak, but the agonizing ache from her shift had finally faded.
Helena stood beside her, looking at her with soft, doe-brown eyes and dark brown hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She seemed kind, her expression filled with concern.
“Hi,” Astrid said quietly, her voice raspy. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the clinic,” Helena said, sitting down on a chair beside the bed. “You passed out after… well, after the shift. Jeremiah brought you here.”
Astrid blinked in surprise. “He brought me here?”
Helena nodded, handing Astrid a glass of water. “Here, drink this. You’re probably dehydrated.”
Astrid took the glass and drank slowly, the cool water soothing her parched throat. Helena helped her sit up, fluffing the pillows behind her so she could be more comfortable.
Once Astrid finished drinking, Helena sat back down. She studied Astrid for a moment, then smiled softly. “You’re really beautiful, you know. Jeremiah is lucky to have you as his mate.”
Astrid gave a weak, humorless laugh. “Lucky? He hates me.”
Helena sighed. “He doesn’t hate you, Astrid. He’s angry, confused, but he doesn’t hate you.”
Astrid frowned, looking down at her hands. “He has a funny way of showing it then. Why is he so mad at me? What did I ever do to him?”
Helena bit her lip, as if she was trying to figure out how to explain. “It’s not my place to tell you the whole story. That’s something Jeremiah needs to do when he’s ready. But… let’s just say there’s history between your family and his. Painful history.”
Astrid’s heart sank. “So I’m being punished for something my family did? That’s not fair.”
“I know,” Helena said gently. “It’s not fair, and deep down, Jeremiah knows that too. He’s just… lost right now. He’s been carrying this burden for so long, and meeting you has stirred up a lot of old wounds.”
Astrid shook her head. “But why me? Why does it have to be me?”
Helena reached over and took her hand. “Because you’re his mate, Astrid. Fate brought you together for a reason. You two are meant to help each other heal, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.”
Astrid scoffed. “He’s going to kill me before that happens. Or I’ll kill him.”
Helena smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re stronger than you think. And Jeremiah… he’s not as heartless as he seems. I know it’s hard to believe, but he’s a good person. He just needs time.”
Astrid didn’t know if she could believe that. The man who had tortured her, locked her up, and nearly let her starve didn’t seem like a good person to her. “What if he never changes? What if he never stops hating me?”
Helena sighed. “I can’t promise you that it’ll be easy. But I can tell you that he’s not beyond saving. He’s been through a lot, but I’ve seen him at his best. He can be kind, caring, even if he’s forgotten how to be those things right now.”
Astrid leaned her head back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know if I can give him a chance. Every time I look at him, all I feel is fear. And anger.”
Helena nodded. “I understand. But just… don’t close yourself off completely. You’ve both been thrown into something you didn’t choose, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work. You’re his mate for a reason.”
Astrid was quiet for a long time, her mind swirling with confusion. Could she really trust Jeremiah? Could she give him a chance when he had done nothing but hurt her?
“I dont know,” Astrid whispered, more to herself than to Helena.
Helena smiled softly, standing up from the chair. “Think about it.That’s all I’m asking. Rest now, okay? You need your strength.”
Astrid watched as Helena left the room, her heart heavy with unanswered questions.
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