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Bavanda let out a sharp breath, her hands shaking. She wanted to argue—wanted to fight—but she knew if she pushed too hard, they might refuse altogether.
“Fine.” Her voice was tight. “But I carry her, no one can touch her.”
Her parents hesitated, exchanging another look, but eventually, Baron gave a nod. “Alright.”
She didn’t wait for further instructions. Bavanda lifted the unconscious girl effortlessly, cradling her like she was something fragile, something sacred. Then, without another word, she turned and marched toward the pack house.
Bavanda walked straight to her bedroom to the shock of her parents. There was a guestroom in the royal chamber, but she walked right past it. How could she freely let a stranger stay in her bedroom?
Bavanda placed the girl on her bed, the next minute, the doctor walked in. He looked at the residents of the room, a brief confusion settling on his face.
“What happened?" He asked, no one in particular.
Bavanda, however, was the only one that could give an answer to that. “I found her unconscious on the field. She needs a checkup."
The doctor looked at the Alpha briefly, and he gave a nod. “Alright. Can I please have some privacy?"
Bavanda shot at him immediately. “No! I won't leave her alone."
The doctor heaved, but said nothing. The pack doctor, an older man with graying hair and sharp eyes, examined the girl carefully while Bavanda stood like a sentry beside the bed. She refused to move, her arms crossed, her eyes never leaving the girl’s face.
Avynna and Baron stood near the doorway, watching silently. Steve lingered outside, his body tense.
After what felt like forever, the doctor straightened. “She’s fine.”
Bavanda’s head snapped toward him. “What?”
“There are no physical injuries. No signs of illness, no marks of mistreatment.” He exhaled, rubbing his chin. “She’s simply exhausted. Whatever happened to her drained her completely. She needs rest and care, but otherwise, she’s perfectly fine.”
Bavanda relaxed—only slightly. She didn’t fully trust the diagnosis, but at least the girl wasn’t dying.
Then, just as the doctor started packing up, a soft whimper broke the silence.
Bavanda turned back instantly.
The girl stirred, her body trembling, and then, her eyes snapped open. They weren't piercing white like earlier before, her eyes were a deep shade of brown—a beautiful pair.
Bavanda inhaled sharply, her own breath caught in her throat. The girl blinked rapidly, her body shaking, and then she gasped—like she was coming up for air after drowning.
“No… no, please…don’t take me back…” she whispered, curling in on herself.
Avynna stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “No one’s taking you anywhere. You’re safe.”
The girl looked up, her expression desperate. “They…”
Bavanda cut her short. "No one will harm you. No one, I promise you. You're safe, okay?”
She swallowed visibly, curling even further to herself. With fear in her eyes, she looked at the faces in the room. "Where… where am I?" She asked, her voice a strangled whisper.
Avynna and Baron exchanged glances. How come she didn't know where she was?
“You're in the Lycan territory. Can't you remember how you got here?" Baron was the one to speak.
She shook her head rapidly. “I… I can't.”
"That's okay.” Avynna interjected. "We need you to tell us who you are, and where you're from.” Her tone wasn't harsh nor soft, just something in between.
The girl cowered even further. "Where I'm from?” She mumbled, her eyes moistening. "I'm from nowhere.”
"What do you mean? You don't have a pack?” Avynna questioned further.
Bavanda chipped in at this point. "Mother, don't question her like that.”
Avynna glared at her daughter. "What do you mean? We need all the information we can get.” She turned back to the whimpering girl. "Now, answer my questions. That's the only way we'll have a way forward.”
“The way forward is that she stays." Bavanda cut in again.
Both parents ignored her, even though she was slowly pushing their bottoms, like an unspoken agreement.
“Speak!" Baron commanded.
Her voice cracked, and suddenly, tears spilled down her cheeks. “I… I ran away. For three years, they owned me. They… ”
Bavanda instinctively reached for her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Who? Who owned you?”
The girl shook her head, sobs wracking her body. “I was… I was abducted from my pack… I was taken when I was fifteen. They—” She swallowed, closing her eyes. “They used me, in all possible ways. Sold me out to disgusting men who used me to satify their beastly desires. I was nothing but property. I had to leave… I had to. I don't want to go back there… please don't make me go back there.”
A heavy silence settled in the room.
Bavanda didn’t hesitate. She pulled the girl into a firm embrace, whispering, “You don’t have to go back. You never have to go back.”
The girl broke down completely, her fingers clutching onto Bavanda like she was her last lifeline.
Avynna and Baron, however, remained silent. They exchanged another glance, one filled with unspoken understanding. Without a word, they turned and left the room.
Back in their chambers, Baron leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. Avynna paced.
“This is too familiar,” Baron murmured.
“I know,” she exhaled. “Nancy.”
Avynna stopped. Her hands clenched into fists. “She played the same game. The same sob story, and she destroyed everything. It feels like Deja vù.”
They remembered all too well. Avynna’s ex-husband had been completely manipulated, his mind twisted, and his pack broken, all by Nancy.
And now, after all these years, a girl with a different, yet same story shows up. Their aim was clearly the same—attract pity and gain sympathy—hence their stories went down the same line.
Baron shook his head. “And Loco just escaped, this can’t be a coincidence.”
Avynna nodded. “She can’t stay.”
A voice cut through the silence. “You want to throw her out?”
They both turned sharply. Bavanda stood in the doorway, her face twisted with fury.
“You think she’s lying?” she demanded, stepping inside. “You think she’s like Nancy?”
Baron kept his voice calm. “We don’t know anything, Bavanda.”
“I know enough!” Bavanda snapped. “She’s been through hell, and you want to turn your backs on her?”
Avynna sighed. “You don’t understand. We can’t take a risk.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?” Bavanda’s hands clenched.
Baron’s jaw tightened. “Bavanda, you’re being irrational…”
“No, you’re being heartless.”
Silence.
Then Baron let out a slow breath.“Bavanda, don't you think you're crossing the line?”
She shook her head, “No, I'm not. You taught me to be kind, and passionate. To not look away when one is in need of help, that's what I'm doing and you're suddenly against it."
Avynna snapped. “Bavanda, this is different. The whole fucking pack is at stake if we let that girl stay. Don't you understand?”
"No, I don't understand.” Bavanda yelled back. "She will stay. She has to stay.”
Baron exhaled again, looking away. When he looked back, his eyes were darker. His Alpha aura filled the room, thick and suf
focating.
With his voice, deep and commanding, and his eyes locked on his daughter’s, he said, “And if we say no, what happens?"
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