Narrated by Elizabeth
I'm beginning to awaken, my eyes gradually opening; I feel my head spinning. As I adjust to the brightness, I reach to rub my eyes and realize I'm immobilized. That's when it hits me—I'm trapped, and it must have been a week already.
Looking around, I see no one, which is good—I'm alone, covered by a sheet and nothing else. Deciding to finally open my eyes fully, I see everything I did while I was a wolf, playing out like a movie. I start to cry, remembering it was like watching a horror film without being able to intervene. No matter how loudly I screamed inside that monster, nothing changed. It was as though I was someone else.
I see Vincenzo enter with keys in hand.
"Hi, little one, let's get you out of here, okay?" I can only nod in agreement. I want to ask if I really attacked everyone or if it was just a nightmare, but I'm afraid of his answer.
After he releases me, I don't have the strength to sit up on my own; he helps me and hands me some water.
"Don't strain yourself. You've been a week without eating; you must be very weak." I reckon nobody would dare get close enough to feed me. A faint smile crosses my lips at the thought.
He carries me back to my room and sends a maid to help me with a bath while he heads out to bring me something to eat. After a relaxing shower, I lie down in my bed to rest. There's a knock at the door, and I tell them to come in.
"Hi, how are you?" Athos says, peeking into the room. Immediately, the image of me biting his shoulder flashes in my mind, and tears well up in my eyes. I couldn't stop it, and if it weren't for him, I might have killed my little brother.
He sits on the edge of the bed and lifts my chin, encouraging me to look at him.
"Tell me, why are you crying?" I gaze deep into his eyes.
"Thank you, for saving my brother from me!" His look is one of shock.
"You remember?" he asks, wiping away my tears with his thumbs.
"Yes, I remember everything—a person freeing me, someone shooting me in the back, then me trying to kill my brother with you taking the bite for him, nearly taking Samuel's life." I say it all in a rush, beginning to sob. He pulls me into a strong embrace.
"I know you couldn't control yourself; we are all fine, and you're not going to become that again." I start to calm down, his scent comforting me. Now that I'm in his arms, I notice his strong chest and toned abdomen. I snuggle into his embrace, enjoying his presence a while longer.
"Your father has been investigating how you escaped," he speaks. I pull back to look at him.
"The door was forced from the outside, and the chain was broken by the same person."
"I remember seeing someone while I was on the ground in pain, but I couldn't make out who it was or smell them because I was distraught from the transformation." He looks at me fondly.
"I hope they catch whoever's responsible soon, so you won't feel so guilty for your actions." I hope he's right.
"One more thing, your father and Samuel think you don't remember anything. It might be best not to tell them you recall everything." It's probably better—if I don't carry the guilt of harming them, especially since no one died.
"Matheus must be afraid of me!" I say, pulling closer to Athos.
"Hey, Eliz, they know you would never hurt him. Just give it some time, and things will work out."
"I hope so. Seeing the fear in his eyes and not being able to control myself scared me too." Something inside me has changed; I'm not sure if I can ever be the same after everything that's happened. Lost in thought, Athos tries to get my attention.
"Eliz?" He looks at me with a puzzled expression.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about what I did. It feels like I've changed." He sighs, looking up at the ceiling.
"Some things might have changed, but I'll still love you just the same." Before I can respond, he kisses me unexpectedly. For a moment, the world disappears, and it's just us. That's when I hear someone fake coughing.
"Cough, cough." I jump away from him and turn towards the door where Vincenzo stands with a tray in his hands—presumably my snack.
Athos stands and bows.
"Good day, sir." Vincenzo has the look of someone startled, his features nearly shifting to those of a wolf. The only way to catch his attention and stop him from wanting to attack Athos is to call out.
"Dad, I'm hungry." As soon as I say the word "DAD," his scowl softens, and he looks at me tenderly.
"In all this time since you've been home, you haven't called me 'dad' before," he says with tear-filled eyes. If only he knew it was just to save Athos from his wrath, he'd be disappointed, but I won't tell him that.
"And you, young man, just because you think she's your mate doesn't give you the right to be with her without asking for my permission," he growls without looking at Athos.
"I apologize, sir. I love your daughter, and I intend to win her love. Once that happens, I'll come to ask for her hand in marriage." He speaks boldly, and I'm taken aback by his courage to address the Alpha so confidently.
"If your daughter wishes, I would like to ask for her to be my girlfriend, with your permission, sir. I want to be a part of her life, not just as your beta but as her partner for eternity." I am stunned. I knew he was destined to be my mate, but I'm at a loss for words and unsure what to do.
"It's up to my little girl, but as far as I'm concerned, it's fine," Vincenzo says, and their gaze falls on me, awaiting an answer. I know he loves me, and I know Samuel does too. I'm confused, but after Athos's sacrifice to save my dear brother, my heart leans more toward him.
"I...I...want..." Before I can finish, I see Samuel leaning against the doorframe, and I freeze, now unable to give an answer.
"Hey," he says through gritted teeth. Athos eyes him with clenched fists and a sharp gaze. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.
"Get out of my beloved's room," Athos tries to expel him.
"If it is 'my BELOVED's' wish, I will leave with the greatest of pleasure," Samuel responds provocatively. I've been through a lot these past days and won't stand for two males fighting like dogs over a female. I immediately reverse my previous decision.
"Both of you, stop acting like two children who want the same toy. I am not an object; I have my feelings, and I'm already confused enough without having to witness a fight," I pause, feeling a bit dizzy. They both look at me, caught in the act of misbehaving.
"One more thing: if you want me, you'll have to win me over first." They glance at each other and leave the room, looking like dogs without owners. I turn back to Vincenzo, who looks at me proudly for not accepting the courtship just yet.
As I eat, my father looks out the window with a worried expression.
"Dad, who let me out?" I ask, cutting to the chase. He looks at me, surprised.
"We only have one suspect, who sealed their guilt by fleeing," he says, gazing into the distance.
"Who?" I demand, authoritatively. He sighs, runs his hand through his hair, looks at me, and exhales heavily.
"Mel." As he says it, his eyes are watery, and I can see deep sadness.
"Tell me, how did you know I had escaped?" I know it's better not to say, but I can't lie to him. After I tell him the truth, he just listens.
"Because of Mel, I almost killed Matheus. I didn't want to hurt him, but I couldn't stop myself." He hugs me and kisses my forehead.
"And Matheus?" I ask if she took him too.
"He's sleeping; he doesn't understand why his mother abandoned him." He's too young to be left without an explanation; it must be heartbreaking for him.
"Why would he let me go, knowing I could endanger everyone?"
"I don't know, but your uncles might. They are being interrogated right now." My heart clenches.
"I hope you don't hurt them. You promised," I plead with him. He strokes my hair.
"Not because I don't want to, but because I don't want to see you suffer," he says. After finishing my meal, he takes the tray and leaves. I desperately want to see Matheus. Even though I can barely stand, I get up and carefully make my way to his room, using things and the walls for support—I need to make sure he's okay and not afraid of me.
I knock on his door; he replies sleepily and tells me to come in. With difficulty, I open the door and see him seated on his bed with red, tearful eyes. On seeing me, his face takes on a strange expression, a mix of sadness and fear.
"Hi, you don't need to be afraid of me. I never want to scare you again." His expression softens slightly.
"Can I come closer to you?" I prefer to ask rather than frighten him further, risking that he may never want to look at me again. It's worth the risk, as he needs me.
"I don't know. You're not going to turn into that thing again, are you?" He really is scared, and I'm not sure what to do.
"I promise never to become that monster again." He gestures for me to come closer. I look into his eyes, and he doesn't look away—a good sign. We sit in silence for a while; he looks at a photo of his mother and starts to cry. I move closer and let him rest his head on my lap, stroking his hair.
"Will you leave me too?" he asks tearfully.
"Never. I'm your sister and I will always be there for you," I assure him, feeling him smile. Now, I ask what I really want to know.
"Matheus, are you afraid of me?" He sits up and looks me in the eyes.
"I was scared when you turned into that thing and were leaving. That's why I called out; I didn't want you to go, even though I was scared of you being that forever. I love you." He's so sweet; it makes me want to stay by his side forever.
"I thought that after what happened, you would hate me. I'm glad to know you love me because I love you too."
After ensuring he's alright, I drag myself back to my room. I don't understand why Mel would let me out—I know she didn't like me, but why put her own son's life at risk? She was already here when I ended up in that hospital; could she have been involved with that too? Why?
I want answers, and I want them now. I'll have to go to Vincenzo's office; he must be back from the interrogation. As I reach the stairs, I grasp the handrail with both hands so I won't fall, which doesn't help much. Halfway down the stairs, my hands can't hold on, and I tumble down, bracing for the fall. I close my eyes to avoid seeing the impact, but suddenly two hands catch me at my waist. Someone has saved me...
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