MIRA'S POV
Pain wakes me up.
Not the sharp, stabbing kind like when Marcus hit me. This is different—a deep ache that goes all the way through my bones, like my whole body is bruised from the inside out.
I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids feel heavy. Too heavy. Like someone tied weights to them.
Where am I?
The last thing I remember is running through the forest. The red light. The stranger with golden eyes calling me "Phoenix." Then... nothing. Just darkness.
Panic shoots through me. I force my eyes open, blinking against the soft light.
I'm in a bedroom. But not Marcus's bedroom—thank the moon goddess. This room is different. Warmer. The walls are made of smooth wood that smells like pine trees. A fireplace crackles nearby, filling the space with gentle heat. The bed I'm lying in is soft and comfortable, with thick blankets tucked around me.
It's... nice. Too nice.
This has to be a trap.
I try to sit up, but pain explodes through my stomach. I gasp and fall back against the pillows, my hands automatically going to my belly.
The baby. My baby.
"Easy." A deep voice speaks from beside the bed, making me jump. "Don't move too fast. You're badly hurt."
I turn my head and see him.
A man sits in a chair next to the bed, watching me with the most incredible green eyes I've ever seen. They're the color of forests in summer—deep and calm and safe. His dark hair is messy, like he's been running his hands through it. He looks tired, with dark circles under his eyes, but he's smiling at me. A real smile. A kind one.
I haven't seen a kind smile in seven years.
"Who are you?" My voice comes out scratchy and weak.
"My name is Caius," he says softly. He doesn't move closer, like he knows I'm scared. "You're in Moonshadow Pack territory now. My territory. You're safe here, Mira."
He knows my name.
I stare at him, trying to remember if we've met before. Something about his face seems familiar, but my head is too fuzzy to think straight.
"How do you know who I am?" I whisper.
"We met once, seven years ago. At a pack meeting." His green eyes grow sad. "You probably don't remember. Marcus didn't let you talk to anyone that day."
A flash of memory hits me—a boring meeting, Marcus's hand gripping my arm too tight, and green eyes across the room that looked at me with concern. This man. He tried to approach me, but Marcus pulled me away before he could speak.
"I remember," I breathe.
Something flickers in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or hope.
"The baby," I say suddenly, my hands pressing harder against my stomach. "Is the baby—"
"Safe." Caius leans forward slightly, his voice gentle. "The baby is fine. Stronger than we expected, actually. The doctor said it's like something is protecting it. Protecting both of you."
The red light. The Phoenix power. It's still there, wrapped around my child like a shield.
Tears burn my eyes. "Thank you," I whisper. "Thank you for helping us."
"You don't need to thank me." Caius's voice is firm but not harsh. "No one should have hurt you like this. What Marcus did—" He stops, his jaw clenching tight. "You're under my protection now. Both of you."
I want to believe him. I want to trust those kind green eyes and that gentle voice. But trust is dangerous. Trust got me trapped with Marcus for seven years.
"Why?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "Why would you help me? You don't even know me."
Caius is quiet for a moment, studying my face like he's trying to decide how much to tell me. Finally, he speaks.
"Because seven years ago, I saw a woman who looked like her soul was dying. I saw her mate treat her like property instead of a person. And I couldn't do anything about it." His green eyes meet mine, intense and honest. "When I found you in the snow tonight, bleeding and alone, I promised myself I wouldn't fail you again."
My throat gets tight. Nobody has talked about me like this before. Like I matter. Like I'm worth saving.
"Marcus will come for me," I whisper. Fear makes my voice shake. "He'll bring his whole pack. He'll hurt people. He'll—"
"Let him try." Caius's voice drops lower, and for a second, I see something fierce flash in his eyes. Something powerful and dangerous. "This is my territory. My pack. And you're under my protection. If Marcus wants to start a war over you, then we'll have a war."
I should tell him not to fight. Should tell him to send me away before people get hurt because of me.
But my body hurts too much. My mind is too tired. And those kind green eyes make me feel something I haven't felt in so long.
Safe.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. My eyelids are getting heavy again. "I'm so sorry for bringing trouble to your pack."
"Mira, look at me."
I force my eyes to focus on his face.
"You didn't bring trouble here," Caius says firmly. "Marcus did. And whatever happens next, it's not your fault. Do you understand?"
I want to argue. Want to tell him he's wrong. But darkness is pulling at me again, dragging me down into sleep.
"Rest now," Caius's voice sounds far away. "I'll be right here. You're safe."
The last thing I feel before darkness takes me is a gentle hand smoothing my hair back from my forehead.
And for the first time in seven years, I believe I might actually be okay.