Chapter 4

Midnight Pack

I was supposed to be disappointed seeing Zayn instead of Jaxon.

But here I was doing the exact opposite — staring, caught off guard by how good he looked.

The entire hospital ward was silent. I could hear a pin drop.

"Is this how feared he is?" I asked myself.

Jaxon could never make a place this quiet.

I watched in awe as he walked closer to me. He moved like he had all the time in the world. Slow. Measured. Shoulders relaxed, hands at his sides. The air around him felt heavier, like the whole ward was holding its breath.

I shook the thoughts clouding my brain off.

"Welcome, your Highness."

That was the only sound that echoed whenever he walked past. Nurses and doctors bowed their heads.

He got to my bed. His golden eyes swept the room first — sharp, predatory, like he was counting threats. Until they landed on me.

And they softened.

Just for me.

My chest tightened.

I met Zayn when I was 16. He was 22 already, Alpha of Midnight Park.

We crossed paths in the Obsidian Moon marketplace while I was buying herbs for my mom. He noticed me instantly — that slow, assessing look alphas have.

I barely registered him and went home.

After that, gifts started showing up at my door. Small things. A shawl when the nights got cold. Herbs my mom needed. A book I mentioned once.

No note. No name.

I had no idea it was him until he showed up himself two weeks later. He asked me out, calm and direct, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I turned him down.

My heart was already with Jaxon — even back then it was just me hoping and praying in secret that one day he’d see me.

Zayn didn’t push, but he didn’t stop either.

For two years he kept trying. Quiet visits at pack events. Gifts that never stopped.

Then the Moon Goddess finally answered me.

At the Choosing Ceremony, Jaxon chose me as his mate.

I was the girl who never believed dreams came true. But that night I did.

What started as a delusion in my head became real.

The same girls who called me ‘delusional Luna’ now watched me with envy and fear.

The name changed to just ‘Luna.’

And Zayn?

He disappeared.

No more gifts. No visits. No notes.

I thought that was the end.

Years later, I still haven’t seen him. But I would recognize those sharp golden eyes anywhere.

And standing before me were those same eyes.

They seemed to say, ‘I’ll protect you.’

They still had that same look. Nothing had changed.

“I’m sorry I put you in this state,” he said, his voice low. “How are you feeling?”

I stared at him, lost. I opened my mouth to speak, and a sharp pain cut through my head. I winced.

“Easy. Your head hurts.”

He gently placed his right hand on my forehead and his left hand took mine.

His touch was warm. Too warm for someone so cold to everyone else.

“I’m glad you’re awake.”

I looked at him, speechless.

“I got you food,” he said, as two nurses walked in carrying a woven basket covered with a white cloth.

“Good day, your Highness,” they bowed in unison. They dropped the food and made to serve it, but Zayn stopped them.

“I’ll handle it. You can leave.”

“Thank you, your Highness. Enjoy your meal, ma’am.” They bowed and left.

He grabbed a chair beside my bed and sat down, facing me.

He opened the basket. Chicken noodle soup with crackers and a side of mashed potatoes.

My favorite.

I looked at him like, ‘how did you know?’

He helped me sit up, supporting my back with a pillow. I slowly stretched my hand to collect the bowl, but he objected.

“I’ll feed you.”

I was reluctant at first. But I didn’t even have the energy to hold a spoon.

So I let him.

I ate slowly as he fed me. Each bite felt like he was telling me ‘you’re safe’ without saying it.

I stared at him between bites. I had a hundred questions crowding my head, but I didn’t know which one to ask first.

“Why are you here?” I finally managed, my voice hoarse.

“Because I needed to see that you’re fine,” he said quietly.

“But you’re not supposed to be here.”

He smiled gently, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m guessing you don’t even know where you are right now?”

“At the hospital?” I retorted, looking around the sterile white room.

“Yeah. But in my pack.”

“What?” I tried to sit up, but sharp pain shot through my ribs and forced me back down with a wince.

“Take it easy,” he said quickly, reaching out but stopping himself. “You’re not strong yet.”

“How did I get here?”

“You got hit by one of my drivers.” His jaw tightened. “On the border road. I’m sorry. I let that carelessness happen. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if something bad had happened to you.”

I looked into his eyes. They were filled with remorse and something else I couldn’t name.

“I still don’t get why I’m here,” I pressed. “You could’ve taken me to any hospital in Obsidian Moon.”

“I did take you there first,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But I couldn’t leave you there. Not like that.”

“Jaxon is there.”

“Is he?” He arched a brow. “Because you didn’t see him there, did you?”

“How was I supposed to know?” My voice cracked. “I woke up and found myself here. He would’ve come if you had left me there.”

“You stayed in that hospital for two days before I brought you here.” His tone went flat. “And no. He didn’t come to check on you. Not once. I had to transfer you here so I’d be sure you’re fine.”

My heart fell. It felt heavy, like a stone sinking in water.

“Why are you still with him?” he asked softly.

I bit my lip and said nothing. The silence stretched between us. The only sound was the faint beep of the heart monitor.

He set the bowl down on the side table and reached for my face. His thumb brushed over my right cheek, right over the faint pair of finger marks.

“What’s this?”

“What?”

“Like…” His words trailed off. His hand stayed there while his eyes searched mine, sharp and worried. “Finger marks. What happened to you?”

I kept quiet. The memory hit me again — the slap, the shouting, Jaxon’s face twisted in anger because of Risa.

He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening with barely contained anger. “He did this to you, didn’t he?”

“Why are you still with him?” he asked again, this time softer, like the answer might shatter him.

I looked down at the hospital’s spotless tiles. “Because… I started, then stopped.”

How was I supposed to say it?

Because I love him and want to be his Luna?

Because I couldn’t walk away from seven years?

“You don’t have to answer me right now,” he cut in when I didn’t speak. “But you shouldn’t be with him. He doesn’t deserve you.”

I scoffed. “And you do?”

“It’s not about me,” he said quickly. “I care about you. Even though you didn’t reciprocate my feelings. Seeing you being treated like this hurts me more than your rejection ever did.”

He took my hand again, his thumb brushing over my knuckles like he was afraid I’d break.

“If you ever need some time away from him, you can stay here. In Midnight Park. You’ll be safe.”

I slowly pulled my hand away from him.

The warmth left immediately.

Outside the window, Obsidian Moon’s forest looked far away.

And for the first time, the idea of leaving didn’t sound as impossible as it did yesterday.