Liyah’s POV


    It had been two weeks since I was dered free. I was fully recovered now, rarely caught a glimpse of the alpha, and I had been apanying Margaret to wherever she was needed when there was an emergency. Everything was going… good, surprisingly. But I still couldn’t help but feel like it was all too good to be true. I kept expecting something bad to ur like it always did when things were going too well in my life. Maybe it was because I was used to having bad things happen to me so I never expected my happiness tost. But so far nothing had transpired yet.


    Being a free woman felt… weird. I could go out whenever and wherever I wanted to, I didn’t have to do any chores, and I didn’t have to ask permission for anything from anymore. Sometimes I felt like I would get punished for it but when time passed and nothing happened, it began to dawn on me that it was real. I was no longer a prisoner. Everyone treated me like a person now, which was surprising as I had expected them to look down on me. But they were friendly. They were nice. They even begged me to prepare meals for the pack. And it felt good finally belonging somewhere, treated like I was important.


    The sound of someone knocking made me look up. I faced the strange man I had been seeing when I was on my sick bed. It was almost like he had disappeared when I awakened, because I hadn’t seen him anymore.


    “Can Ie in?” He asked, offering a small smile. His calm, friendly voice put me at ease and I nodded. I rxed more when I saw that he left the door open.


    I motioned to a chair a few steps away from my bed when I saw him standing awkwardly. He nodded gratefully, extending his arm. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Andrew, but everyone calls me Drew. I am also the Alpha’s beta and Annalise’s best friend.”


    I nodded, letting it all sink in. “Liyah,” I offered, epting his handshake. I still felt quite ufortable but I tried not to show it. I wondered why he was here.


    “How are you feeling now?” He asked, concerncing his tone. I was dumbfounded for a few moments. Why did he sound so concerned? He didn’t even know me.


    “Well, uh… I’m better now, I guess.”


    I could see pain and a trace of anger sh in his deep green eyes as he raked a hand through his hair. “Look, Liyah… I know you’ve been through a lot, although I wasn’t here for the most part of it. And I wish I could do more than give an apology, but I know that nothing could possibly erase all the pain you felt and are still feeling.”


    I felt my chest tighten.


    “I am so sorry for everything you have been through. And if I could turn back time, I swear to you, I would. And I wouldn’t even think twice about it. If anyone deserves to be treated better, it’s you. You have a pure heart and you’re nice and kind andpassionate. I just wish everyone else could be like you.”


    I could feel the tearsing but I bit them back.


    “What the alpha did to you… it was a terrible thing to do. And I know it doesn’t mean much, but I apologize to you on his behalf and I-”


    “No,” I raised my hand in the air to stop him. “It doesn’t matter nor does it count. I don’t need you to apologize on anyone’s behalf. You have expressed sympathy for everything I went through here and I appreciated that. But the apology doesn’t count if it’s noting from the person who put me through all of this pain.”


    He regarded me for a few seconds and then he raked his fingers in his hair once more. “Jonas is the cause of all of this, of all our problems…” It was almost a whisper, almost like he was talking to himself.


    My brows furrowed in confusion. Father? Did all of this have something to do with Father? I wondered, still confused. My mind raced with tons of possibilities and theories, but I recover in time to ask Drew to exin more.


    I watched his face break into a smile. “I understand all you have said, and you are entitled to your own decisions. So take all the time you need. You are definitely the strongest person I have known, and it’s an honor to meet you.”


    My face heated and I began to blush furiously for no apparent reason. I began to wondered if he was only trying to make me feel better and get on my good side. But I could see the honesty in his face. “Thanks,” I managed, hoping I didn’t look as flustered as I felt.


    He smiled, nudging my shoulders lightly. “Rx and getfortable around me soon. I’m your big brother now.”


    I couldn’t control myughter. “I’ve never had a big brother before,” I blurted, not sure why I felt sofortable around him. I still felt jumpy around men and people in general, althoughtely I had been getting better. But I felt sofortable around him.


    He pped his hands together. “Perfect! There’s a first time for everything. I think you’ll enjoy it though because it also entails that I am your friend, confidant and bodyguard.”


    “Oh a multipurpose family member?” I asked. It came out sassier than I had intended it to and for a second I thought I would get into trouble. As I parted my lips to apologize, he let out a loudugh.


    “I have a feeling we’ll be a good team,” He said, smiling and standing to his feet. “You get some rest now.”


    I nodded, not quite sure why I felt so content.


    As he got to the door, he stopped. “Annalise and a few of us are going on a picter today. I heard you make the best samosas on earth, would you like to make some ande with us?”


    I didn’t need to think about my answer.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Sure.”