Chapter 4 [ A Lonely Rogue ]

Priscilla's POV

I woke up to a dull throb in my temples. Groaning, I tried to sit up, but someone held me back.

"Wait, don't move yet. Your body is still weak.”

I looked up to see an unfamiliar face. Even my clothes had been changed into a hospital gown.

"How are you feeling right now?" she asked.

"I'm fine... but what happened to me?”

"You got hit by a car," she explained. "Fortunately, it was Alpha’s car, so he had you brought here for treatment." I studied her face closely. She was clearly a doctor. "Your injuries are minor. Nothing serious, but you need rest to heal.”

I nodded. "Thank you. Ummm... you said I was brought here by an Alpha? Who is he?”

"You are in the base camp of the Shadow Hunt Pack. You got hit by Alpha Eryx's car," she replied, smiling.

Shadow Hunt Pack? Alpha Eryx? Better.

"How did you manage to run out in front of his car like that?”

I looked up at her. "Well, I was running, and I..." I trailed off, wincing as I pressed a hand to my throbbing head.

"Okay, okay, don't force it. You need to rest right now," she said gently. "The questions can wait until later. But if you remember your parents' phone number, that would be really helpful so we can let them know you're okay.”

I shook my head slowly. "I'm a rogue. The forest has been my only home since I was old enough to understand things.”

"I'm sorry to hear that," she sighed softly. "Anyway, I'm Doctor Rini, the resident physician for this base camp." She offered a warm, welcoming smile.

"My name is Priscilla." I offered a small smile. She radiated warmth, and her aura felt incredibly calm. Watching the light blue shade pulsing softly around her body, I knew instantly that she was a good person.

"That's a beautiful name," she said. "Since you're awake, I need to let the Alpha know." She stood up from her chair, smoothing out her clothes. "Are you hungry? I can bring you something to eat.”

I shook my head. "No, I am fine.”

"Okay then. Rest for a while. The Alpha might visit you soon." She grabbed her file and left the room.

Silence filled the small infirmary room. I sighed heavily, having always hated hospitals. My headache was still lingering, dull and annoying. Balling my hand into a loose fist, I extended my index finger and tapped it rhythmically against my forehead. A subtle pulse of energy rippled through my skull, instantly dissolving the pain. I decided to leave the remaining scratches on my body to heal on their own. A few moments later, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall just before the door swung open.

Rini walked in first, but she wasn't alone. Towering behind her were two broad-shouldered men, both radiating raw, masculine dominance. The man in front unleashed a crushing aura of command, a deep crimson light pulsing from him that felt heavy enough to bring everyone in the room to their knees. Suddenly, a rich, woody scent hit my nose—intense, warm, and overwhelming.

He was the Alpha. No wonder a suffocating red aura surrounded him.

Behind him stood a second man. He possessed a similar rugged build to the Alpha, though his presence wasn't nearly as crushing. An orange aura rolled off him, shifting and fluctuating with the changing mood of the room. He had to be the Beta. Underneath the Alpha's heavy scent, a faint, fruity aroma drifted from him, surprisingly alluring.

"Alpha, the patient is awake, and there are no major injuries. She said she was a rogue," Rini said, breaking the silence to start the conversation.

"You're a rogue?" The commanding weight of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. As he stepped closer to the bed, his warm, woody scent enveloped me, growing thick and overwhelming. Intimidated, I shifted uncomfortably beneath the sheets.

"Didn't you hear the Alpha's question? Is your mouth glued shut?" the Beta barked, stepping forward.

I frowned. What a filthy mouth!

Rather than speaking, I just gave a quiet nod.

"When I ask a question, I expect an answer. Speak." His hand shot out, capturing my chin in a firm grip and forcing my face up to meet his. I balled the bedsheets into my fists, fighting every instinct to lash out. His dark eyes drilled deeply into mine.

"Yes, Alpha." I blinked rapidly, tearing my gaze away from his. With the strange wolf standing so incredibly close, an unfamiliar heat flared under my skin, causing my body to react in ways I couldn't control.

"Hmm... you don't smell like a rogue." His eyes narrowed as he studied me. "Are you really a rogue, or just pretending to be one?" he asked again, his deep baritone dripping with a suffocating authority.

"I don't carry a scent like the others," I replied, keeping my eyes averted. It wasn't a lie. I had never smelled like a typical werewolf. Luckily, I had learned how to suppress and control it, because when the full moon arrived, my natural scent became dangerously intense and impossible to hide.

He moved back, and I heaved a sigh inwardly. But his eyes still lingered on me. His expression was unreadable, making it hard to guess what he was actually thinking.

"You better not lie, or the consequences will be far beyond your imagination." Those chilling words hung in the air as he turned on his heel and swept out of the room, the Beta trailing right behind him.

Rini turned back to face me, offering a sympathetic smile. "I hope they didn't scare you too much.”

"I couldn't exactly say no," I replied. Rini let out a soft laugh at that.

"Alpha males are always like that," she muttered, shaking her head in amusement.

Sure enough, they really are the strongest, I thought. My plans had to change. I needed to figure out a way to get inside that pack house quickly, complete my task, and get out. I didn't know how long I could hide myself from that piercing gaze.

You're recovering incredibly fast. This is a wonderful sign," Rini murmured, examining the faint lines left on my skin. "Did the medicine work too well?" She applied a cool ointment to soothe the remaining soreness. While her treatment was definitely helping, the real secret was my own biology—my body had always healed at an accelerated pace.

"You're a really good doctor," I said, offering her a genuine smile. "I'm just a stranger, yet you're taking such good care of me. Thank you." She was so warm and sweet—definitely a far cry from the cold reception I had predicted.

"I'm just doing my best. It doesn't matter who I'm treating," she replied gently. "All I know is that if someone is hurt, my job is to save them.”

"Even if that patient is an omega?" I asked. Rini froze, her hand hovering over my bedside table. She looked visibly hesitant to answer. The rigid politics of pack hierarchy were brutal, and I could entirely understand the impossible position it put a compassionate doctor like her in.

"Duty comes before everything else. As a doctor, that is what we are taught to believe," she finally replied. Her answer caught me off guard. She was incredibly daring for a pack wolf, a trait I deeply respected.

"Doesn't the Alpha rank have a clash with the Omegas? Are you sure you would help an omega, even if it meant going against your pack?" I asked, trying to test her.

She smiled gently. "Before I am a pack member, I am a physician. My work will always come first. I dedicated my life to healing those in need, and whether they are an Alpha or an Omega makes no difference to me. At the end of the day, a single life carries far more weight than any pack dispute or ancient hatred.”

I gave an understanding nod. "Carrying such a broad perspective must be dangerous in a place like this, but I can tell you wouldn't have it any other way.”

"Of course, there are plenty of people who dislike me because of how I think," she shrugged. "But I couldn't care less. Whether they accept me or not is their problem, not mine. Alright, all done here. Your wounds look great, so I don't think you'll need any more ointment." With that, she packed up her medical supplies.

"I'm getting a bit bored sitting in here. Is it alright if I step outside for a bit?" I asked. Having arrived yesterday, I had spent the entire time trapped inside this sterile white room, and I was eager for a change of scenery.

"Um... well, about that..." Rini gave me a sympathetic, apologetic smile. "You actually need the Alpha's explicit permission to step outside. If you're caught wandering around the base camp alone, you could get into serious trouble.”

"Where is the Alpha? In that case, I can just talk to him," I said determinedly.

Her eyes widened in alarm. "What on earth are you going to say to him?”

"I can't take another second in here. It's too mind-numbing, and these sterile white walls are making my head spin instead of calming me. Tell me where he is. I'm going to talk to him right—" I swung my legs over the edge, trying to scramble out of bed, but Rini shot forward and firmly held me back.

"Ah, Priscilla, what on earth are you doing?" she gasped, her hands steadying my shoulders. "Fine, alright—I'll take you outside myself. You don't need to go bothering the Alpha over something like this," she added with a defeated sigh.

I instantly went still, flashing her an innocent, sheepish grin. "But wait, what about the rules you were just telling me about?”

"I'll just tell them you needed some fresh air." She shot me a playful glare before extending a hand to help me out of bed. "But you'd better keep your mouth shut once we're out there.”

As we stepped out of the room, the fresh air hit me, and a wave of relief washed over my senses. The camp's atmosphere wasn't terrible, but the surrounding architecture was purely functional—a brutalist training facility devoid of any real scenery. All around us, the sharp sounds of bodies clashing and weapons striking echoed through the air. It was clear the pack members were training intensely.

"Is everyone here required to train?" I asked in a low voice, looking around.

"Yes, this facility is specifically for the new trainees," Rini explained. "They complete their initial trials here, and the best are chosen to move up to the main pack house for advanced training and official assignments. The head trainer, Eric, oversees everything that happens on these grounds.”

"Does the Alpha drop by this place very often?”

"No, he rarely drops by, so it's a huge surprise that he's here today," she replied. "Usually, it's the Beta who comes down to check on how things are running.”

"I've never actually seen a real training session," I said, putting on an excited face as I looked at her. "Can we go over and watch for just a bit?" I asked, feigning innocence even though I already knew exactly what her answer would be.

"What? Absolutely not. That area is completely restricted," Rini whispered urgently, shaking her head. "The Alpha would be furious if he caught us. We already sneaked out of your room without his approval, and now you want to go watch the warriors drill?" I pouted in disappointment.

"What are you two doing there?" A cold, commanding voice cut through the corridor, making us both freeze.