Chapter 2

Pain.

That’s what she felt when she regained consciousness. It is all over her body, aching and hurting and throbbing. She could smell the scent of medicine and oil. 

Estelle opened her eyes carefully. Once her vision cleared, the sight of an unfamiliar room greeted her. The walls were painted a reddish brown and furniture that looks like a mix between Victorian and French are decorated around the room. Paintings and flowers adorned the walls and a small round table. She was lying on a Victorian like canopy bed. 

Where am I? She wondered. The last thing she remembered was falling after failing to get to whatever her instincts were so strongly pulled to. As she looked around the room once more, she became sure that she wasn't with Tyler. She looked down at herself and realized that someone had changed her into a shirt and loose shorts. 

Estelle tried to get up but stopped when her head pounded from the movement and her rib felt sore. She lied back down and wheezed in pain, one hand clutching her head, the other her torso. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down and waited for the pain to subside a little. After a few minutes and the pain had eased, she got up slowly, using a chair by the bed as support. Once she gained the balance on her feet, she walked to the door half intending to sneak out unnoticed and half wanting to thank the person who found her for not leaving her alone in the forest by the waterfall with the possibility of Tyler finding her. Hoping whoever that helped her isn’t on his side in case she bumped into someone, she turned the doorknob.

***

The house is empty. There wasn’t anyone around wherever Estelle went and the house is huge. No, scratch that. It feels like a freaking castle. After several attempts at finding the exit of the house, she finally saw a kitchen. Thinking that maybe someone might be in it, she was surprised to see a man that looked to be in his mid twenties with his back to her. As soon as she saw him, he turned around and she immediately regretted coming into the kitchen. 

The stranger put down the glass of water he was filling before and took a step towards her at the same time she took one back. He stopped advancing when he saw her reaction to him. For a while, they just stared at each other. One with wonder and the other with fear. 

Estelle had thought that it was an elderly that had found her from the furniture and the old theme the house has which explained her bravery to walk around the house. 

“What’s your name?” The man broke the silence. Estelle is too afraid to speak, not really prepared to face a man other than Tyler. She remained silent and tried to edge away from him, slowly retreating backwards with him copying her every step. 

He is very good looking. Estelle had thought that if any other girl was in her shoes, they would be awestruck by him. He is well built, with a good height to balance it. His hair, as black as night, is in place as if combed to perfection. With eyes that are a mix of brown and grey that looks as if it has seen beyond its years, he could make any girl weak in the knees. His whole being radiated with a kind of a pulse that makes her want to freeze.

But Estelle knew better with men like him. Even though her heart feels like she knew him, she had learnt not to trust her heart anymore. Going with her heart is what led her to all she went through. So no, this time she would use her head and her mind is telling her that men like this are dangerous.

The man kept staring at her, walking slow cautious steps to her. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He said softly, “I just want to know your name. I’m Moore Corcoran.” 

Estelle stopped and stared at him. Why isn’t he being violent or harsh? How does someone who looks so rough, speak so gently? She tilted her head while Moore continued looking at her with curiosity. 

She decided not to answer his question and asked instead, “Where am I?”

She tried to put more control over her voice but it wasn’t more than whispering. 

Moore studied the timid girl who was cowering into herself before him. He knows that he is making her nervous and that she fears him. He had tried to decrease the power surging around him but he had no control over it. If anyone were to walk in on them now, Estelle would seem like a lamb and Moore would be the vicious wolf. 

She is trembling a little bit, although he doubts she realized that. She looks disheveled with her straight chestnut brown hair unkempt and her shirt crumpled. Her skin is dirty from the fall two days ago. He didn’t want to bathe her in case she is sensitive in that area so he only wiped her hands and feet a little. She is a mess. 

Hearing the soft whisper of her voice makes him wonder even more about what happened to his unexpected mate.

“You’re in my home now. I found you unconscious at the waterfall.” Estelle frowned in confusion. Waterfall? Was that what her gut has been guiding her to? A freaking waterfall? If Tyler were to find out that she escaped him just to get to a waterfall, she would be punished - severely.

Moore watched his mate scrunch her face. He got the sense that she was confused. In all the years he had lived, he had lost hope of ever finding a mate, even though he was cursed to live his days alone forever since he is immortal. He had gone through era’s, years he lost count, watching his comrades find their beloved. But looking at the girl before him - he sent a million thanks to the moon goddess for actually blessing him with one.

“Come, little one. You must be hungry.” He beckoned her over with his hand and led her into the kitchen. He told her to sit and took the sandwich that he had prepared for her while she was resting from the fridge and heated it up in the microwave. 

He turned and saw her staring at him. “So, how did you happen to get into my territory?” He raised an eyebrow, “I’m not asking to mean any suspicions, but we rarely get any visitors.” He smiled gently.

Estelle twiddled her fingers, a habit when she is nervous or under pressure and at the moment, it was both. “Um, I..I don’t know. Something just pulled to this place.”

She bit her lip, an action that caused Moore to groan silently. She hoped whoever that changed her didn’t mention her injuries to him. At that thought she paused, she hoped it wasn’t him that changed her! Oh, how horrific that would be! Estelle blushed in embarrassment and horror at her own thoughts. 

“Hmm.” Moore wanted to ask more but didn’t want to startle her or cause her discomfort. Judging from her scars and bruises, he got that he would have to take his time with her. Which he didn't mind. He waited for hundreds, no, thousand of days and months - he lost count -, and he can still wait. After all, he is a patient man. 

“Here. This water is from the waterfall we found you at. It has healing abilities, drink it.” He handed her a glass of water that he poured from a bottle he took in a cabinet.

Estelle took the glass from him, brushing his fingers with her own causing him to clench his teeth. She furrowed her eyebrow in confusion. Did she do something wrong? 

She took a sip of the water tentatively. It tastes normal but as she took more sips from it, she could feel her injuries slowly healing at a rate faster than normal. Suddenly, she remembered the question she had to ask.

“What pack am I in?” She gathered enough courage to look the man in the eye. He took a seat opposite her and leaned forward with his elbows on the table. 

Moore stared at her, not knowing how to tell her in case she panics. With the rumors surrounding his pack and her fragile state, he wasn’t sure how she would take it. Handling a bunch of aggressive, stubborn men? Piece of cake. But a single, terrified mate? He has no clue. 

After a few minutes with Estelle patiently waiting, he decided it is best to tell the truth. “You’re in the Ombre Foresta territory. We were scouting the edges of the forest when I felt you entered our area.”

He watched as her face turned more confused. Doesn’t she know?

“I’ve never heard of your pack. Are you a rogue pack?”

Moore's expression was priceless. Is she really that naive? How cruel can fate be to let her be destined with him? 

He shook away his surprise and said slowly, “No.. no. We are a normal pack, just like yours and the others out there.” 

Maybe a little different though, he added silently.

“Oh, I.. I don’t have a pack. It’s always only me and..” Estelle trailed off in a whisper and shook her head. “No, sorry. It’s just me.”

“Are you a rogue then? Lone wolf?” 

“I don’t know.” She said in a small voice, curling in on herself.

“It’s alright. Come, I’ll bring you to Rennie so she could check how your injuries are healing. She’s the pack doctor.”

***