Nora's pov
The first thing that alerted me of my consciousness was the throbbing of my shoulder as a searing heat pulsed with a life of its own.
I tried to lift up my hand but groaned in pain at the slight movement before dropping it beside me. My whole body ached, my throat was parched and the burning sensation on my shoulder just made it a whole lot worse.
"Drink" a soft voice instructed me and a metal was placed between my lips. I greedily gulped down the water, uncaring who gave it to me. At this point I was just grateful to be alive. Memories of the night of my birthday flashes through my mind and I bolt from the bed, ignoring my body's protest as my eyes popped open. I ignored the bright lights that threatened to blind me as I took in my surroundings.
I took in the little pink coloured room that was bare of furniture save for the bed I laid on and a chair which was occupied by the lady in front of me. My eyes zeroed in on the woman suspiciously.
"Who are you?" I croaked.
"I think I'm the one meant to be asking those questions" she commented, cocking her head to the side.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well Alpha Ronan brought you here in very bad shape and quite literally threatened my life if anything happens to you" she explained and only then do I recall the black orbs which stared at me as though he was trying to look into my soul.
"You are a rogue" I helplessly pointed out.
"So are you" she retorted, reminding me of my pack and the betrayal I just suffered.
I close my eyes in pain, wishing it was just a bad dream I would wake up from sooner rather than later.
"Lie back, you need as much rest as you can get before the Alpha summons you" she told me, helping me ease onto my back on the bed.
"Summons me? I need to get out of here" I furrowed my brows.
"I'm sorry love but the Alpha brought you here. I don't know why but you are in our grounds now. You can't leave unless he says so" she informed me.
"How long have I been here?" I asked.
"You've been unconscious for two days" she revealed.
"Who are you?" I asked again, my eyes tracing over her features.
"Emma, the pack healer" she replied with a shrug.
"How soon do you think I'll be healed?" I questioned.
"At least a day or two" she said.
I nodded but remained silent unsure what to do.
"Is he going to kill me?" My voice sounded so little, so foreign to my ears.
"Alpha Ronan doesn't kill without a reason" she retorted.
"So if he has a reason to kill me?" I quirked a brow.
"Then it would be a very justified one" she looked at me pointedly. Her words offered me no comfort and I was unsure what to make of her statement.
Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door and Emma scraped her chair back as she stood, heading to the door.
She spoke to whoever was behind the door for a minute before closing the door with a soft nick and returning to my side.
"Alpha Ronan wants to see you now" she told me.
"I'll be back with a change of clothes for you, in the mean time you can clean up in there" she added when I remained silent, pointing to a door I assumed was the bathroom.
When I still offered her no reply she left the room and I didn't miss the jingle of keys as she bolted the door behind her no doubt to ensure I didn't try to escape.
I shakily stood from the bed, groaning at the searing pain by my ribs as I walked towards the bathroom.
I exhaled a loud breathe as I closed the door behind me and stared at the mirror in shock. I looked horrible and a complete mess. My hair was sticking out in all directions with twigs and leaves tangled in them, my face was darkened with the earth crust and a bandage wrapped around my midsection was stained with blood. The now familiar heat by my shoulders caught my attention and I slowly brought up my hands to examine the area. I felt a pattern along my shoulder and slowly turned towards the mirror. I gasped at the black crescent moon which seemed engraved onto my skin.
"Where did that come from?" I thought out loud as my fingers gently grazed over it.
I bit my lip as tears welled up in my eyes.
'This was not the time to be weak or sentimental' I scolded myself as I went about the task of tidying myself up, ignoring my muscles protests to my activities.
When I was somewhat presentable, I made my way out of the bathroom and my eyes fell on the grey joggers and black t-shirt laid on the bed for me. I took my time getting dressed before I made my way towards the door and as expected it was locked. I knocked softly and after a few seconds the jingling of keys were heard and the door creaked open.
"Let's go" a gruff looking man told me as he led the way forward. I silently followed behind him, my eyes taking in the hallways we passed through and how it seemed like the entire house was bare of any decorations. The walls were a plain green bare of any picture frames or paintings which were common to be seen in pack houses, with florescent lights shining brightly above our heads.
We came to a stop at a big iron door and the man turned to me.
"Ensure to pay your respects to the Alpha. One wrong move and you could be dead" he threatened and fear settled within me and what awaited me as I gripped the handle and pulled the door open.