Page 36 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

Chapter 13

Embracing Reality

Lila

I wake slowly, my mind struggling to make sense of the overwhelming sensations assaulting my body. The smells are too strong, the sounds too loud, and even the soft fabric beneath me feels rough against my skin. I blink, trying to focus my bleary eyes on my surroundings.

Where am I? How did I get here?

Panic rises in my chest as I realize I'm in an unfamiliar room.

"What the hell?" The words slip out as I sit up, my hand gripping the bed frame. With a sickening crack, the wood splinters beneath my fingers. I stare in disbelief at the broken frame, my mind reeling. Did I just do that? How is that even possible?

The memories of the barn fire come rushing back—the smoldering wood, the scorching heat, and the crushing weight on my back.

How did I survive?

My heart races as confusion, fear, and a strange new sense of power coursing through my veins overwhelm me.

What's happening to me?

Suddenly, a new presence stirs within me, a voice that seems to come from my very core.

Safe. Pack nearby,it communicates, the words more felt than heard.

I freeze, my eyes widening in shock. My heart races as I try to comprehend what's happening. This voice, this presence, it's unlike anything I've ever experienced before. It's both foreign and familiar, separate from me yet intrinsically connected.

"What was that? Who's there?" I ask aloud, my voice trembling. I glance around the room, half-expecting to see someone else, but I'm alone. The realization that the voice is coming from within me sends a shiver down my spine.

Us. We. One now,the presence responds, its tone soothing yet firm.

I shake my head, trying to make sense of this internal dialogue. Is this really happening? Am I losing my mind? I've heard of people experiencing mental breakdowns, hearing voices in their heads, but I never thought it would happen to me.

Am I going crazy?I wonder, my hands trembling as I grip the soft material beneath me. The thought terrifies me, adding to the already overwhelming fear and confusion of my situation.

But even as I grapple with the possibility of insanity, there's a part of me that knows this is something else entirely. The voice doesn't feel malicious or unhinged. Instead, it's almost comforting, like a long-lost piece of myself that I never knew was missing.

As I try to wrap my mind around this new reality, the door to the room opens, and a familiar scent washes over me, both comforting and intriguing. My heart skips a beat as I look up, desperate for answers.

Axel.

The moment he steps into the room, a wave of emotions crashes over me, a confusing mix of relief, longing, and something I can't quite define. His presence seems to fill the space, and I find myself instinctively drawn to him, as if an invisible force is pulling me in his direction.

I open my mouth to speak, to ask him about the voice, to beg for an explanation, but the words die on my tongue. How do I even begin to explain what I'm experiencing? Will he think I'm crazy too?

As Axel approaches, his eyes filled with concern and something else I can't quite decipher, I realize that he might be the key to understanding this new reality. If anyone can help me make sense of what's happening, it's him.

But for now, I'm left with more questions than answers, my mind reeling as I try to reconcile the familiar world I once knew with the strange new one I've been thrust into. The voice in my head is just the beginning, and I can only hope that Axel will be there to guide me through whatever comes next.

Mate. He saved us,the voice within me rises again, its tone filled with certainty and reverence.

'Mate? What are you talking about?'I mentally respond, my bewilderment growing with each passing second.

His scent. Our mate. Safe with him,the voice insists, its conviction unwavering.

As Axel rushes to my side, I'm enveloped by his scent—a heady blend of pine, musk, and something else, nervousness. It's both comforting and electrifying, causing my heart to race and my skin to tingle with a newfound sensitivity. I feel simultaneously grounded and untethered, as if his presence is the only thing keeping me from floating away.

"Lila," Axel speaks, his voice soothing yet tinged with worry. "It's okay. You're safe now."

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