Chapter 123

A faint sense of déjà vu washed over me as my eyes fluttered open. The rhythmic drip of liquid through a plastic tube caught my attention, instantly transporting me back to the sterile confines of Monteforte Investment Bank’s medical center. The feeling was oddly familiar, yet this time, something was different.

The bed beneath me felt the same, but as I turned my head, I was greeted by a striking view: a vast window framing the warm hues of a sunset over a lush forest. Turning the other way, I found Kenzo slumped beside the bed, his head resting near my right hand, which he held tightly, almost possessively. His sleeping face was peaceful, a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped us earlier.

As I stared at him, fragments of my fight with Steele began to flood back, sharp and vivid. My mind fixated on the memory of my mangled shoulder, and instinctively, I glanced down to inspect the damage. My left collarbone and upper arm were swathed in thick bandages, the faint smell of herbal ointment seeping through the layers. I gingerly tried to move my arm, bracing for pain that never came.

The absence of discomfort was startling. I knew my body possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities, but this? Steele had torn a chunk from my shoulder. No amount of miraculous healing could regenerate flesh that quickly—at least, not in a matter of hours. Unless, of course, I was morphing into some kind of giant salamander.

The thought nearly made me laugh. I could picture myself as a human-reptile hybrid, a ridiculous image that only fueled my amusement. Or maybe the absurdity was the result of potent painkillers coursing through my veins. That would explain the surreal mix of calm and silliness fogging my thoughts.

A deep sigh escaped me, a quiet acknowledgment of my drugged-up state of mind.

“Thalassa?”

The sound of Kenzo’s voice drew my attention. My exhale must have been louder than I realized.

I looked at him and managed a faint smile. Strands of his dark hair fell across his face, framing his sharp, masculine features. He was striking, and I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed the view. His onyx eyes, however, betrayed a concern so unlike the domineering confidence he exuded during my fight with Steele. It reminded me of the anger I should be feeling toward him—the arrogance of that Alpha douchebag was maddening.

Unfortunately, the drugs robbed me of the ability to scowl or even muster a hint of irritation. My hand remained in his firm grip, and I met his gaze with an expression dulled by sedation.

“How do you feel?” he asked, his tone laced with an unfamiliar softness.

“Like shit,” I replied flatly, my voice devoid of its usual inflection.

“Thalassa… listen, I—”

“Can you come back later?” The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them.

“What? Why?” His brows knit together in confusion.

“The drugs,” I sighed. “I can’t be mad at you while they’re in my system. And you deserve my anger… maybe even a slap… or a punch to the face… or the chin…”

“Fine. I get it,” he said with a wry smile. He stood and moved toward the door.

I watched as his hand gripped the handle, but instead of leaving, he paused.

“I ordered Steele to be thrown into the dungeon for his disgraceful behavior. If you want, I’ll have him executed,” he said, his back still to me.

“No need,” I replied firmly. “I don’t blame him as much as I blame you.”

Kenzo lowered his head, as if my words echoed his own thoughts, and left without another word, closing the door softly behind him. Good. He should feel guilty—it was his reckless behavior that had landed me in this bed.

I rolled my eyes, trying to fight off the haze of medication. Just as I considered surrendering to sleep, the door opened again.

“Hello, Ms. Thalassa. I’m glad to see you awake.”

I turned my head and was met by a striking woman with dark hair cascading around her glowing golden eyes. Her latte-toned skin seemed to radiate warmth, and her smile was equal parts professional and welcoming.

“Hello,” I said faintly.

“I’m Hazel Holloway, the main doctor here at the pack’s mansion,” she introduced herself, stepping closer. “I patched you up after the Alpha brought you in.”

“I see… Thank you,” I said, attempting a weak smile.

Her grin widened. “What are you, Thalassa?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a hint of suspicion, as though I were a puzzle she couldn’t wait to solve.

“Human with a lot of Alpha genes but no Wolf gene,” I answered lightly, though her intense gaze made me uneasy.

“Oh, I think you’re more than that, honey,” she said with a chuckle, her tone teasing.

The comment brought me back to my ridiculous salamander theory, and I stifled a laugh.

“Your regenerative ability is extraordinary!” she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. “For a moment, I thought you might be a hybrid—”

“A what?” I interrupted, startled.

“You know, half-wolf, half-vampire,” she explained. “But the Alpha told me about your heritage, and… it’s fascinating!”

“Doctor Holloway—”

“Hazel,” she interjected. “Please, call me Hazel.”

“H-Hazel,” I corrected myself, still unnerved by her enthusiasm. “What’s the status of my shoulder?”

“Oh, it’s fully healed,” she said cheerfully, giving the bandage a gentle prod.

“If it’s healed, then why the drip?” I asked, nodding toward the offending IV.

“Standard procedure,” she explained. “Regeneration can be excruciatingly painful for wolves—like their skin is on fire. I give everyone a sedative to help them sleep through it.”

“I see,” I murmured. “Could you take it off now?”

"Certainly," Hazel laughed as she finally freed me from the IV tube.

With practiced ease, she leaned closer to examine my shoulder, peeling away the patch she’d applied just hours earlier. The sight that greeted us was startling—my skin was flawless, as if nothing had ever happened. Even though I’d witnessed my body heal spontaneously more than once, it still took my breath away every time. My abilities were evolving faster than I could comprehend, each new discovery about myself leaving me reeling.

Caspian had reassured me I wasn’t going to turn into some green monster, but these changes, which seemed to excite everyone else, felt like a quiet storm inside me. They weren’t just unsettling; they were terrifying.

"Anyway..." Hazel cleared her throat, breaking the silence.

"Alpha Kenzo seems to care a lot about you," she teased with a mischievous smile.

"I wouldn’t say that," I replied, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. "I was supposed to be his mate, yet he’s the one who dragged me into this mess just to test me."

"His... mate?" Hazel echoed, her laugh suddenly awkward.

"That’s what he said," I answered, narrowing my eyes at her. "Not that I feel any mate-bond—being human and all. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," she replied quickly, her voice overly casual. "If he said it, it must be true." Hazel busied herself removing the IV bottle, avoiding my gaze.

She performed a quick check-up, monitoring my vitals, then told me to stay in bed until the sedative had fully worn off. That meant staying put until morning. Whether she was being truthful or simply trying to keep her latest curiosity—me—under observation a little longer, I couldn’t tell. Regardless, I decided to comply. I needed to be emotionally steady the next time I faced Kenzo.

The following morning, I began to understand the ripple effect of my painful victory over Steele. News traveled fast, and by the time I ventured out of the infirmary, the entire pack knew. Word had spread: a human woman had defeated one of the pack's top elite warriors.

On my way back to my room in the main mansion, pack members stopped in their tracks, bowing respectfully as if I were some kind of queen. Their sudden reverence felt awkward and misplaced, but I had to admit—it was better than being universally despised.

"Thalassa!" Ronan’s cheerful voice greeted me at the door, his grin as bright as the sun. "How’s that poor shoulder of yours?"

"Healed," I replied with a smirk. "Though I hope the Alpha doesn’t regenerate as fast as I do. I plan to punch him, and I want the pain to linger for a while."

Ronan laughed, then leaned in close, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I’ll admit he’s a jerk sometimes, but thanks to that gruesome fight, you’ve earned untouchable status in this pack. They practically revere you now."

"I’m still trying to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing," I sighed.

"Trust me, it’s a good thing." He winked, then gestured toward my room. "Go get some rest. Oh, and be at the training grounds by seven."

"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don’t ask—just show up," he said with a mischievous grin, waggling his eyebrows for effect.

I shrugged and headed to my room, figuring it couldn’t hurt to humor him. The hours passed quietly. I enjoyed a delicious dinner courtesy of my favorite cook, took a long, hot shower, and prepared myself to head to the training grounds.

When I arrived, I noticed something unusual: nearly every warrior in the pack was heading in the same direction. A sense of anticipation buzzed in the air. Whatever was about to happen, it felt significant. For a moment, I wondered if following Ronan’s advice had been a mistake. But before I could reconsider, Ronan spotted me.

"Thalassa! Over here!" he called, waving me over. "The official presentation is about to begin!"

I gave him a nervous smile and walked toward him, only to find Kenzo standing beside him. The two of them were focused on something ahead—a row of enormous tents that I could have sworn weren’t there the last time I’d been here.

Kenzo glanced at me and gave a small nod, an almost imperceptible gesture of gratitude. Before I could read too much into it, Ronan grabbed my wrist and pulled me to stand beside the Alpha.

A ripple of commotion swept through the crowd as the tents stirred. Moments later, the Royal Army’s legion marched out in perfect combat formation. Their synchronized movements were mesmerizing, a flawless display of discipline and power.

The legion advanced toward us, then stopped abruptly, kneeling in unison. I glanced at Kenzo, expecting to see pride on his face, but his expression was curiously subdued.

"The Royal Army is at your command!" the legion’s leader announced, his voice firm and clear.

That voice. My heart skipped a beat. It was familiar—unmistakable. My pulse quickened as I stepped forward, my eyes searching for confirmation.

"Once again, we vow our loyalty to you, Lady Thalassa," the leader declared, lifting his head.

Icarus. His smile was radiant, brimming with pride as he looked at me.

I gasped, unable to contain my surprise.