Chapter 8: Unseen Wound

Lulu

“Bloody playboy.”

I think I’m starting to understand why he saved me. It wasn’t out of kindness or some sense of duty—it’s because I’m a woman. Probably just another one of his targets. Every look, every tease, every half-mouthed word he threw my way… it’s all part of his game. But I swear, the moment I find out who the man who truly saved me was, I’m getting out of this place—and out of his sight.

A knock on the door broke through my thoughts. It was soft, but still managed to silence the anger boiling in my chest. I didn’t want to open it, but in the end, I dragged my feet towards it anyway. Who am I, after all? Just a former Luna wandering through the ruins of her second life.

When I opened the door, Alpha Caspian was standing there—shirt half-buttoned, hair a bloody mess. Not even a hint of guilt on his face.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” I said flatly. “This might be your house, Alpha, but I still have control over myself.”

“Are you angry, Lulu?” he asked, too calmly for my liking.

I let out a dry laugh. “Angry? You think this is a joke? Of course I’m bloody angry! But I won’t waste my energy throwing tantrums at a man-whore like you—because you’d only regret it later.”

His jaw tensed. “Do you have to speak so harshly?”

“I told you, I’m still in control of myself. If you don’t like that, feel free to kick me out. Better that than having to witness whatever indecent sight you’ve got going on around here.”

“You’re angry,” he murmured, softer this time, his voice carrying something dangerously close to regret.

“Now that you know the answer,” I said sharply, “don’t make promises you can’t keep. You’re just like the bastard who once promised me the world—then ran off to screw another she-wolf.”

The silence between us was deafening. I knew my words cut deep, but I couldn’t care less.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly—sincerely, maybe—but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.

“Good,” I snapped, slamming the door right in his face. “I’m tired and I want to sleep. You can stand there all night for all I care… ALPHA.”

The sound echoed through the room, but strangely enough, it brought me a sense of relief.

My breathing came in short bursts. I’d just laid down when a sharp pain suddenly twisted through my stomach. It hit so fast I doubled over, clutching my side.

“Bloody hell…” I gasped, curling up on the cold floor.

“Lulu, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Caspian’s voice came from behind the door.

“None of your business,” I managed to say, shivering. “Go keep your little blonde company.”

The next thing I heard was wood cracking—the door burst open. Caspian stormed in, face pale and eyes wide with worry.

“Where does it hurt?” He knelt beside me, his hand reaching for my shoulder.

I slapped it away. “Don’t touch me!”

“Lulu, stop being stubborn. You’re in pain—I have to help you.”

“Get out of my way. I can handle this myself.”

“For Moon Goddess’s sake!” he snapped. “If you keep arguing, I’ll just carry you to the clinic myself!”

I wanted to fire back, but my vision was already fading. His voice grew faint, and then everything went black.

When I came to, everything felt different. The air smelled faintly of lilies, soft and clean. The curtains swayed gently, and the golden light of the lamps gave the room a quiet glow.

Beside my bed sat Caspian, elbows on his knees, head lowered. His breathing was heavy—he hadn’t slept.

I clenched my teeth. “You don’t have to sit there. I don’t need your bloody pity.”

He looked up. “You were unconscious for hours. I was worried—”

“Stop. I don’t need your concern.”

He exhaled slowly, then stood up. “I’ll call Dalila to keep an eye on you.”

Once he left, I turned my face toward the window, staring at the pale moon hanging outside. My chest still ached—partly from embarrassment, partly from anger… and a tiny bit of guilt. I hated that he’d seen me like that. But this was Caspian. I couldn’t trust him.

Not long after, Dalila walked in with a bowl of warm water. “You’re awake, Miss McCarthy! Thank the Goddess. How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I replied curtly. “How long was I out?”

“I don’t really know,” she admitted. “Alpha Caspian’s been here since you fainted.”

I sighed under my breath. “Of course he was…”

The next morning, I walked slowly back to my room after being told to rest. Passing the grand hall, I spotted Caspian giving orders to a few omegas, arranging decorations for some bloody party. When he saw me, he smiled faintly.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

I gave a cold nod. “Yeah.”

Before he could say anything else, I turned away.

By the time I reached my room, hunger hit me like a punch. “Dalila,” I called, “I’m craving rabbit meat.”

“Yes, Miss. I’ll go fetch some.”

Half an hour passed, and instead of Dalila, Caspian appeared at my door, holding a covered tray.

“I didn’t order room service from you,” I said sharply.

“She’s busy helping in the kitchen,” he replied flatly. “I happened to be passing by.”

“Then keep passing, Alpha.”

“Lulu.” His tone softened, though still firm. “Eat. You need strength—and so does the pup you’re carrying.”

I rolled my eyes, but the smell of fresh-cooked meat made my stomach betray me. I picked up the spoon and took a bite, chewing slowly.

Before I knew it, the plate was empty. Yet the hunger still lingered. Caspian gave me a side-glance as if listening to someone through a mind link, his face unreadable.

Moments later, Dalila came in with another plate. I almost groaned, but I finished that one too.

Once I was done, Caspian leaned back in the chair. “Now that you’ve eaten, we can talk.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

“Lulu,” he said quietly, “I know I messed up last night. I just want to fix things.”

I didn’t answer. Let him talk all he wanted.

“I don’t want you to misunderstand me. What happened last night won’t happen again.”

That made me look up, surprised. “You think I was jealous?” I asked with a faint laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself, Alpha. I just don’t like being lied to.”

His lips twitched, almost smiling. “I know.”

Something about the way he said it—soft, regretful—made my chest tighten. Against my better judgement, I started to soften.

“Fine, then answer me one thing,” I said quietly. “Have you ever seen someone wearing a cloak, with a hood, blue eyes like the sea—about your height?”

“No.” The word came too fast, and his eyes turned colder.

“Then where can I find him?”

“You won’t,” he replied, looking away. “You can’t find a sorcerer unless you’ve made a pact with him. They move like ghosts. It’s pointless.”

“But I have to,” I insisted. “He saved my life. I just want to thank him.”

Caspian suddenly stood up. “Rest. You shouldn’t be stressing yourself—it’ll affect your pup.”

“But I’m curious—”

“Enough!” His voice cracked like thunder. “Curiosity can kill you, Lulu. We’re not talking about this again.”

I froze. Just seconds ago, he’d been gentle—now he was ice.

“Why don’t you want to talk about it?” I asked carefully.

“He’s a sorcerer,” he said sharply. “And that scar on your chest… it came from a sorcerer too, didn’t it?”

My eyes widened. “How do you—”

“I said that’s enough!” he barked.

I sat still, startled. His eyes were fierce, but beneath that fury, there was something else—fear. Without another word, he turned and strode out, slamming the door behind him.

Silence swallowed the room.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. He was impossible to read—tender one moment, cold the next. As if he was hiding something far darker than he’d admit.

But I wasn’t the type to just sit and wait. If no one wanted to tell me the truth, I’d find it myself.

Somehow, deep inside, I knew the man in the cloak… and the wound on my chest… were both connected to Caspian.

And one day, I’d uncover that truth—no matter what it cost me.