The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 11

Serena

I woke up to the sharp scent of what appeared to be herbal medicine filling my senses. The room held only the sound of my deep breaths and the familiar hospital beep-beep, a reassuring reminder of life's presence. Gradually, I raised my eyelids, squinting as I tried to bring focus to the blurred scene enveloping me. Casting a look around, I discerned that I was within what seemed like a tent. The air inside gave me a comfortable feeling that I highly appreciate.

I touched my head, trying to remember. Suddenly, the memories from that night flooded back, hitting me hard.

The last time I recalled was being badly beaten by rouges who wanted to rape me.

But the question remains. Where am I? I didn’t know this place.

I touched my face without thinking and pressed the throbbing spot on my right temple. Moving my hand down to my neck, I felt a stitch on the side and winced because it hurt. I tried to stand up but ended up falling back onto the bed right away. Obviously, my body wasn't ready to get up yet. That's when I realized it.

Maybe I should wait for someone to show up and ask them what's going on. Because, honestly, I couldn't trust my own memory to figure out where I was.

My solitude broke when a woman with auburn hair entered. But she didn't notice I had woken up because she had a clipboard in her hand.

"Hey," I said, trying to get her attention. Finally, she looked at me, and her face lit up.

"Oh my, you're awake!" she exclaimed. She quickly left the makeshift room and called someone.

"Janice! Ollie! Patient X is awake!" she called out. Patient X? Was she talking about me?

Soon, a few more people came through the curtain. The redhead and the man stepped back, making way for a blonde-haired woman, who I assumed was the pack doctor.

"Good news, Lia. Her wounds are healing quickly. If this continues, I might be able to discharge her soon."

The redhead patted her on the shoulder. "Thanks, Janice. You and your team did a great job."

The female doctor smiled, nodded, and left us. That left the redhead and the man, who I guessed was Ollie.

"Where am I?" I managed to ask.

Lia's smile remained warm. "You're in Wolf Valley."

"Wolf Valley?" My brow furrowed. "I've never heard of that pack."

"That's because we're not a pack," Ollie interjected. "This is a rogue camp."

"Rogues?" Panic surged through me at his words. Sensing my distress, Lia quickly tried to soothe me.

"Take it easy, Miss. We're not like those criminals," she reassured. "This place is a haven for those cast aside and caught up in pack conflicts. It's more like a home for the displaced."

I nodded, believing her sincerity. As I thought about it, they wouldn't have bothered nursing me back to health if they were anything like the rogues who had attacked me.

Speaking of which, I wondered about those attackers.

"How did I end up here?" I inquired once more.

Lia settled into a nearby chair before responding. “Our alpha took you here. He saved you from your attackers.”

"Alpha?" I whispered under my breath. Memories flooded my mind in an instant. I recalled glimpses of a wolf standing defiantly against those who sought to harm me. The fierce image of that wolf was the last thing I remembered before darkness took over. Could it be that this black wolf with emerald eyes was the alpha they spoke of?

"Can we ask you a question now?" Ollie inquired, breaking my thoughts. I hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "What's your name, and why were you alone in the woods?"

However, before I could share my real name and story, I instinctively pulled back. One part of me wanted to place full trust in these people, while another part urged me to remain cautious. Despite their kindness, my past experiences had left me wary of blindly trusting others. With that in mind, I chose to use a different name and alter some details about my previous life.

"I'm Katniss Sloan," I stated, adopting the new name. "I fled from my pack after it was attacked by rogues. Those rogues who attacked me have been chasing me for two months. They were part of the group that destroyed my pack."

I hoped that this modified version of the truth would strike a balance between honesty and self-preservation. Lia and Ollie seemed to have bought my altered story.

"Oh... We're sorry to hear that," Lia expressed with compassion. "If you don't have a home or family, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want."

"Really?" I hesitated, unsure of imposing on their hospitality. "I don't want to be a burden."

"You won't be," Ollie chimed in. "We're a community, and everyone pitches in. Once you're back on your feet, I'm sure you'll find a way to contribute. So, can you fight or help with hunting for food?"

"Um, no, but I can clean and cook game," I responded eagerly.

Ollie's face lit up. "Fantastic! We could use another cook in the camp. I can't wait to tell Alpha Alexei!" With that, he kissed Lia's cheek and hurriedly left the room. Meanwhile, Lia grinned, shaking her head slightly, showing a hint of embarrassment. It seemed clear to me that they were mates, given the way they looked at each other.

"Sorry about that," she said, her hand brushing the back of her head. "We're really relieved you woke up. We weren't sure if you would. And now you're no longer just 'Patient X'; you have a name."

I chuckled at that. "How long have I been asleep?"

"About a week," she revealed, which took me by surprise.

"Well, I'll let you rest, Katniss," she offered. "It's nice to meet you, by the way. Once again, welcome to the camp. We hope you'll find it to your liking here."