Chapter 44: Morning Lies

Liora’s POV

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was weakness.

Not the kind that comes from lack of sleep. This one felt deeper, like my body had forgotten how to carry its own weight. Even lifting my hand felt heavier than it should have been.

For a few seconds, I didn’t remember where I was. The room was quiet, the morning light soft and pale as it slipped through the curtains. Everything looked calm. Too calm for a night like the one we had just survived.

Then I remembered.

The courtyard. The wolves. Kael standing in front of me, bleeding and still refusing to fall.

My chest tightened immediately, and I sat up too fast. The movement made my head spin, and I had to steady myself against the bed.

"Liora!"

I froze.

Ivy was sitting beside the bed.

I hadn’t even noticed her before. She leaned forward immediately, her face full of worry, her eyes scanning my face like she had been waiting for me to wake up.

"You scared me," she said softly. "I thought you would sleep the entire morning."

For a moment, I just looked at her.

The memory of last night came back clearly. The walk. The silence. The way she had disappeared without a word. The way the wolves had appeared almost immediately after that.

She had lured me there.

I knew it. I was certain of it.

But I didn’t say anything.

Instead, I forced my expression to stay calm and asked quietly, "Are you hurt?"

Her eyes widened slightly, like she wasn’t expecting that question. "Me? No, I’m fine. I should be the one asking you that. Do you know what happened last night?"

I watched her carefully. Her voice sounded worried, her hands were clasped tightly together, and her eyes looked almost desperate.

Almost.

"I’m not sure," I replied slowly. "Everything happened too fast. One moment we were walking, and the next... they were there."

Ivy immediately shook her head, her expression tightening. "No, that’s not exactly what happened. One of them came from behind me first. I didn’t even see him until it was too late. He dragged me away before I could even scream."

I stayed quiet.

She continued, her voice growing softer, like she was trying to make the story sound real. "I tried to fight him, but he was too strong. I thought they were going to kidnap me. By the time I managed to break free and come back, you were already gone."

Gone.

The word felt strange.

"I’m sorry," she said, reaching out like she wanted to hold my hand but stopping halfway. "I should never have asked you to walk with me. If I hadn’t done that, none of this would have happened."

I looked down at the blanket for a moment so she wouldn’t see what was really in my eyes.

She was lying.

Every word sounded carefully chosen, too smooth, too controlled. If she had really been dragged away, she wouldn’t sound this calm. She wouldn’t sound like she had rehearsed the explanation in her head.

But I didn’t have the strength to argue with her.

Not today.

"I’m fine," I said quietly. "That’s what matters."

She exhaled slowly, like the answer relieved her. "So what actually happened after I was gone? Did you see who they were?"

I hesitated for a second.

"I don’t know," I replied honestly. "I only remember them surrounding me. And then Kael appeared."

The moment I said his name, something in her expression changed slightly. It was small, almost invisible, but I still noticed it.

"What did he do?" she asked quickly.

"He took the attack instead of me," I said, my voice softer now. "They were aiming for me, but he stepped in front of them before they could touch me. He got hurt because of that."

Ivy’s eyebrows rose. "Really?"

I nodded slowly. "He was bleeding a lot. I thought he wouldn’t even be able to stand."

"Aww... such a nice man," she said, her voice filled with fake surprise. "I didn’t know the Alpha could be that caring. I always thought he only cared about the pack and nothing else. How is he now?"

I looked at her again, trying to see if there was any real concern behind the question.

There wasn’t.

She only wanted information.

"He’s fine," I replied quietly. "He was injured, but he’s still standing."

"That’s good," she said quickly. "Very good. I was really worried when I heard what happened. I thought something terrible had happened to both of you."

Her voice sounded convincing. Anyone else would have believed her.

But I didn’t.

Still, I nodded like I accepted everything she said. I didn’t want another argument. I didn’t want to expose her yet. And more than anything, I didn’t want to deal with her games when I could barely stay awake.

"I’m just tired," I said softly. "Everything feels heavy today. I think I just need to rest for a while."

Her eyes softened instantly. "Of course. You should rest. After everything that happened last night, your body needs time to recover. I’ll stay here with you if you want."

"No," I said gently. "You should go and rest too. You said someone dragged you away, right? You must be tired as well."

She hesitated, like she wasn’t sure whether to leave or not.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I’m sure," I replied, forcing a small smile. "I just need to sleep for a little longer. That’s all."

She studied my face for a moment, probably trying to figure out whether I really believed her story or not. Then she finally nodded.

"Alright," she said softly. "But if you need anything, call me. I’ll be nearby."

"I will."

She stood up slowly and adjusted the blanket around me like she was genuinely worried. The gesture felt strange. Too careful. Too deliberate.

"I’m glad you’re safe," she added quietly before turning toward the door.

I watched her until she disappeared completely.

The moment the door closed, the room felt different.

Quieter.

Heavier.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. My head dropped back against the pillow, and for a few seconds, I just stared at the ceiling.

She really thought I didn’t notice.

She thought I would believe that story without questioning it. Maybe she believed I was too weak to think clearly. Maybe she believed I was too tired to remember what had happened.

But I remembered everything.

I remembered the way she had walked beside me in silence. I remembered the moment she disappeared. I remembered the wolves appearing exactly where she had led me.

I didn’t know why she did it. I didn’t know what she was planning. But one thing was clear.

I couldn’t trust her anymore.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my breathing. Thinking about it too much only made my head hurt more.

Then I remembered something else.

Elera.

My eyes opened immediately.

I pushed the blanket aside and slowly stood up. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to move carefully toward the other side of the room. The hidden door was still there, exactly where it had always been.

Kael had told me to rest, but I couldn’t. Not when I didn’t know how she was doing.

I pressed the small latch, and the door opened quietly.

The hidden room was dim, the air slightly warmer than the main chamber. For a moment, I was afraid I would see the worst.

But she was still there.

Elera lay on the bed exactly where Kael had placed her, her breathing slow and uneven but still steady. Her face looked pale, almost too pale, and her hands were resting weakly at her sides.

I walked closer carefully, afraid that even the sound of my footsteps might disturb her.

"Elera," I whispered softly.

She didn’t respond, but her breathing didn’t change either. That alone made me feel a little better.

I sat down beside the bed slowly. My body still felt weak, but at least my hands were steady enough now. I reached out and gently touched her fingers.

They were cold.

"You scared me yesterday," I murmured quietly. "I thought you wouldn’t wake up again."

No answer came, but I didn’t expect one. Still, talking felt easier than sitting in silence.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t help more," I continued softly. "I wanted to, but... I couldn’t do it again. Not without risking everything."

My eyes dropped to her face again. She looked younger like this. Almost fragile. It was strange how someone who worked so hard every day could suddenly look so small when she was unconscious.

"You always take care of everyone else," I whispered. "So now it’s my turn to take care of you."

I glanced around the small room and noticed a book lying on the small table near the wall. It must have been placed there earlier. I picked it up slowly, brushing the dust off the cover.

It was one of the old storybooks kept in the fortress. I didn’t even remember the last time I had opened one of them.

Still, I turned the first page carefully and began reading quietly.

I didn’t know if she could hear me. I didn’t know if the words even mattered. But the room felt less empty when I spoke, and somehow that was enough.

The story wasn’t anything special. Just a simple tale about a girl who survived things no one believed she could survive. Still, the more I read, the calmer I felt.

Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the fact that for the first time since everything started, no one was lying to me, no one was threatening me, and no one was watching me.

It was just me and someone who needed help.

I kept reading, turning each page slowly, pausing every few minutes to check if her breathing had changed.

"Don’t worry," I whispered softly after a while. "You’ll get better. You have to. I still need someone to talk to in this place."

My voice sounded quieter than usual, almost tired.

"I don’t trust many people here," I admitted softly. "But I think I can trust you. So you can’t leave yet. Not now."

The room stayed silent, but for some reason, it didn’t feel lonely anymore.

Outside, the morning had fully arrived, but inside the hidden room, everything remained calm, almost peaceful.

For now, that was enough.