His Disguised Mate - Burgov Series II

6. Autumn

I heard that when you're dying your whole life flashes in front of your eyes. But as usual I couldn't be like everyone else, and in my last moments I saw everything I didn't have.

My deluded brain projected a man of my dreams. Sun kissed skin, dirty blonde hair, square jaw, devilishly handsome. And those eyes… not entirely blue, and not entirely gray, but like the sky just before the thunderstorm. Mesmerizing. Not even the Goddess could create such a masterpiece, yet my brain could.

But it lasted just a second before I was gone. Or at least I thought so, because come on, no one could survive that fall.

However ascending to heaven was awful, full of annoying sounds and bright lights that wouldn't let me fall into my eternal slumber.

So maybe I ended up in hell, after all.

Mother always said I was the devil's spawn. Maybe she wasn't just mean old hag, but there was an actual truth in her words. But wouldn't that make her a she-devil? Sounds about right too.

"Doctor Baxter, I think she's waking up." - a woman's voice spoke from way too close to me.

"Thank you, Claire. I'll take it from here." - some man said and I could hear footsteps and the click of the closing door.

I started fighting with my heavy eyelids and the pain that spread through my body, even from this small movement made me think I may not be dead after all.

After a few times, my eyes fluttered open and I looked around. I was definitely in the hospital, or maybe a government's experimental facility, taking into account how many machines were in the room. Everything looked brand new and the space itself didn't feel like the white-tiled hellhole other hospitals I visited were like. The room had a big window, and calming forest green walls. By the wall stood a comfy-looking couch and one of those small table that served no purpose other than decorative. In the corner hung a flat screen and a few framed photos making the room more homey.

"Good morning." - said the same masculine voice as before, and I turned his way. A young and very tall man with auburn hair towered above my hospital bed, but his encouraging smile made me believe I was safe with him.

"My name is Norvin Baxter, I'm one of the younger physicians in Harvest Moon hospital. You've been admitted two days ago, but for now your condition is stable. May I ask you a few questions?" - he asked once again with that smile that made me believe it was his calling to help people. But I should stay wary, after all I don't know those people and if they are in any way connected with Rod.

I slowly nodded, already preparing a story in my head, in case he asks about my identity.

"So do you remember what happened to you? When you were brought in, we weren't sure if you'd make it." - he said with true concern in his voice, which was strange since he didn't even know me.

"I was walking down the road, my leg slipped and I fell down the steep." - I said almost truthfully.

The Doctor who introduced himself as Norvin, frowned, but he nodded accepting my explanation.

"In that case we're lucky you're alive." - he said and made a note in his pad. - "From the procedures we did, we set back your legs. Your left one was in a bad shape, but the right one was just a dislocation. We operated on your spleen and stitched up more cuts than during all my years in Medical School. But in a week or so, you should be as good as new." - I nodded, letting him know I'm still listening.

"Should I know about any allergies or medical conditions we should take under account?" - the cute Doctor asked.

"Nothing I'm aware of."

He smiled and wrote something down in his documentation.

"Alright, you should rest now. The big guy will probably drop by to talk to you later today. But I can assure you have nothing to be scared of, just focus on getting your strength back." - he said finally and started heading for the door.

"Wait!" - I called after him. - "What about the man who found me? Is he here?"

I don't know why, but I had to ask. Probably because I was still contemplating if the most handsome man I've ever seen was just a figment of my imagination, or perhaps he was real, and I haven't dreamed him at all.

Doctor turned to me and frowned.

"You mean Ilia?"

"He didn't introduce himself."

"Well let's see, tall, dirty blonde, gray eyes, cocky attitude?" - he asked with a secretive smirk under his nose.

"Sounds about right. Is he here?" - I asked.

"He's the Gamma of this Pack, and sure he's roaming around somewhere. Should I pass the message?"

I thought about it for a second and there was so much I wanted to say or ask. Was he really who I thought in my hazy mind? Did the events of the last time I saw him happen for real, and he didn't want me?

But even though I wanted to know the answers to all of this, my Doctor wasn't the one who should be included or even treated as a messenger.

"I just wanted to thank him for saving my life."

The Doctor nodded and smiled.

"I'll pass the message." - he assured me and left the room.

I spent a few hours falling in and out of sleep, being woken up by medical staff coming to check up on me. But the weirdest thing was how calm I felt here.

I never heard before about Harvest Moon Pack, but then again Rod rarely told us anything at all. I had no idea how far away from my home I am, and if they are close friends with my brother. It's probably a smart move to say as little about myself as I can, especially since Rod most likely called on the search party.

If only I had a way to know what's going on at home. If my brother took his anger out on Fifi, and if she's safe. I would hate it if my need for freedom would turn into her mating with this creep Alpha Robert. She's too young and innocent and I know that a man like that would dim all the light in her.

But if I succeed and I manage to build myself a life somewhere where no one beside me is in charge of my own fate, maybe then I could go back for her.

Having as much time to myself as I did now, I started thinking about my older sister. They both faced the same fate I was supposed to. Just one day Rod announced that they would serve the prosperity of our Pack by sealing alliances by mating.

Summer was sent away first. She was supposed to become a future Luna of Woods Menace Pack. That day two years ago was the last time I saw her. She hadn't called, came to visit or reached out in any other way. It was as if she just disappeared and I had to ask myself many times if our childhood really happened.

Grace was sent a year after her. She was supposed to join the Beta family of another Pack collaborating with my brother. The scenario was mostly the same. She just about vanished and not even a week later I noticed that Mother took all of her pictures off the walls making her another ghost in my book.

But the most sad and disturbing thing about it was that neither Rod nor our Mother seems to care about their wellbeing. I don't remember even a single conversation about them, or even a suggestion to go see them. It felt like they served their purpose and as soon as they did Rod and Mother could cross them out of the family tree.

At least my stunt makes it hard for me to be forgotten. However I have yet to decide if it's a good or a bad thing. I guess only time will tell.

It was lunchtime when I was brought the best tomato soup I ever had and a club sandwich. Once again, nothing I experienced in this place reminded me of the sad, gray hospital we had back home.

I was enjoying the meal worthy of the finest diner, when after three powerful knocks the door to my room opened. In the doorway stopped a bigger version of the man I saw in my fogged memories. He was much bulkier and a tad taller than I remembered. And I wasn't sure if he had that profound stubble before.

He was accompanied by an even taller and equally muscular man with brown hair, shaven at the sides and deep blue eyes that could make you believe everything he said.

There must be something in the water here, because everyone I met here looks more appealing than any man I saw before.

The duo entered cautiously, and even though I could feel they were wary of me, they tried to not intimidate me, for which I was grateful.

"Hi there, I'm Ivan Burgov, Alpha of this Pack, and this one right here is my Beta Grisha." - the blonde one said pointing at his friend.

If that was Alpha and Beta of this Pack, my brother and that snake Gage had nothing on them. Rod can be a clever man, but the aura those two had was almost too much in a tight space of my room making it hard to breathe.

"We understand that you're going through recovery, but Norvin told us you're stable and should be strong enough to answer some of our questions. Do you mind if we sit down?"

That must've been some parallel universe. Why is this Alpha asking me to sit in his own damn hospital? Rod would storm in here demanding answers. So what are those guys playing at?

I slowly nodded and waited for them to sit down on each side of my bed.

"So, may we ask what's your name and how did you end up in that shack in a state my brother found you in?"

Huh, so the Gamma was his brother. Interesting.

"My name is Au-Aubrey." - I said, almost slipping my real name. - "I don't remember exactly what happened, but I knew I fell from the steep and then I crawled to the abandoned cottage I found."

Alpha and Beta shared the look that lit a red light in my head. Did they already know I was lying?

"Okay. I can believe the fall, your wounds could match something like that, which still is impressive you survived." - the Beta nodded agreeing with his leader. - "But how would you explain the backpack with knife, matches and first aid kit in it, and a pile of hair, I assume you cut yourself?"

Shit! They know!

My heart started beating fast in my chest, and I felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. My head started throbbing, but the only thing I could think about was to get the hell out of here, before they expose my whereabouts to Rod and I would be forced into the square one.

"Easy, Aubrey. You're safe here, and we're not going to hurt you. All we want is some answers." - Alpha said calmingly leaning closer in his seat. - "Tell me, are you on the run? Is someone after you? I need to know if there's a potential threat coming to my Pack."

I took a few deep breaths to compose myself. He was right, and of course he had the right to know, but how can I tell him the whole truth? He would probably send me to Rod before the sun sets.

"You're right. I ran away. My family wanted to force me into something I just couldn't accept. So I jumped. I'm sorry I lied." - I mumbled looking down at my hands. Shame, that's what I felt. They were nice and treated me with nothing but respect, yet I repaid them by lying into their faces.

They stayed silent for a moment and in my peripheral vision I could tell they were sharing another look, and probably mindlinking. But I waited. Silently and patiently waited for them to deliver my sentence.

"It must've been quite a thing that made you risk your life." - Alpha finally said, and I looked up at him and nodded. - "Look, I'm gonna be straight with you. Like I said before, you're safe here, and we'd do everything in our power to patch you up, but you can't stay here. I have too much on my plate to invite more problems, so if you can't or won't tell me who's after you, I simply can't risk it. I've got over six hundred wolves to look after and my loyalty lies with them first." - I nodded again, because that was fair. s**t, that was even more than I expected. Any other Alpha I got to know over the years would most likely force me into telling the truth, but he's not like that. And that's something to admire.

" But…" - he started again, and I raised my hopeful eyes at him. - "I know a place. It's my sister's Pack, she's Luna there, and their doors are open for anyone who doesn't pose a threat. My brother-in-law is a strong believer of giving second chances. So if you want a place to start over, I think that might be something for you."

That sounded awesome. A place I could start over. Like a dream.

Of course, I was hoping to see the man who saved my life once again, but if memory serves me right, he wasn't too keen on pursuing our bond. I'm not even sure if what I felt was real, so maybe that's for the best.

"However, I must warn you, Sasha and Benson have a procedure of accepting new members. After accepting you into their home, Ben would use his Alpha command to answer a set of simple questions. It's nothing personal, just a standard procedure to check if you aren't a spy." - my eyes grew wide at that thought, but Alpha sighed and waved his hand as if he was expecting that reaction. - "I know, I know, but trust me, they have good reasons to do so. But if you pass, they will help you to start over."

I watched him in disbelief, wondering where's the catch. Let's face it, I'm a complete stranger, with some very questioning background and I was already caught on lying. So what are they playing at?

"Why would you help me?" - I asked, watching him closely.

A lopsided and somehow sad smile crept on his handsome face, and he tilted his head to the side.

"Once upon a time me and my siblings needed a place to start over. I understand that not every fugitive is a bad person. Sometimes you're just a victim of circumstances. I wish I could offer you a place here, but I demand absolute honesty from my men, which Benson does not, and that's something I'm not willing to change for anyone."

They sounded like quite a family. Maybe it's my lucky day that I literally fell into their lands.

"Thank you. I would love to take you up on that offer."