Chapter 17: Uninvited Visitor

Thea’s POV

I woke up alone in my bed, sunlight streaming through the windows. Of course, Sebastian wasn’t here. Last night must have been a drug-induced hallucination. There was no way the Sebastian I knew would have actually carried me to bed and stayed with me.

Pushing myself up, the room immediately started spinning. I slumped back against the pillows, waiting for the vertigo to pass. After a few minutes, I attempted the journey to the bathroom, gripping the walls for support. The simple act of showering left me exhausted, but at least I managed to wash away that antiseptic hospital smell.

Standing in front of the mirror, I grimaced at my reflection. Angry purple bruises decorated my face, and the bandage on my head made me look like a budget mummy costume.

My to-do list kept growing: replace my destroyed phone, figure out transportation since my car was now evidence in an attempted murder case, sort out work arrangements. The school had given me medical leave, but I needed to get back before my students fell too far behind.

By the time I made it downstairs, my head was pounding mercilessly. I needed painkillers, but first, food. The kitchen felt miles away. I shuffled through the living room, using furniture for support and cursed my wolfless healing rate for the hundredth time.

I managed to cobble together some toast and eggs, though food held all the appeal of cardboard right now. Taking my sad breakfast to the couch, I dry-swallowed my pills. Maybe I could just pass out here for the next week until moving didn’t hurt so much.

The doorbell shattered my plans for a pain-free coma. I groaned, wondering if I could pretend I wasn’t home. The bell rang again. And again. Whoever it was clearly wasn’t going away.

Cursing under my breath, I dragged myself to the door. Opening it revealed a stunning woman I’d never seen before. She had these crazy cool silvery-blue eyes—like seriously, who even has eyes that color? Her hair was this deep violet-black that made her look like she’d stepped out of an anime.

“Can I help you?” I asked, leaning heavily against the doorframe to keep from collapsing.

Without warning, she stepped forward and hugged me. I froze, completely thrown by this stranger’s embrace.

“I was worried you might be sleeping,” she said, stepping back with a bright smile.

“Um… who are you exactly?”

She smacked her forehead. “Shit, I should have led with that. Sorry!”

Her sheepish expression startled a laugh out of me despite my wariness. Some instinct told me to trust her, though I couldn’t explain why. I let her in, but couldn’t resist adding, “If you’re a killer, I swear…”

“I already like you,” she laughed, reaching out to steady me. “Need help?”

I shot her a glare. “I’m fine!”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Whatever you say.”

Once we were settled in the living room, I fixed her with an expectant look. “So. Who are you?”

“I’m Iris—though some people call me Morgan. I’m Roman’s mate.”

Ice flooded my veins at the mention of my brother. “Then we’re done here. Please leave.”

I wanted nothing to do with my so-called family. They’d be just like Roman—looking down on the worthless wolfless sister.

“Please, just hear me out,” she pleaded. Something in her voice made me pause. Maybe it was the genuine warmth she radiated, so different from the cold disdain I usually got from Pack members.

“I know Roman’s been awful to you. I love that idiot, but he’s been completely wrong in how he’s treated you. You never deserved any of it. I’ve wanted to meet you for ages, but I was afraid you’d shut me out. When I heard about the attack, I couldn’t wait any longer. I know you don’t know me or trust me, but I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance.”

I pulled my legs up onto the couch, curling against the armrest. “Does Roman know you’re here?”

“Even an alpha can’t dictate my choices.” She stuck her tongue out playfully. “But yes, he knows. The mate bond means we don’t really do secrets.”

Her love for my brother was obvious. Roman might make a decent Alpha for the Pack someday, but to me, he’d always be the brother who started treating me like dirt the moment he realized I’d never develop a wolf. He’d made it clear I was nothing but an embarrassment to the Sterling name.

I wanted to turn her away, but something stopped me. Maybe it was time to stop isolating myself like a banished Rogue.

“Fine. One chance,” I sighed. Maybe it was the medication making me soft, but I decided to risk trusting her. “But I have a condition.”

“Name it.”

“Never mention Roman or Sterling Pack to me. I want nothing to do with any of it.”

I could see her weighing the request. As Roman’s mate, she had to consider whether she could build a friendship that excluded Pack matters. In werewolf society, Pack was everything.

“Deal.” She extended her hand. “Friends?”

I hesitated before taking it. “Friends.” Silently, I prayed I wouldn’t regret this. I’d already made the biggest mistake of my life marrying Sebastian—what was one more bad decision?

We shared a smile, and she told me about her work with another Pack. She was a year older than me, with an easy confidence I envied.

“Any siblings?” I asked.

“Only child. Lost my parents in a Pack conflict when I was four.”

I sucked in a breath. “God, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay—I barely remember them. My grandmother raised me. She’s an amazing she-wolf. She’d love you.”

We kept talking, and it felt strange yet nice. I’d never had real friends before. During my years as Luna of Ashworth Pack, everyone had kept their distance from the wolfless freak. I barely knew how friendship worked.

“So anyway,” she was in the middle of a childhood story when the doorbell rang again.

Iris went to answer it, returning with a brown-haired woman carrying an overnight bag.

“Hello, Miss Sterling,” she smiled warmly.

“Who are you?”

Iris jumped in. “Apparently she’s your nurse. She was hired to take care of you.”

But I hadn’t hired any nurse. What the hell was going on? Who had sent her?