Chapter 7: The Mysterious Savior

Thea’s POV

Pain greeted me before consciousness did. Every breath sent daggers through my side where the rogue’s claws had torn into me. Even the slightest movement made my body scream in protest. This was the downside of being wolfless—while others could bounce back from injuries in hours, I got to experience every excruciating second of normal human recovery.

“Mommy?” Leo’s small voice pulled me from my pain. He sat cross-legged on the bed beside me, his green eyes wide with worry. “Does it still hurt bad?”

I forced a smile, trying to hide my grimace as I shifted to face him. “I’m okay, baby. Just a little sore.”

He frowned, not buying it for a second. My boy was too perceptive for his own good sometimes. “I can take care of you today,” he announced with all the gravity a six-year-old could muster. “Like you always take care of me when I’m sick.”

My heart squeezed. Even after everything that had happened at the funeral, all the violence and chaos he’d witnessed, he was still thinking of others. Still trying to help. In moments like these, I saw hints of the great Alpha he might become one day.

“How about we take care of each other?” I suggested, carefully pushing myself up. “Starting with breakfast?”

Leo’s face lit up. “Can we make pancakes?”

“Of course.” I’d move mountains for that smile. Making pancakes with injured ribs? That was nothing.

Every step downstairs sent shooting pain through my side, but I kept my face neutral. Leo stayed close, watching my every move with worried eyes.

In the kitchen, memories of yesterday’s chaos crashed over me as I gathered ingredients. The funeral. The rogues. Sebastian…

Sebastian. The image of him launching straight to Aurora’s defense burned behind my eyes. His silver-gray wolf form placing itself between her and danger without a moment’s hesitation. While I—his supposed Luna, the mother of his child—had been left defenseless.

The doctor’s words echoed in my head: “You’re lucky. The claws missed anything vital. But without wolf healing…” He’d trailed off, his meaning clear. I’d be dealing with these injuries for weeks, maybe months.

A knock at the door jerked me from my bitter thoughts. I froze, every muscle tensing. After what happened yesterday, I wasn’t taking any chances with unexpected visitors.

“I’ll get it!” Leo started toward the door.

“No!” The word came out sharper than I intended. I softened my voice at his startled look. “Sorry, baby. Just… let me check first, okay?”

I approached the door cautiously, cursing my anxiety. When I opened the door, my breath caught. The man on my doorstep was gorgeous—tall and powerfully built, with intense black eyes that seemed to see straight through me. But it was his scent that made my knees weak—pine and winter wind and something wild. The same scent I’d caught just before passing out yesterday, when that massive black wolf had saved my life.

“Ms. Sterling,” his voice was deep. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“You’re him,” I blurted. “The wolf who…”

A slight smile curved his lips. “Kane,” he supplied. “And yes, I had the pleasure of introducing myself to those rogues yesterday. Rather rudely, I’m afraid.”

Despite everything, I found myself fighting back a smile. “Seemed appropriate under the circumstances.”

“How are your injuries?” His eyes flickered to where bandages peeked out from my shirt collar.

“I’ll live.” I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. “Would you… would you like to come in?”

He hesitated. “I don’t want to impose.”

“Please?” The word surprised us both, I think. “We were just about to make pancakes. It’s the least I can offer after you saved my life.”

Something flashed in his eyes before he nodded. “In that case, I’d be honored.”

Leo watched our interaction with unabashed curiosity as Kane followed me to the kitchen.

“You’re the one who helped my mom,” he said suddenly. It wasn’t a question.

Kane crouched down to Leo’s level, his movement fluid and graceful despite his size. “I did. Your mother was very brave yesterday.”

Leo beamed at that, and I felt my own cheeks warm. It had been a long time since anyone had called me brave.

“Why were you there?” I asked as I resumed my pancake preparations. “At the funeral, I mean.”

Kane stood up and moved to lean against the counter. “I’m with Moon Bay PD. We’ve been monitoring increased Pack tensions lately, especially after what happened to your father.” His expression darkened. “The attack on him wasn’t random.”

“You think it’s connected to yesterday’s attack?”

“I know it is.” His certainty sent chills down my spine. “We believe someone’s organizing them, targeting specific Packs.”

Before I could press him for details, Leo tugged on my sleeve. “Mom, the pancakes are burning!”

They were, in fact, smoking slightly. I quickly flipped them, grateful for the distraction. This conversation was headed into dangerous territory, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for wherever it might lead.

The rest of breakfast passed in lighter conversation. Kane proved to be surprisingly good with Leo, drawing him out with questions about school and his interests. I found myself relaxing despite my usual wariness of strangers. There was something about Kane that felt… safe. Which was ridiculous, given that I barely knew him.

“I should get going,” Kane said eventually, rising from the table. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“Thank you for saving my mom,” Leo replied solemnly, making both of us smile.

At the door, Kane hesitated. “Ms. Sterling—Thea. Would it be alright if I checked on you occasionally? Just to ensure you’re recovering well?”

I should have said no. Should have maintained the careful distances I’d built around myself. Instead, I heard myself say, “I’d like that.”

We exchanged numbers, and I watched him walk away, trying to ignore the strange flutter in my chest. It had been so long since anyone had shown genuine concern for my well-being.

I’d barely finished cleaning up from breakfast when another knock came. Assuming Kane had forgotten something, I opened the door without checking first.

Sebastian. His frame filled the doorway, those green eyes hard as emeralds.

“We need to talk,” his voice tense.

All I could see was his wolf charging to Aurora’s defense, leaving me to face death alone. All I could feel was seven years of rejection and loneliness crashing over me like a tidal wave.

“No,” I said quietly. “We don’t.”

I was done trying to win the love of someone who had already given his heart to another.