Georgia's POV
I slowly opened my eyes, my mind foggy as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.
The room was a blur of white, with a hint of disinfectant lingering in the air.
A soft beeping sound from a nearby machine filled the silence, and a persistent ache throbbed in my chest.
"Thank God you're awake!" Zoe exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. "Can you hear me, Georgia?"
I turned my head, and Zoe's anxious face came into focus. Her eyes were puffy, and her complexion looked drained, as if she hadn't slept in weeks.
"Zoe?" My voice came out raspy and weak. "What... What happened? Am I still alive? I thought I was dead!"
Tears brimmed in Zoe's eyes. "You've been in a coma for three months, Georgia. I thought I'd lost you!"
As I scanned the room, my gaze fell on the IV pole next to my bed, the clear tube running into my arm.
Memories of Benjamin's betrayal flooded back, and I felt a wave of anger wash over me.
"What about Benjamin?" I demanded, my voice shaking with rage. "Please tell me that monster isn't still out there after everything he did!"
Zoe's expression turned somber. "Sadly, he is. He married Julia, his mistress, and the child survived; he only fainted that day."
My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with thoughts of revenge.
But before I could respond, the door swung open, and Theophilus Rylan, the ruthless Lycan king of the Nightshade pack, strode into the room.
His intense gaze met mine, sending a chill racing down my spine. "Georgia," he said, his voice deep and authoritative. "I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Zoe immediately lowered her head in respect, which left me bewildered. "Zoe, why are you bowing to him? Why are you showing respect to the enemy?" I demanded, my anger bubbling over.
Zoe's eyes flicked nervously between Theophilus and me before she spoke. "Alpha Theophilus saved your life, Georgia. Benjamin was going to... he was going to burn your body because we all thought you were gone, but— while I was pleading, Alpha Theophilus showed up."
I turned my gaze back to Theophilus Rylan, fury igniting within me.
This man, this monster, was responsible for my parents' deaths. I would never forgive him.
"Listen, you monster!" I shouted, my voice quaking with rage. "I don't care if you saved my life; I want you to leave! Just leave me alone!"
Theophilus Rylan remained calm, yet a spark of mischief danced in his eyes. "You can't chase me away, Georgia. This is my pack, and you are my mate."
I squinted, bewildered. "Mate? What are you saying?"
A voice echoed in my mind, my wolf's voice, bubbling with excitement. "We have our second chance mate! We have our second chance mate! Theophilus is our mate!"
I shook my head, attempting to dispel the confusion. "No, this can't be true. You're a killer. You took my parents' lives. I can't be bonded to you!" I shouted in fury, ripping the IV from my wound, blood seeping from the injury.
Theophilus Rylan's expression hardened. "I am not a killer, Georgia. Your parents broke the law, and they faced the consequences."
I let out a harsh laugh, tinged with bitterness. "You think I'll buy that? You're just trying to rationalize what you did."
Theophilus Rylan's gaze bore into mine, fierce and unwavering. "You don't know the whole story, Georgia. Until you do, reserve your judgment."
I shot him a furious look, my heart racing with rage. "The truth doesn't matter to me. What matters is this: you are not my mate, and I reject—"
But his next words froze me in place. "You bear my mark, Georgia! I'm stronger than you, a Lycan, and as you know, wolves cannot reject Lycans without facing death!"
"No! I hate you! You can't be my mate! This is all wrong! You had no right to mark me without my consent!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.
Theophilus Rylan's expression turned calm, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Just give me one year, Georgia. Be with me for a year, and let me show you that I'm not the person you think I am. If you still don't love me after that, you can reject me then."
I glared at him, my heart seething with anger.
"Let me reject you right now!" I spat, my voice venomous. "Why would I ever fall for you after a year?"
Theophilus Rylan's gaze never wavered. "Because I want to help you get revenge. You don't deserve what Benjamin did to you."
My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with skepticism. "What do you know about Benjamin?"
Theophilus Rylan's voice dropped to a whisper. "I was there in the hospital that day, Georgia—"
"What— are you saying?" I stammered, my breath catching in my throat.
Theophilus Rylan's words sent a shiver down my spine.
"I was in the hospital on the day of your IVF insemination. I had a checkup and overheard Benjamin talking to the doctor."
My heart skipped a beat. "What did you hear?"
Theophilus Rylan's eyes locked onto mine. "To you, Julia is just Benjamin's mistress, but she was also your surrogate."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "W—What do you mean?"
Theophilus Rylan's voice was barely above a whisper. "The child that Julia says is hers—is yours."
