I woke to soft sheets and the faint scent of cedar in the air. Morning light slipped through heavy curtains, casting dim patterns across the unfamiliar room—dark oak furniture, an ornate chandelier, and faint sounds from beyond the door.
Where am I?
The thought echoed, but no answer came.
I sat up slowly, wincing at the ache spreading through my body. Bandages wrapped around my ribs and forearm. Faint bruises marked my skin. I traced the blanket’s edge, searching for a memory that wouldn’t come.
A knock broke the silence.
The door creaked open before I could answer. Damon’s golden eyes met mine first, warm and bright against the shadows. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed.
“Look who’s awake,” he teased with a grin.
Behind him, Daniel hovered in the hallway, quieter but sharp-eyed. His gaze swept over me like he was piecing together a puzzle.
“Where am I?” I asked.
Damon stepped inside, brushing off the question. “Smith estate. Our place. You crashed hard.”
“More like face-planted,” Daniel added, his tone flat. “You’re lucky we found you.”
I swallowed hard. “I... don’t remember much.”
Damon’s brows lifted. “Not even the party you gatecrashed? Not even your name?”
I hesitated. The answer sat just out of reach.
“No.”
A flicker of concern crossed Damon’s face. Daniel, less subtle, frowned openly.
“Convenient,” Daniel muttered.
Damon shot him a look. “Relax, Danny. She’s not dangerous.” He dropped into the chair beside my bed, flashing his easy smile.
“You’re safe here. We’ll figure it out.”
Safe. They kept saying that word. I wasn’t sure I believed it.
Days passed. I lost count of time. My body healed, but the void in my mind stayed.
The twins introduced themselves properly—Damon, older by three minutes, with a laid-back charm, and Daniel, who carried the weight of the pack like a constant storm.
I helped around the estate, listened to the pack’s stories. They thought I was an orphan caught in a rogue attack. Was I really am?
It was afternoon. I was in the garden, kneeling, carefully untangling vines from wild roses.
I wasn’t sure why I kept tending the forgotten flowers. Maybe the quiet helped ease the emptiness in my chest.
“Didn’t peg you for a gardener.”
I glanced up. Damon stood at the archway, his smirk softer than usual.
“Me neither,” I admitted, brushing dirt off my hands. “I guess I like fixing things that can’t fix themselves.”
His gaze lingered longer than necessary.
“You’ve been at this all week,” he said, stepping closer. “Most people give up on this part of the estate. Daniel says the garden’s cursed.”
“Cursed?”
Damon crouched, tugging a leaf free. “Everything he doesn’t understand is cursed.”
I laughed. “Or maybe he just doesn’t like thorns.”
Damon grinned, but his eyes drifted over the blooms, like he was seeing them differently. The roses, once wilted and forgotten, were starting to stand tall again.
“You didn’t have to do this,” he said quietly.
“I wanted to. Besides I didn't like that I am staying here for free.”
The air shifted. His usual teasing faded, replaced by something warmer.
“Have anyone told you?"
"Hmm?"
"That....you’re different,” Damon said.
I frowned. “Different how?”
He twirled the rose between his fingers, careful not to bruise the petals.
“Most people take what they can in this life. Pack life isn’t soft. You survive by being tough.” His eyes lifted, searching mine. “But you… you’re even saving roses no one else even sees.”
Heat crept up my neck. I focused on the dirt beneath my nails.
“It’s just a garden. You're making a big deal out of it.”
“Maybe,” Damon said, smiling faintly. “But I think it says more about you than you realize.”
For the first time since I woke up, I felt seen—not as a stranger with no past but as someone Damon wanted to know.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Damon’s knuckles brushed against mine—light, fleeting, but enough to stir something in my chest.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, smirking as he stood. “I expect fresh roses in my room by next week.”
I rolled my eyes, but the smile stayed long after he was gone because of the last thing he said.
"And oh, by the way, I expect you to be there too. It would be lovely to have two beautiful things in my room."
"Huh?"
"Flowers and you."
