Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 3

KAIA’S POV The stranger hadn’t made a single sound since we moved him. Not even a groan. But his chest rose and fell, telling us he was somehow still clinging to life. When we reached the edge of the pack grounds, two medics were already there waiting. They rushed forward, took one look at him, and their eyes widened. And why wouldn’t they? His body was a mess, and there was barely any part of him untouched. Whoever did this hadn’t just wanted to kill him. They wanted to erase him completely. I stayed back for a second, watching the medics disappear through the infirmary doors. “Kaia.” I turned to find Mia standing there with a look of worry. “Go clean up,” she said. “I’ll have someone update you when he’s stable.” “Yeah, if he makes it,” I muttered under my breath as I walked off. I took a quick shower and changed, but I couldn’t sit still. My mind was a mess of spinning thoughts and what-ifs, even as I worked. By the time I was done with my shift, it was almost dawn again. I ended up pacing outside the infirmary, arms crossed and eyes locked on the door like I could will it to open with news. That’s how Gareth found me. I heard his footsteps before I saw him. It sounded like thunder rolling down the walkway. I didn’t even look up. I could already feel the storm radiating off him. “I heard you went out into the woods without informing me,” he said in a cold voice. “It wasn’t your call,” I shot back, turning to face him. “Mia gave the order.” Gareth pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, Kaia, I get you’re still upset and probably bittered over the whole rejection thing but…. We have a protocol, Kaia—” “Oh, spare me that lecture! You can shove your damn protocol, Gareth! And your rejection as well!” I snapped, stepping in close. “Do you really think the entire world revolves around you? Do you even have any idea what we found out there?” I moved aside and pointed to the infirmary window. He stepped closer, his eyes falling on the stranger inside. Pale, bloodied, and half-covered in red-stained sheets. Even torn up like that, the man looked… unreal. His face was too perfect, like a painting. His dark hair was a mess over his forehead. You’d think he was just sleeping off a wild night—not barely clinging to life. “He’s still alive?” Gareth asked coldly. “Barely,” I responded. He kept staring, taking in the blood, the wounds, and the fact that this stranger was somehow still breathing. “Do we know who he is?” I shook my head. “Nothing. No ID. No scent from any nearby pack. It’s like he was dumped there, Gareth. Like garbage.” His jaw clenched. “And you just brought him back here? Just like that?” I narrowed my eyes. “What was I supposed to do? Leave him out there to die?” “We don’t know who he is, Kaia! What if he’s dangerous? What if this is some kind of trap?” “I don’t care!” I said, raising my voice. “He was bleeding out! I’m not going to stand in a damn forest and let someone die just because we’re scared of what he might be.” “You risked all of us for one stranger.” “And I’d do it again.” His eyes were burning with anger at this point. “You’re being reckless.” “And you’re being a coward,” I shot back with equal anger. His jaw tightened, and for a second, I thought he might yell back. But before he could say another word, a new voice cut in. “Well. That didn’t take long.” We both turned to see Laura standing a few feet away, arms folded and her eyes locked on me with venom. “Didn’t think you’d be flirting with my mate in the middle of a crisis, Kaia,” she sneered. “But I guess you just can’t help yourself, can you?” I blinked. “Excuse me?” “Don’t play dumb,” she spat. “Standing out here alone with Gareth. All worked up. Looking at him like that. Do you think I’m stupid, Kaia? You think I don’t see it?” “You’ve lost your mind,” I said flatly. “This isn’t about your petty jealousy, Laura. We’re talking about someone’s life.” “Oh, I bet,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “And I’m sure he’s the only one you’re thinking about.” I could feel the heat rising in my chest again, but this time it wasn’t just anger—it was fury. Because this wasn’t about me and Gareth. Not even close. But now, with Laura tossing accusations, Gareth fuming with distrust, and a stranger bleeding out inside our infirmary… everything was starting to spiral. “Admit it, Kaia,” Laura sneered. “You’ve been circling him for months. Just waiting for a crack. And now? Look at you—right here with him the second I’m not around.” I blinked, stunned for a beat. “You’re seriously accusing me of seducing Gareth? While there’s a half-dead man lying in our infirmary?” “Don’t act like it’s beneath you,” she hissed, stepping closer. “You’ve always been bitter that he chose me. That he rejected you. It must eat you alive inside to know that I’m the one who has him, doesn’t it? That you weren’t enough.” My fists tightened. I wanted to bury Laura in the same hole she just dug up with her claws. “You think I want Gareth?” I said, laughing dryly. “Oh, sweetheart. You can keep him. You two deserve each other. I wouldn’t dare come between that.” Her nostrils flared. “You’re so desperate.” “All right, that’s enough, you two,” Gareth finally spoke, but I ignored him and stepped forward until I was nearly nose-to-nose with Laura. “If I wanted Gareth, I could’ve had him. But the problem is that I don’t. I want nothing to do with a man who can’t even tell his left from his right. He’s all yours, Laura. Enjoy the constant need to defend him.” Her slap was almost too predictable, but I caught her wrist before it landed. “Don’t,” I warned, my voice low. “You don’t want to go there with me, Laura. I swear to the Goddess I will pull your hair out and feed it to you.” For a second, all I could hear was our breathing as we glared at each other, neither of us ready to back down. I didn’t realize the infirmary door had opened until I heard the gasp. “Excuse me! The stranger…” a nurse said breathlessly, “he’s awake.” Laura yanked her arm from my grip, glaring at me like this wasn’t over, as we followed the nurse inside. And then I saw him as soon as I entered. He was sitting up—or trying to. Propped against the pillows, his body still covered in bandages, and his skin pale from blood loss. Slowly, he raised his head, and our eyes met. “Where… where am I?” he asked in a rough voice as his eyes scanned the room. “Who are you people?” “You’re safe,” I said softly, stepping closer. “You were hurt. We found you in the woods.” He nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to the bandages wrapped around his arms. “I see.” There was no panic in his reaction. Just observation. “And how long have I been here?” “Since this morning,” the nurse answered carefully. “I don’t remember anything,” he said, almost to himself. Then looked straight at me. “Not even my own name. But I’m alive, so thank you—for whatever you did.” There was something startling about the way he held himself, like he was used to being in control, even now, when his body was healing and his mind was a blank slate. Gareth’s voice cut in sharply from behind me. “Seriously? He doesn’t remember his name?” “He doesn’t remember anything,” the nurse corrected, clearly on edge. “Convenient,” Gareth muttered. “How do we know he’s not dangerous?” The stranger’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t look away. “I understand your caution,” he said evenly. “If I were you, I’d be asking the same questions. But I’m not a threat. If I were, you wouldn’t have found me bleeding out in the dirt.” Gareth narrowed his eyes. “Unless it’s a trick. Amnesia? No scent? Doesn’t that raise any alarms for you?” He paused for a moment, then spoke. “Have you seen what you’ve caused, Kaia? How could you be so reckless?!” “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, spinning toward him, irritation flaring. “Should we have left him to die just in case your ego felt neglected?” “You always get emotional when it’s a pretty face in trouble,” Laura said, arms crossed. I whipped around. “You think that’s what this is about? I risked my life dragging him out of the forest, not because he was ‘pretty,’ but because he was dying. You don’t fake injuries like his.” Laura’s smirk grew cold. “I think you’ve been using every excuse in the book to play hero and make Gareth look at you again. And now you’ve got some half-dead mystery man to dote on. Real subtle.” My blood boiled. “This has nothing to do with Gareth. That chapter closed when he picked you—and trust me, you can keep him. Every annoying, manipulative piece.” Gareth’s expression darkened, but he stayed silent, though I saw the muscle twitch in his jaw. He was angry. Good.