_Mira’s POV_ After finishing breakfast, I decided to explore the mansion. I wanted to get a feel for my new surroundings and maybe meet some of the pack members. Aaron’s kindness had warmed my heart, and I thought I might feel more welcome here. The mansion was lively, with people bustling around. They were working together. Some were cleaning, others organizing supplies, and it felt like a tightly-knit community. I made my way towards a group of pack members dusting shelves in the hallway. Smiling, I approached them, hoping to strike up a conversation. “Hi, do you need help with anything?” I asked, keeping my voice friendly. They barely glanced at me, quickly going back to their work as if I hadn’t spoken at all. My smile faltered. I tried asking another question, but they continued to ignore me, their expressions blank and closed off. Feeling a bit awkward, I walked away, trying not to let it bother me. Maybe they were just busy. As I passed the kitchen, I saw a few more pack members cooking and cleaning up. Hoping to be helpful, I stepped inside. “Good morning!” I greeted them, giving a small wave. “I’m Mira, Aaron asked me to stay here for a while. Is there anything I can do to help?” An older woman stopped what she was doing and looked at me, her eyes cold. “We don’t need any help,” she said briskly. “Please let us work in peace and stop asking questions.” The bluntness of her words stung. I nodded, trying to hide my hurt. “Oh, alright… I didn’t mean to bother you.” She turned away without another word, and I backed out of the kitchen, feeling embarrassed and a little hurt. I didn’t understand. Why were they treating me like this? Was it because I was an outsider? I continued down the hallway, trying to shake off the sting of their rejection. As I passed a group of young girls, I heard one of them whispering. “Look, there she is,” one girl muttered, not bothering to lower her voice. “I thought she would be pretty at least. What does the Alpha see in her?” I felt my cheeks burn with shame. Their words cut deep, but I forced myself to keep walking, pretending I hadn’t heard. Why would they say such things? Did they think I was here to take advantage of Aaron’s kindness? Trying to distract myself, I wandered toward a section of the mansion where portraits hung on the walls. Most were of people who looked powerful and proud, likely former Alphas and Lunas of the Blue Moon pack. The paintings were detailed and grand, showing the strength and dignity of each leader. One portrait, in particular, caught my eye. It was of a young couple—a woman with brown hair and bright blue eyes, and a man with dark hair and intense green eyes. They looked vibrant and full of life, smiling warmly at each other. A strange feeling settled over me as I looked at them. Something about them felt familiar, like I had seen them before, but I couldn’t remember where. I shook my head, brushing off the thought. Maybe it was just the portrait’s warmth that reminded me of something. I turned to leave when Jason appeared at the end of the hallway. He noticed me and smiled, nodding in greeting. “Mira, there you are. The Alpha wanted to have lunch with you. Are you free?” I nodded, feeling a flicker of relief to see a friendly face. “Yes, I’m free. Lead the way.” He guided me to the dining hall, where Aaron was waiting at the head of the table. His face brightened when he saw me, and he gestured for me to sit across from him. “I hope your morning went well?” he asked, his gaze warm as he looked at me. I hesitated, not wanting to complain. “It was… fine,” I replied, forcing a smile. Aaron frowned slightly, picking up on my tone. “Is something wrong?” I looked down, feeling foolish. “It’s nothing, really. Just… some of the pack members seemed a little distant.” Aaron’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry, Mira. They can be… wary of newcomers. But give it time. They’ll come around.” I nodded, not entirely convinced but grateful for his reassurance. “Thank you. I guess I just need to be patient.” He offered me a gentle smile. “And if anyone treats you poorly, let me know. You’re a guest here, and I want you to feel safe and welcome.” The kindness in his voice warmed me again, and I relaxed a bit. “Thank you, Aaron. You have done so much for me already.” “Let’s focus on lunch for now,” he said, gesturing to the spread before us. “What would you like?” I scanned the options, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the variety again. “Maybe just a sandwich… if that’s alright?” Aaron chuckled, seeming amused by my simple choice. He filled a plate for me, adding a bit of salad and a glass of juice. We ate in comfortable silence for a while until he set down his fork and looked at me thoughtfully. “I was curious,” he began, his tone gentle. “What kind of work would you like to do here, if you decided to stay?” The question caught me off guard, and I took a moment to think. “I’m not sure,” I admitted. “Back home, I mostly helped around the pack grounds. Cleaning, organizing supplies, things like that.” Aaron nodded. “You don’t need to worry about it right away. Take some time to settle in. When you’re ready, I’ll help you find something that suits you.” I gave him a grateful smile, touched by his patience. “Thank you, really. It means a lot to me.” His gaze softened, and he reached across the table, placing his hand over mine. “You’re not alone, Mira. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you have it.” He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go. “Now, make sure you eat well. The doctor warned you might feel weak for a while.” I nodded, taking another bite of my food, and Aaron excused himself, saying he had some duties to attend to but would check on me later. After he left, I finished my meal slowly, feeling more at ease than I had in days. I wandered through the mansion a bit more, avoiding the areas where I knew the pack members were working, not wanting to bother them. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider here, and the hurtful words I had overheard echoed in my mind. But I reminded myself of Aaron’s kindness, of his reassurance that I was safe and welcome here. He believed in me, and maybe, just maybe, I could believe in this new life too.