~Azaria~
I had been running for what felt like hours—two, maybe more. The ground beneath my feet had shifted from the sterile smoothness of human tile to the wild, uneven earth of the forest, and the difference felt like salvation. The soil was soft, alive, and the air—gods, the air—was rich with moss, cedar, and the faint sweetness of rain. Every breath eased the ache in my chest, every step reawakened something I thought I'd lost.
The forest welcomed me home.
The deeper I ran, the stronger I felt. The tension in my limbs melted, replaced by a quiet hum of energy that thrummed beneath my skin. My heart no longer raced from fear—it sang. My lips curved upward into a smile I hadn't felt in ages. The pulse of the earth echoed in time with my heartbeat, each stride feeding me power until I could barely contain it. I ran faster. The trees blurred around me, streaks of brown and green and gold. Wind tore through my hair and the world narrowed into the rhythm of freedom.
And I laughed—pure, unrestrained laughter. The kind I hadn't known since I was a child. For a moment, it was just me and the forest and the wild joy of being alive.
Then—movement.A flicker of shadow to my left.
"No… no, they couldn't have found me yet."
Panic surged in my chest. My pulse spiked, and before I could draw another breath, a scent hit me—warm, intoxicating, impossible to mistake. Vanilla.
I skidded to a halt so suddenly that a cloud of dust rose around me, cloaking everything in a haze. My heart slammed against my ribs. Instinct kicked in.
"Show yourself!" I shouted into the fog, voice sharp and commanding. "Now—or I'll kill you before you know which way is up!"
Silence. Then—breath.
Warm air brushed against my ear, carrying that maddening scent again, and I exhaled involuntarily, caught between threat and yearning.
"Now why," a deep, velvet voice murmured, "would my beautiful mate want to harm me?"
A shiver coursed down my spine as his fingers—warm, deliberate—traced a path down my arm. My body tensed, caught between instinct and recognition. I spun, but the dust shifted with the breeze, obscuring him again. His laughter echoed from all directions, low and teasing, and I realized he was playing with me.
My mind screamed for me to run. My heart whispered something else entirely.
When the dust finally began to settle, he stepped into view—and every thought vanished.
He was breathtaking. His skin gleamed like burnished bronze in the dappled sunlight breaking through the canopy. Short, tight coils crowned his head, and across his bare chest, inked symbols curved and twined—tribal markings that pulsed faintly with hidden power. Naked, unashamed, utterly divine.
My breath caught in my throat.
And then—the sharp bark of dogs shattered the stillness.
We both froze. The hunters.
Our eyes met, and in that fleeting heartbeat of distraction, I turned and bolted. Branches tore at my dress, leaves whipped my face.
"No!" I shouted to no one. "Why now?! Why do you torment me so?"The words spilled like a plea to the gods, to fate, to anyone who would listen. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this!"
Behind me, movement—a blur of silver and shadow. Then, a voice—deep, commanding, not spoken but heard.
Come this way. I'll keep you safe. I can mask your scent if we stay close.
I turned my head—and nearly stumbled.
A massive wolf ran beside me, its stride silent, graceful, powerful. His fur shimmered, blending seamlessly with the forest, a living mirage. If not for the brush of wind at my side and that same maddening vanilla scent, I might have believed I was running alone.
A smile tugged at my lips despite everything. My mate.A werewolf.And a dangerously beautiful one.
The thought made my chest tighten, though not entirely with fear. He probably had an entire pack of women waiting for him—strong, graceful, eager. The idea soured my mood instantly.
He huffed, as if amused, and his voice slid into my mind again, rich with laughter.
Oh, my mate is a jealous one. I'll have to prove I've eyes for only her—once this little run is over.
I shot him a glare. "Jealous?" I muttered under my breath. "You're insufferable."
He only snorted—a sound suspiciously like laughter. Heat crept up my neck. I kept my gaze straight ahead, refusing to let him see the blush that burned across my cheeks.
This was madness.I had seen plenty of handsome men before—warriors, even—but none who tangled my thoughts like this. None who felt inevitable. Was this what the mate bond did? The loss of logic, the rush of instinct, the tug of souls colliding whether you wanted it or not?
I wasn't sure I liked it.We hadn't even kissed, and already my heart was betraying me.
I groaned softly and pushed the thoughts away, forcing myself to focus on the path ahead. The scent of damp leaves filled my lungs. The wolf veered suddenly east, deeper into the forest, and I followed without hesitation. If he meant me harm, he could have done it already.
Something about him—his energy, his voice—radiated sincerity. Safety.My heart believed him, even if my mind didn't yet.
The trees grew denser, the air cooler. The pull that had once guided me toward home began to twist—shifting, aligning with him instead. I could feel it, deep in my chest, the invisible tether forming between us.
The facility was long behind me now.Gone. Forgotten.And for the first time in a year, I wasn't running from something.I was running toward something.
Toward him.