Elara's feet hit the forest floor with silent steps. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she clutched her small bag tighter. The moon cast eerie shadows through the trees, making every branch look like reaching claws.
She had to keep moving. Had to get far away before anyone noticed she was gone.
The path twisted downward, away from the coastal refuge. Away from safety. Away from Lysander's broken howl that still echoed in her ears.
I love you.
His words burned in her chest. Part of her wanted to turn around. To run back to his arms. To believe that someone could actually love her.
But Kael's betrayal cut too deep. She couldn't trust her heart anymore.
Her hand pressed against her growing belly. "It's just you and me now, little one," she whispered. "I won't let anyone hurt us again."
A branch snapped behind her.
Elara froze. Her blood turned to ice.
Footsteps. Slow and careful. Following her trail.
She spun around, scanning the darkness. Nothing moved. But she could feel eyes watching her. Hungry eyes.
"Lysander?" she called softly. "Is that you?"
Silence.
Another snap. Closer this time.
Elara's omega instincts screamed danger. She broke into a run, crashing through bushes and leaping over fallen logs. Her bag bounced against her back as branches scratched her arms.
Behind her, the footsteps picked up speed. Not trying to hide anymore.
She reached a clearing and risked a glance back. Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. Too bright to be human. Too predatory to be friendly.
A rogue wolf.
Terror shot through her veins. Rogues were dangerous. Violent. They attacked first and asked questions never.
She ran faster, her lungs burning. The baby made her clumsy, throwing off her balance. She stumbled over a root and nearly fell.
A growl rumbled from the trees. Low and threatening.
More yellow eyes appeared. Three. Four. A whole pack of rogues circling her like vultures.
Elara's legs shook. She backed toward a large oak tree, trying to keep them all in sight.
"Please," she whispered. "I'm just passing through. I don't want trouble."
The largest rogue stepped into the moonlight. A massive black wolf with scars across his muzzle. His lips pulled back, showing razor-sharp teeth.
He shifted into human form. Tall and lean with wild hair and cruel eyes. His clothes were torn and dirty.
"Well, well," he said, his voice like gravel. "What do we have here? A little omega all alone in the big bad woods."
"I'm nobody," Elara said, her voice barely steady. "Just let me pass."
"Nobody?" He laughed. "You smell like fear and desperation. My favorite combination."
The other rogues shifted too. Three men and one woman, all looking like they hadn't seen civilization in years.
"We heard rumors," the woman said, circling Elara like a shark. "About an omega who ran from the Blackwood Pack. An omega carrying the Alpha's child."
Elara's heart stopped. "You're wrong. I'm not—"
"Don't lie to us, sweetheart." The leader stepped closer. "We can smell Alpha blood on you. Fresh and strong. That little pup you're carrying is worth a fortune."
"What do you want?" Elara's voice cracked.
"Simple. The Blackwood Alpha put out a bounty. Fifty thousand dollars for his missing omega. Dead or alive."
The words hit like a physical blow. Kael was hunting her. Even after marrying Isolde, he wanted her back. Not out of love. Out of ownership.
"He doesn't want me," she said desperately. "He married someone else. He called me a broken toy."
"Maybe," the leader shrugged. "But that baby belongs to him. And powerful Alphas don't like losing their property."
"I'm not property!"
"You are now." He smiled coldly. "The question is whether we bring you back in one piece or several."
Elara's mind raced. She was outnumbered. Pregnant. Weak from running. But she couldn't give up. Not when her baby's life depended on it.
"I'll pay you more," she said quickly. "Double what he's offering."
"With what? You don't have two coins to rub together."
"I have information. About the pack. About their weaknesses."
The woman laughed. "Nice try. But we're not interested in pack politics."
"Then what do you want?"
"To get rich quick." The leader's eyes gleamed. "And you're our golden ticket."
He lunged forward. Elara dodged, but another rogue caught her arm. She screamed and twisted free, running deeper into the forest.
"Get her!" the leader roared. "Don't let her escape!"
Elara ran like her life depended on it. Because it did.
Behind her, paws thundered against the ground. The rogues had shifted back to wolf form, and they were gaining fast.
She reached a steep hill and scrambled up, using tree roots as handholds. Rocks cut her palms. Her dress tore on thorns. But she kept climbing.
A wolf snapped at her heels. She kicked back, catching him in the snout. He yelped and fell backward.
At the top of the hill, she found herself on a narrow ledge. Below, a river rushed through jagged rocks. The drop was at least thirty feet.
The rogues surrounded her again, panting and snarling.
"End of the line, omega," the leader said, back in human form. "Come quietly and we won't hurt the baby."
"You're lying."
"Maybe. But if you jump, you'll definitely kill it."
Elara looked down at the churning water. He was right. The fall would break her neck. Or worse.
But staying meant becoming Kael's prisoner again. It meant raising her child in a world where she was nothing but a possession.
"I won't go back," she said firmly. "I won't let him own me."
"Then you're stupider than you look."
"Maybe. But I'm not weak."
She closed her eyes and thought of Lysander. Of his gentle touch and broken voice. Of the love she'd been too afraid to accept.
I'm sorry, she thought. I should have stayed. I should have trusted you.
The rogues crept closer, ready to pounce.
Elara took a deep breath and stepped backward.
Into empty air.
The world spun around her. Wind roared in her ears. The river rushed up to meet her.
This was it. This was how her story ended.
But just before she hit the water, something impossible happened.
Strong arms caught her. Lifted her. Carried her away from the rocks.
She opened her eyes and gasped.
Silver eyes stared back at her. Familiar and fierce and blazing with protective fury.
"Lysander?" she whispered.
"I've got you," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I've got you both."
He landed gracefully on the riverbank, holding her like she weighed nothing. Behind him, more wolves emerged from the forest. Pack wolves with intelligent eyes and coordinated movements.
The rogues on the ledge howled in frustration. They were outnumbered now. Outmatched.
"This isn't over!" the leader snarled. "The bounty still stands!"
"Let them come," Lysander said quietly. But his voice carried deadly promise. "I'll be waiting."
The rogues melted back into the darkness, knowing they'd lost this round.
Elara sagged against Lysander's chest, her whole body shaking. "How did you find me?"
"I followed your scent. And your fear." His arms tightened around her. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
"I had to run. I couldn't—"
"We'll talk later. Right now, we need to get you somewhere safe."
He carried her through the forest, his pack flanking them like silent guardians. Elara felt protected for the first time in weeks.
But as they reached the edge of the trees, she saw something that made her blood freeze.
Lights in the distance. Moving fast. Coming their way.
"Lysander," she whispered. "Those aren't your people."
He followed her gaze and cursed under his breath.
Black SUVs roared down the mountain road. At least six of them. More than enough to hold an army.
"Kael," Lysander growled. "He's here."
The vehicles were getting closer. In minutes, they'd be surrounded.
"What do we do?" Elara asked.
Lysander's jaw tightened. His silver eyes hardened to steel.
"We run."
But as he turned to flee, the lead SUV's headlights blazed to life. Blinding white light flooded the forest.
A voice boomed through a megaphone. Cold and commanding and achingly familiar.
"Elara!" Kael's voice echoed through the trees. "I know you're out there. There's nowhere left to run."