The evening sun painted the streets golden as Mia strolled out of the office, her bag slung over her shoulder. For once, she wasn't weighed down by paperwork or exhaustion. Instead, her heart felt light, almost bubbling with joy. Ryan's voice still echoed in her memory—his last words over the phone, the promise that he would soon be back.
She smiled to herself as she walked. He's coming home… finally. I'll see him again, and maybe then… maybe I'll have the courage to tell him how I feel.
The thought warmed her so much that she barely noticed the cars speeding by. She reached the crosswalk, waiting for the signal to turn green. Her phone buzzed with a message, and she glanced down quickly, lips curling into a smile. It was Ryan's name lighting up her screen.
But before she could open it—
SCREEEECH!
A black car swerved out of nowhere, tires screaming against the asphalt.
Mia gasped, frozen for a heartbeat, her eyes wide with horror. The impact came hard and fast, throwing her to the ground. The world blurred, the sky spinning, before everything went black.
Her phone clattered to the pavement, Ryan's message unread.
---
At the same time, deep in the forest on the pack's land, Ryan stood in his wolf form, his chest heaving, golden eyes blazing.
"Alpha!" one of his warriors shouted through the mind-link. "Rogues at the border!"
Ryan didn't hesitate. With a snarl, he launched himself forward, his men following. The air was thick with the scent of blood and rage. Three rogues snarled, their eyes wild, foam at their mouths.
Ryan's claws ripped through the first one's throat in seconds. Another lunged for his side, but Ryan spun, his fangs sinking into its shoulder, snapping bones with terrifying strength. The third tried to escape, but Ryan caught it, pinning it to the ground. His growl shook the trees.
"NO ONE crosses my borders!" he roared before finishing it.
The battlefield fell silent, the stench of rogue blood heavy in the air. His men gathered around, panting, awaiting his next command.
But Ryan's chest tightened suddenly. An unease gripped him—not from the rogues, but something deeper, something pulling at his soul. His wolf stirred anxiously. Mia.
---
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Rachel rushed through the doors, her husband Marcus right behind her.
"Where is she? Where's Mia?" Rachel's voice cracked as she reached the reception desk.
"She was brought in ten minutes ago," the nurse said calmly. "Car accident. She's in emergency care now. Please wait."
Rachel pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, tears stinging her eyes. Marcus put an arm around her shoulder, trying to keep her steady.
"I can't believe this… she was fine this morning," Rachel whispered.
Her hands fumbled for her phone, and with shaky fingers, she dialed Ryan's number. It rang once, twice—then he picked up, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Rachel? Why are you calling me now?"
"Ryan," Rachel's voice broke, "it's Mia. She—she was in an accident. She's in the hospital."
The world around Ryan froze. His grip on the phone tightened so hard the device nearly cracked.
"What?" His voice was low, dangerous. His men looked at him in alarm as his aura spiked, power rolling off him in waves.
"She was hit by a car," Rachel sobbed. "She's unconscious. You need to come, Ryan. Please."
For a moment, silence hung heavy on the line. Ryan's breathing grew ragged, his wolf howling inside him, a sound only he could hear.
"I'll be there," he said finally, his voice a growl edged with panic and rage. "Tell her… tell her to hold on until I come."
And without another word, he ended the call, already shifting back into his wolf form, sprinting faster than he ever had before.