Elara sat on the cabin floor, her back against the wall, the door's slam still ringing in her ears. Kael's angry shout—"I'm telling the pack"—echoed louder than the howls growing outside.
Tears streaked her face, dripping onto her hands as she hugged her knees. Her stomach felt tight, the baby inside a secret she couldn't hide anymore. She didn't know what to do. The man she loved thought she'd betrayed him with a vampire—someone she couldn't even remember—and now the pack was coming for her.The howls got closer, sharp and wild, cutting through the quiet night. Her heart thumped so hard it hurt her chest. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked around. The table held their half-eaten dinner—roast chicken and potatoes—now cold. The candles flickered low, casting shaky shadows. The rocking chair by the fireplace creaked, as if Kael's anger had left it moving. This was her home, built with him, but it didn't feel safe anymore.She had to leave.
The pack wouldn't care about her tears or her story. They'd smell what Kael did—that strange, cold scent—and turn on her. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her old blue coat from the hook by the door. Her hands shook as she pulled it on, then snatched her keys from the counter. She grabbed a bag, stuffing in a few things—her journal, a picture of her and Kael by the lake, a scarf her mom had knitted years ago. There wasn't time for more.Outside, the night air hit her like ice, biting at her skin. The forest loomed dark and thick, the trees swaying in the wind. She ran to her truck, fumbling with the keys. They slipped from her fingers, falling into the dirt. "No, no," she muttered, dropping to her knees to grab them. Her hands were clumsy, but she got them and jammed them into the lock. The engine sputtered to life just as a shadow moved in the trees.It was Kael, his black wolf form breaking through the branches. His golden eyes glowed, teeth bared, a low growl rumbling from his chest. Behind him, more wolves came—gray, brown, some with white patches—their eyes locked on her. The pack. Her breath caught as she slammed the truck door and hit the gas.The truck lurched forward, tires spinning on the muddy path. She glanced in the mirror and saw Kael shift back to human, shouting something she couldn't hear over the engine. The wolves followed, fast, their paws pounding the ground. She gripped the wheel, tears blurring her vision. "Please, please," she whispered, pushing the pedal harder.The path twisted through the forest, branches scraping the truck's sides. She didn't know where she was going—just away. The howls grew louder, closer, and she risked another look. Two wolves were gaining, their eyes fierce. Her heart sank. They'd catch her if she stayed on the road.She swerved onto a narrow trail, the truck bouncing over roots and rocks. The headlights caught glimpses of trees and shadows, but she kept going.
Her mind spun. Kael's face flashed before her—his hurt, his anger. She hadn't meant to hurt him. That night had been a blur, a mistake she regretted. She'd gone to the bar in town, lonely with Kael gone on patrol. A tall guy with pale skin and strange eyes had bought her drinks. She'd been too drunk to think, waking up alone in a motel room with a headache. She'd buried it, ashamed, until her body started changing.A thud jolted her.
Something hit the truck's tailgate. She gasped, glancing back to see a wolf—brown with a white ear—clinging on. Its claws scraped the metal, and it snarled, teeth snapping. Panic surged through her. She yanked the wheel, trying to shake it off, but the truck skidded, nearly hitting a tree."Get off!" she yelled, slamming the gas. The wolf lost its grip, tumbling into the bushes, but more howls answered from ahead. They were surrounding her. Her chest tightened.
The truck's engine coughed, struggling with the rough trail. She had to get out.She spotted a small clearing and veered toward it, stopping with a jerk. Grabbing her bag, she jumped out and ran into the trees, her boots sinking into the damp earth. Branches scratched her arms, and her coat caught on thorns, but she kept going. The howls were everywhere now, closing in like a trap.Her legs burned, and her breath came in short gasps. She tripped over a root, falling hard, her hands sinking into the mud. Pain shot through her wrist, but she pushed up, listening.
The wolves were close—too close. She scrambled behind a big oak, pressing herself against the bark, trying to stay quiet.
Through the trees, she saw them. Five wolves, their fur glinting in the moonlight, moving with purpose. Kael led them, his black form standing out. He stopped, sniffing the air, his head turning toward her hiding spot. Her heart stopped. He knew she was there."Kael, please," she whispered, too low for him to hear. Tears mixed with the dirt on her face. She didn't want to lose him, but she couldn't face their anger. Not with this baby—a baby she hadn't planned, a baby that wasn't his.The wolves spread out, circling the clearing. She held her breath, clutching her bag. Then Kael shifted, his body stretching back into human form.
He stood naked in the moonlight, his chest heaving, his eyes locked on her tree. "Elara," he called, his voice rough. "Come out. We need to deal with this."She stayed silent, her body shaking. Deal with this? They'd banish her—or worse. She shifted her weight, ready to run again, when a twig snapped under her foot.Kael's head snapped toward the sound.
"There!" he barked, pointing. The wolves lunged, their growls filling the air. Elara bolted, adrenaline pushing her forward. She darted through the trees, branches whipping her face, her wrist throbbing. The pack was fast, their paws thundering behind her.She stumbled into a stream, the cold water soaking her boots. It slowed her, but it might hide her scent. She waded through, gasping as the current tugged at her legs. The howls grew distant for a moment, giving her hope.
Maybe she could escape.But then she heard a splash. She turned, heart sinking, to see Kael wading after her, his wolf form sleek and powerful. His eyes glowed, locked on her, and behind him, the pack closed in. She scrambled up the bank, her wet clothes heavy, her breath ragged.She didn't see the root. Her foot caught, and she fell, rolling down a small hill. Pain exploded in her side as she hit a rock. She lay there, dazed, the bag slipping from her grasp. The wolves' growls grew louder, and she looked up to see Kael looming over her, his teeth bared."Enough," he snarled, shifting back to human. He grabbed her arm, pulling her up rougher than he meant to. "You're coming with us.""No!" she cried, struggling against him. "Let me go!"The pack circled, their eyes cold. Kael's grip tightened, but then he froze, his head tilting. His nostrils flared, and his face went pale. "Wait," he muttered, staring past her. "What's that?"Elara followed his gaze, her breath catching. In the shadows, the same vampire from the cabin stood—tall, pale, his red eyes glowing. But he wasn't alone. A second figure emerged beside him, cloaked in black, its face hidden. The vampire smiled, stepping forward, while the cloaked figure raised a hand, and the air crackled with a strange energy.Kael growled, pushing Elara behind him. "Who are you?
What do you want?"The vampire's smile widened. "The child," he said, his voice smooth. "She's mine to claim."Before Kael could react, the cloaked figure moved, and a burst of light shot from its hand, knocking Kael back. He hit the ground hard, groaning, as the pack snarled and lunged. The vampire laughed, and the cloaked figure raised its hand again, the air humming with power.Elara screamed, stumbling back as the wolves clashed with an unseen force.
The vampire's eyes locked on her, and he stepped closer, his hand reaching out.
"Come with me," he said, "or they all die."