"Where is she?" they ask.They want to know about Rachel. About where she's gone. They don't know her name, but I know that's who they mean.The truth is, I don't know where she is. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell them. I would never betray her-- my true mate.I refuse to answer their questions."Tell us!" they say. "You reek of her!"They know I am her mate. I can see it on their faces. So they should not be surprised by my refusal."If you do not tell us, we will kill you," they insist. And I believe them.They're looking at me like prey.They're going to feast on my flesh and tear me apart.I will do everything I can not to let them. To get home safe to her. But how can I fight the whole pack?There's dozens of them, and I am tied up.They surround me.There's no way for me to escape.I can feel my heart pumping; there's fear in my veins.I don't want to die, but I will--happily-- if it means Rachel gets to live."Where is she?" The Alpha asks again. "Where is the
I see our Alpha walking towards me and I know it can't be good."Rachel," he says. "I need to talk to you."My heart falls. Those are the words I've dreaded the most.I can't stand the sight of Lance, our Alpha. He knows this. And I think he enjoys it.But I've heard he's looking for a mate, and I've prayed every night he doesn't turn to me.That would be a nightmare.Everyone knows how cruel he is."Rachel," he says, "the time has come for me to choose a mate."Oh no, I think. Please, no. Don't choose me."I've decided," he says, "to choose a member of my pack."Yes, thank god, I think. He's not going to pick me."And," he continues, "I have decided I want you."I feel the world shake beneath me. I feel my vision swim. I feel my lips tremble."No," I say, my voice a whisper."You will not refuse me," he says. "You will do as I say.""No," I say, louder this time. "You can't make me.""You will do as I say," he says, his voice rising."No!" I scream. "I won't be your m
"Sheila!" I call out. "Stop right there."Sheila turns and glares at me, smirking."Well, well," she says slowly, "look at who we have here. If it isn't the Alpha's new mate."She smiles, and in this moment, I hate her more than I have ever hated anyone."But, look at the bright side," she says. "At least you'll get to spend your last few days with him.""My last few days"? I ask, confused. "What is that supposed to mean?""You'll see," she says, and I am filled with the overwhelming desire to knock that smirk right off her face.I narrow my eyes."You were behind this whole thing, weren't you?" I ask. "You arranged all of this just so that you could steal Ben.""That was part of it.""You're pathetic," I say. "He doesn't love you. He's never going to love you.""Maybe," she says, undaunted. "We'll see.""Why?" I ask. "Why are you doing this?""Easy," she says. "I'm doing it because you stole him from me.""I didn't steal him," I say. "I love him.""That doesn't really m
In reality, it's only been an hour or so since I left Ben, but it feels like a lifetime.I want nothing more than to lay down and sleep, to let the grief wash over me. But I know I can't. I know I'm not safe.The pack will be coming for me, if they're not already. Once Sheila tells them her lies, they won't stop. In their eyes, I am a traitor now. I have betrayed them, and that betrayal must be avenged. I need a plan if I'm going to have any hope of getting out of this alive. I need help.I have heard of a Rogue named Parker. He left the pack years ago and never came back. He knows how to escape. How to survive on his own.If I can find him, maybe I can survive, too.Unfortunately, it is not going to be easy to find Parker. He is a wolf. He doesn't live in the city. He lives on the outskirts. He has no phone, doesn't go to the store. He probably knows nothing of the outside world. But, he's the only one who can help me.I start my search near the border. I hope that he's nearby
I jump, startled, ready to fight.And then, I hear Parker's voice. "It's alright," he says. I stare at him, stunned."They're gone," he says. "For now."He shifts from a wolf back into a man. I stare at him, tears running down my cheeks."I thought you were dead," I say.He laughs. "It would take far more than that to take me out."He turns to me. "But this isn't the end of it. They'll send more. We're not safe here. Not now. We have to go."He walks inside and begins gathering supplies. He quickly gathers as much food as he can and throws it in a bag. Then he grabs his bow and arrows, pours some oil over a pile of wood, and sets it alight."We'll burn the place," he says. "They won't be able to track us if we destroy all of our scent."I nod, impressed."We'll have to run," he says. "But we aren't going to stick to the woods. We're going to run on the ground. Hopefully, that will throw them off our trail.""Alright," I say.He smiles. I can tell he's trying to be comfort
Parker’s POVShe is in trouble. I know that. I want to save her. I know that, too."Parker," she screams as the wolves advance around her. "Parker, please! Help me!"I want to help. I need to. But I don't know how.The wolves are too strong. They are too many.What do I tell her to do? She is standing. She wants to run, but I know that will only make things worse.I need to save her. I need a plan.And just then, it hits me. I know exactly what to do.I look to the skies, and I begin to chant."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I say, over and over.The wolves all stop. They gather all around us. They look to the skies, confused."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I continue to chant.They begin to chant with me. This is not what they want to be doing. But they are unable to stop themselves."Knotty, knotty, knotty," they repeat in unison.I look over to her. She is silent. She is confused. She is scared."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I continue to chant.
My heart races as the wolves get closer. I need to escape, but they have me surrounded. There is no way out.I scan the woods for Parker, but he is nowhere to be found. "Parker," I yell. "Parker, help!"I call out his name, but I know he can't hear me. There is too much howling. My voice can't get to him now.And he can't get to me.There is nowhere to run.I look at the wolves. They are baring their teeth and growling. With every pounding beat of my heart, they are getting closer.And then, suddenly, they stop.They do not move towards me. They do not move away. They are frozen.And that is when I feel a hand on my shoulder."Run" a voice behind me says.I turn to find Parker standing beside me. He came back for me."You came back," I say, tears of gratitude filling my eyes."Run," he says again, but my feet are frozen. I know he cannot hold them off for long. I know I need to leave. But I can't."Run!" he commands. And I want to. But I know what will happen to him if
Lance POVMy blood boils, and I am filled with rage. "Who does this Rachel think she is?!" I yell to Thom, our beta."I am the alpha. Me. Lance. I say no to people. They do not say no to me.""I know," Thom agrees."I should have killed her just for leaving. I should have killed her the moment her response to my proposal was to profess her love for another.""You couldn't have known--"And now, she's run off with that rogue," I continue. "And that-- that's worthy of a fate worse than death."I growl under my breath. Parker.Of course. "How could I have been so blind?!" I yell, angerly swiping a glass off a nearby table."I should have seen this coming. It was Parker that helped her escape my grasp. It was Parker, that told her to run.""Lance," he says. "It's okay. You are the alpha. You have your choice of mates. Rachel--she never deserved you anyway."I know he's right, but I cannot help feeling angry anyway. Angry at Parker. Angry at myself for allowing it to happ