Kane POV:
I found her. She was right there—so close yet still maddeningly out of reach.
"Elena," I called out, my voice low and dangerous as I tried to steady the desperation rising in my chest. Her eyes t mine, wide with defiance, but there was fear there too. I hated that look, hated that she saw as sothing to run from. When she shifted her weight to step back further into the shadows, my heart twisted painfully.
"Why can’t we be like normal, loving mates?" I asked her, my voice softer this ti, pleading. I wanted her to see—to understand. I didn’t want anyone else. Just her. Always her.
I took a step forward, trying to close the distance, but she matched , retreating another step. The gap between us never shrank.
"Elena," I growled, frustration bleeding into my tone. My wolf stirred restlessly inside , its cries for our mate echoing in my mind. Each step she took away from was like a knife to the chest. Couldn’t she see? Didn’t she realize how much I wanted her, needed her? Why did she fight so hard against this bond?
Then she froze. Her attention shifted, her body tense as a new presence entered the clearing. I followed her gaze and saw her—Ashley. She erged from the left, her expression smug, her voice sickly sweet as she called , "Master."
My stomach churned. I didn’t even spare Ashley a glance; my eyes were glued to Elena. I watched as her face hardened, her lips pressing into a tight line. She gave Ashley a quick, dismissive look before turning away from entirely.
"Elena!" I shouted, my voice laced with anger, frustration, and panic as I took another step forward. But she ignored , walking away with her head held high, as though I ant nothing to her.
The pain was unbearable. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t she see that I wanted only her? That I didn’t care about anyone else?
"Elena," I tried again, my voice cracking this ti. She didn’t even look back.
And then everything shattered, plunging into darkness.
My wolf’s voice broke through the haze, frantic and distressed.
"Mate. Mate."
The word was a constant chant in my mind, pulling out of the dream—the nightmare.
I woke up with a start, my chest heaving as my eyes flew open. Reality hit like a ton of bricks, and I found myself sprawled on the couch, my body heavy and my mind reeling.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair.
The mory of Elena escaping flooded back, and guilt washed over in waves. How could I have let myself fall asleep? How could I have been so stupid, wasting ti dreaming about her when I should be out there searching?
My wolf whimpered in my mind, a mirror of the anguish I felt.
I sat up quickly, determination flooding every inch of my body. That dream—that nightmare—was not going to beco my reality. I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers again.
"I’m coming for you, Elena," I muttered, standing up and rolling my shoulders. I wouldn’t stop. Not until I found her.
I was heading to the kitchen, planning to grab sothing quick to eat before continuing the search, when a sharp knock interrupted my thoughts. I froze mid-step, turning toward the door.
"Alpha!" one of my patrols called out from the other side.
My heart raced, and for a brief mont, I forgot all about food. Had they found sothing? Anything? Without wasting another second, I strode to the door and yanked it open.
"We might’ve found sothing," he said, his tone careful. "But we’re not sure if it’s hers."
I didn’t wait for any more details. "Lead the way," I barked, stepping out without bothering to lock the door behind .
Elena. It had to be her. There wasn’t any other option.
I followed him, adrenaline overriding my hunger as we made our way toward the edge of the forest. The further we walked, the more unease crept up my spine.
"Where exactly did you find this?" I demanded as we moved deeper into the woods.
The patrol hesitated before answering. "Near the neutral territory...right where our border ends."
My stomach twisted violently at his words.
Neutral territory.
My mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. My heart skipped a beat, then pounded faster, harder. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t.
But what if she had?
What if she’d co out of hiding and made a run for it—right past our borders? My breath hitched as a new, horrifying thought struck : *What if rogues caught her?*
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, my fists clenching at my sides as my pace quickened.
"Are you certain this is where you found it?" I demanded, already imagining the worst. My wolf growled low in my mind, his fury and worry fueling my rising panic.
The patrol nodded quickly. "Yes, Alpha. It was right on the edge, but..." He hesitated, glancing at nervously before continuing, "We didn’t pick up her scent there. There wasn’t any scent...it was just there."
My wolf howled in my head, desperate and enraged. The idea that she was out there, unprotected, vulnerable, was driving him insane. And it was doing the sa to .
"Send word to the rest of the patrols," I growled. "I want the entire neutral zone combed. Every inch. And..." My voice faltered for a mont before I regained my composure. "Send soone to check for rogue activity. I don’t care how small or insignificant it seems—report everything."
"Yes, Alpha."
As he took off to relay my orders, I stood at the edge of the forest, staring into the wolf footsteps going out of the park boarders . My wolf clawed at , restless, angry, and heartbroken all at once.
She’d escaped again.
Elena POV:
One minute, I thought my end had co—cornered and with no escape. But then I heard it: a knock, faint and muffled. My ears perked, straining to catch every sound. There were muffled voices, and then the unmistakable slam of the front door.
I waited.
And waited.
Nothing.
No footsteps. No growls. No angry Alpha charging toward .
Was he...gone? Like really gone?
At first, I thought it was a cruel trick, a twisted ga he was playing. But twenty minutes passed, and there was still no movent—no noise at all. The house felt eerily lifeless. My anxiety roared louder than my wolf’s protests as I tried to make sense of it. Could he actually have left?
Summoning all the courage I had, I dared to peek out. First, into the kitchen. Empty.
My heart hamred as I tiptoed toward the living room, my bare feet making no sound. I peeked again. Empty.
If I wasn’t trembling with leftover fear, I’d have done a full-on victory dance right there. Instead, I was shaking from the adrenaline rush of anxiety and relief.
Taking advantage of my luck, I darted back to the kitchen. I grabbed as much food as I could without making it obvious: a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a few cans of soup. Then I slipped into the pantry to grab more supplies—canned beans, dried fruits, a small bottle of water—and made my way back upstairs as fast as I could, my arms full like a squirrel hoarding for winter.
But just as I reached half the staircase, the sound of the front door opening froze mid-step.
I turned slowly, my breath caught in my throat.
And there she was. Ashley.
The fucking bimbo.
She strolled in like she owned the place, dressed in barely-there shorts and a crop top that scread desperation. A bottle of wine dangled in her hand like a prop.
"Master! Master!" her syrupy, annoying voice echoed through the house, and I had to dig my nails into my palm to keep myself from lunging down the stairs and slapping her fake, overly made-up face.
I crouched low, peeking through the stair railings as she wandered into the living room. She looked around like she was inspecting her domain, then placed the wine bottle on the coffee table and sauntered off to the kitchen.
I bit back a growl. She knows her way around here, I thought bitterly, feeling Zena pacing in my mind, her claws itching to co out. The sight of her knowing exactly where the wine glasses were kept was like a slap to my face.
Stupid, cheating bastard, I muttered to myself, my jealousy and anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
Ashley ca back into view, carrying two glasses, which she placed on the table with the precision of soone who had done it countless tis before.
And then, she did the unthinkable.
She started undressing.
Down. To. Her. Panties.
I felt my blood boil, and Zena snarled so loudly in my mind that I thought I might lose control right there.
The bimbo sprawled out on the couch in a pathetic attempt to look seductive, her half-naked body on full display.
It took every ounce of my willpower not to shift and leap down the stairs to claw her smug, fake face off. My wolf was snapping and snarling inside , desperate for a fight. She thinks she can seduce my mate? While I’m still here?!
I didn’t love Kane—hell, I didn’t even like him most of the ti—but this was too much. She couldn’t even wait until I was truly gone? No, she had to pull her desperate little tricks now.
I turned away, forcing myself to head back up the stairs. If I stayed any longer, Zena would take over, and there would be nothing left of Ashley but shredded lingerie and a faint mory.
Reaching my hiding spot, I threw the food down and sank to the floor, seething.
"That arrogant Alpha better not take the bait," I muttered darkly, pacing back and forth in the small room. "If I hear anything, Zena, I swear to the goddess, we’re going down there."
Zena growled her agreent. Her bloodlust wasn’t helping.
"Your hormones are going to be the death of us," I muttered at her, trying to calm myself down. But it was useless.
That bimbo. It was all her fault.
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