Chase’s POV:
The look in her eyes burned into my mory as I walked away. Fear. Pure, unbridled fear. It wasn’t just the realization of what I was—of what we were—but also the weight of everything else between us. I’d seen that look before in others, back when I’d first started hunting rogue vampires. But seeing it in her eyes? That gutted .
I had a long way to go.
I stepped into the shadows of the alley, leaning heavily against the cold brick wall as I tried to process it all. My beloved, a wolf, with a child. A child who was no ordinary pup but an alpha. The scent alone told that much. The boy’s presence raised questions I wasn’t ready to face. Questions about his father, about their past, and about where I fit into all of this.
Or if I even could fit into this.
The Moon Goddess must have been having a cosmic laugh at my expense. A vampire mated to a wolf—fine, that was already rare and ridiculous enough. But a wolf who ca with a child, with all the baggage of her kind? That was a recipe for chaos, and the supernatural world didn’t exactly do well with chaos. I could already hear the uproar this would cause if word got out.
The weight of it all pressed against my chest like an iron vice. My mind raced through scenarios, trying to piece together how I could make this work, how I could even begin to convince Leila that I wasn’t the monster she thought I was. I hated the fear in her eyes because it ant she didn’t see . She saw the fangs, the red eyes, the creature in the shadows. Not Chase, not her mate.
I rubbed my hands over my face, letting out a low growl of frustration. For a vampire, I was supposed to have infinite patience, but the bond made it impossible. It tugged at , demanding I fix things, make her see reason. But I couldn’t just force my way in. She had her walls, and for good reason. The scars of her past were etched into every defensive glance, every hesitant word.
And the child—Ash.
I had no idea how to handle that part. I’d already been knocked off balance when I discovered she was a wolf, but adding an alpha pup to the mix? That was an entirely different ga. It didn’t escape that this ant she’d likely been with another alpha, which explained her hesitation, her fear, and her anger.
Jealousy clawed at , sharp and unwelco. I didn’t want to think about her with soone else, especially not soone who had left her to raise their child alone. But I shoved it aside. This wasn’t about . This was about her and what she needed—and whether or not I could be the one to give it to her.
But for now, she needed space. Space to think, to rein in the storm of emotions and instincts that ca with the bond. I knew speaking to her right now wouldn’t help. She needed ti, and so did I.
---
Hours passed, but the city didn’t sleep. I found myself wandering, keeping to the shadows as I always did, watching the ebb and flow of human life. Their simplicity was sothing I’d always envied. No mate bonds, no ancient feuds, no supernatural politics. Just work, eat, sleep, repeat. I couldn’t help but wonder if Leila would have preferred that life. If she would’ve been happier without .
The thought stung, but I didn’t let it linger. The bond wouldn’t let .
By the ti I returned to my apartnt, the sky had begun to lighten, soft shades of dawn creeping over the horizon. I stood by the window, watching the city stir to life, my thoughts still a tangled ss.
I knew one thing for sure: this wasn’t going to be easy. Winning her trust, proving that I wasn’t a threat to her or Ash—it would take ti. But for her, for us, I’d do whatever it took.
I’d barely slept, my mind circling around Leila and Ash like a hawk unable to land. When I finally got up, I decided it was ti to try again. She’d had a few hours to calm down, and I hoped that maybe, just maybe, we could talk this out like rational adults.
But as I walked to her place, sothing in my gut felt off. The bond was restless, tugging at , whispering that sothing wasn’t right. I shoved the feeling aside, telling myself I was just overthinking. I couldn’t lose her. Not after everything.
When I knocked on the door, it swung open, and Lucy stood there, her face streaked with tears. My stomach sank instantly. Her puffy eyes and the way her body trembled with silent sobs only made my unease spike higher.
"Lucy?" My voice was cautious, edged with worry. "What happened? Is Leila here? I need to talk to her."
It was as if my question shattered what little control she had left. Lucy broke into loud, gut-wrenching sobs, her face crumpling as she clutched the doorfra for support. Panic hit like a freight train. My mind imdiately went to the worst possible scenarios. Was Leila hurt? Did sothing happen to Ash?
I stepped forward, placing a hand on Lucy’s shoulder. "Lucy, calm down. Tell what’s going on. Is Leila okay? Is Ash okay?"
Her sobs quieted, but the tears kept streaming down her face. She took a deep, shuddering breath and looked at with eyes so full of sadness it made my chest ache.
"She’s gone," Lucy whispered.
Those two words hit like a stake to the heart. For a mont, I just stared at her, uncomprehending.
"Gone?" I repeated, my voice hollow. "What do you an, gone?"
Lucy reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. She unfolded it carefully, her hands shaking. "She left this," she said, thrusting it into my hands.
I took the note, my eyes scanning over the words.
Lucy,
Thank you for everything. You’ve been so kind to and Ash, more than I ever deserved. I’m sorry to leave like this, but I can’t stay. Please forgive for not saying goodbye in person. I’ll contact you when I’m settled sowhere safe. Take care of yourself.
-Leila
The words blurred as a wave of emotions crashed over . Anger. Hurt. Desperation. She left. She fucking left. Just like that. No explanation, no chance for to make things right. She’d just... disappeared.
I crumpled the note in my hand, my fangs pressing against my gums as my anger bubbled over. "Why?" I demanded, my voice harsher than I intended. "Why would she leave like this?"
Lucy flinched at my tone but quickly steadied herself, brushing her tears away. "She didn’t tell why," she said softly. "But she was different yesterday. Shaken. Like sothing had scared her."
Sothing clicked in my mind. Fear was a powerful motivator, and I couldn’t bla her for running. Hell, I’d scared her just by being myself.
But it didn’t make it hurt any less.
"Did she say anything? Anything at all about where she might go?" I asked, my voice tight with desperation.
Lucy shook her head. "No. She just said she needed to leave and that it was for the best."
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. "It’s not for the best," I muttered under my breath.
Lucy reached out and touched my arm gently. "She’s been through a lot, Chase. Maybe she just needs ti. She’s a good person. She’ll co back when she’s ready."
I wanted to believe that. I really did. But the bond between us felt fractured, like she’d slamd a door shut and locked it tight. The pull was still there, strong and insistent, but now it was laced with pain and uncertainty.
"I need to find her," I said, more to myself than to Lucy.
Lucy frowned. "Do you really think that’s a good idea? She might need space."
"Space isn’t going to solve anything," I snapped, then imdiately regretted my tone. Lucy didn’t deserve my anger. I softened my voice. "Sorry. I just... I can’t let her go. She’s—"
I stopped short, swallowing the words. She’s my beloved. Lucy wouldn’t understand.
Instead, I said, "She’s important to . I can’t just sit here and do nothing."
Lucy nodded slowly, though her expression remained skeptical. "If you’re going to look for her, just... be careful. She’s strong, but she’s also fragile in ways you might not see."
I nodded, though my mind was already racing ahead. I didn’t know where she’d gone, but the bond would help find her. It was faint now, like a thread stretched too far, but it was still there. I just needed to follow it.
As I stepped out onto the street, the morning sun casting long shadows across the pavent, I made a silent vow to myself: I would find her. No matter how far she ran, no matter how many walls she put up, I’d break through them. She was mine, and I wasn’t going to lose her.
Not like this.
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