Leila POV:
It’s been three years since I last saw Chase, and nearly three and a half since I left Drake. In all that ti, the weight of my choices hasn’t lightened. I feel bad for Drake—he’ll never know the joy of watching his child grow up—but that’s on him. He chose to be an asshole rather than a mate.
Chase, though... That’s complicated. My wolf still whimpers for her second-chance mate, but even she understands the impossibility of our situation. I’ve built a life without him. But sotis, when the world gets quiet, I catch myself wondering: How is he? Is he still searching for , or has he given up, moved on?
I rember the night I left, the fear and adrenaline coursing through after breaking his brother’s neck. It wasn’t enough to kill him—just enough to buy ti. I’d walked through the night, through exhaustion, desperation pushing forward until I reached the next town. There, I boarded a bus heading into the heart of witch territory.
The witches live quietly among humans, blending in seamlessly. But the supernatural world knows better—this is their land, their sanctuary. I hoped they would spare , that the rumors of their cruelty were just that.
As luck would have it, Ash proved to be my saving grace once again. It seems the sight of a young mother with a baby pulls on heartstrings, supernatural or not. Just like Lucy before her, a kind woman nad Tracey took pity on . At first, I thought she was human. She had the warm, unassuming deanor of one—smiling eyes, gentle hands.
She saw sitting on the bench, Ash in my arms, our belongings stuffed into a small bag, my face a ss of exhaustion and fear. She asked where I was going and if I was alright. I told her the sa lie I’d told Lucy, that I was fleeing an abusive, obsessive husband. Tracey didn’t press for details. She simply nodded, her face softening with sympathy, and offered to pay for my bus ticket.
She insisted on sitting next to , helping carry Ash during the ride. He imdiately took to her, his little fingers tugging at her hair while she laughed and cooed at him. For the first ti in days, I felt a sliver of safety.
Tracey talked about her daughter—how quickly she’d grown, how proud she was of the woman she’d beco. She’d just co back from visiting her, she said, her voice tinged with both joy and longing. It reminded of what I wanted for Ash: a future free of fear and running. A life where he could thrive.
By the ti we reached our destination, I realized Tracey wasn’t human at all. There was a subtle aura around her, sothing my wolf stirred uneasily at but didn’t outright reject. She wasn’t dangerous—not to us, at least. She was a witch.
And when she looked at , really looked, I knew she’d figured out what I was, too. But instead of recoiling or turning away, she smiled. "You’ll be safe here," she’d said, her voice soft yet certain. "No one will hurt you or your pup in this territory."
It was the first ti I’d cried in a long ti. Not from fear or sadness, but from relief. Tracey helped settle in a small house on the outskirts of town, away from prying eyes. She didn’t ask for anything in return.
Word travels fast in supernatural circles, and witches are no exception. It wasn’t long before the whispers began—rumors of a wolf hiding within their territory. I could feel the weight of their curiosity, their mistrust. But Tracey, my unexpected savior, had already taken steps to shield us. She went to the other witches before the rumors could grow into sothing dangerous and declared that I was under her protection.
That declaration carried weight in their world. Tracey was respected, maybe even feared, and her word was law. By claiming as her responsibility, she ensured that no harm would co to or Ash. I owe her more than I can ever repay.
At first, the other witches kept their distance. Their stares lingered a little too long, their voices dropped to hushed whispers when I passed by. But they didn’t act on whatever suspicions they held, thanks to Tracey. Slowly, as the days turned into weeks, their wariness began to fade. They saw how fiercely I protected Ash, how I worked to keep out of trouble, how I didn’t bring chaos to their doorstep.
Eventually, they started to accept us. I wasn’t just tolerated anymore—I was treated like one of them. It was strange, almost surreal, to be embraced in a way I never had been by my own kind.
The witches were nothing like the packs I’d known. There was no rigid hierarchy, no cruel tests of loyalty or power plays. They weren’t perfect, but they didn’t judge for being a single mother or for running away from my past. They valued individuality, respected my boundaries, and gave a sense of belonging I’d never felt before.
For the first ti in a long ti, I didn’t have to look over my shoulder constantly. I could breathe, I could relax, and most importantly, I could give Ash the kind of stability he deserved.
Tracey beca more than just a protector; she beca family. She treated Ash like her own grandchild, spoiling him with little trinkets and teaching him simple spells that wouldn’t interfere with his wolf nature. She even guided in understanding the basics of witchcraft, just enough to protect myself and Ash if we ever had to leave.
The witches’ acceptance was a gift I never expected, but one I cherished deeply. They gave a ho when my own kind had cast out, when my world had turned against .
And yet, despite the peace I’d found, there was a lingering ache, a faint tug in the back of my mind. Chase. The bond. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, it was there, a reminder of what I’d left behind. But I couldn’t dwell on that. Not when I’d found a place where Ash and I were finally safe.
This sanctuary with the witches—it wasn’t just a hiding place. It was the closest thing to a real ho I’d ever had.
Three years later, I’ve kept my promise. Ash has grown into a bright, curious boy, his wolf starting to stir as he gets older. And I’ve managed to carve out a quiet life here, helping others when I can. But there’s a part of that remains restless, the bond tugging faintly in the back of my mind, reminding of what I’ve left behind.
No matter how far I run, it seems the past isn’t done with yet.
Chase POV:
The weight of the crown was heavier than I had anticipated, and it wasn’t even fully mine yet. Assisting my father in ruling the kingdom while searching for my beloved had turned my life into a constant balancing act. My father, though not fully recovered, had regained enough strength to be active in court. His determination to live was fueled by one thing—his eagerness to et the mate I had promised him existed. A mate he still didn’t know was a wolf.
Damond, my ever-unreliable yet loyal brother, hadn’t stopped badgering about it.
"You need to tell him, Chase," he’d said just the other day, pacing my office like a caged animal. "He’s fighting to stay alive for this grand reunion. Do you really think he’ll survive the shock of finding out she’s a wolf? The man might keel over on the spot—and he’ll probably take you with him for even entertaining the idea."
I had only glared at him, my patience running thin. "When the ti cos, I’ll deal with it. Until then, keep your opinions to yourself."
"Fine, fine," he’d muttered, throwing up his hands. "But what about the people? Do you think they’ll accept her? You’re not just so random vampire—you’re their future king. They’ll never accept a wolf queen."
I’d shut him down swiftly. "When it cos to choosing between my people and my mate, I’ll choose her. Over and over again. You’d best prepare yourself to take the throne if you can’t handle that."
That shut him up for a mont. Damond might have been quick with his jabs, but the weight of responsibility was sothing he feared more than death itself. The look on his face had been priceless. Damond, the eternal slacker who thrived on the privileges of being royal without any of the responsibilities, was horrified at the idea. The thought of actually ruling the kingdom made him turn pale.
That’s why he’d begrudgingly agreed to take charge of the search for Leila while I handled matters at the palace. He wasn’t happy about it, but the alternative—being left to rule while I hunted—was worse in his eyes.
"Fine," he’d relented. "I’ll keep looking for your stupid wolf. Better that than being chained to this damned place. At least I won’t be sitting in endless council etings with you and Father."
And so, while I was stuck in the palace handling kingdom matters, Damond had been overseeing the search for Leila. He hated it, of course. But I had made it clear that if he didn’t give it his all, I’d happily swap roles with him and let him drown in the monotony of royal duties. That threat alone was enough to keep him motivated, though his updates were often laced with complaints.
Today was no different. I sat in my study, tapping my fingers against the desk as I waited for him to arrive with his latest report. The search parties had co up empty-handed once again, and my patience was wearing thin.
Damond’s return was the only thing keeping my frustration from boiling over. He better have news, or I’d drag him out to search myself. The thought of her out there, alone and possibly in danger, gnawed at like a constant, dull ache. The bond that tethered us whispered that she was alive, but it gave no sense of where.
The doors to the chamber creaked open, and Damond strode in. His usual cocky deanor was tempered by sothing—hesitation, maybe, or fatigue.
I leaned forward, dread pooling in my stomach. "What now?"
"Nothing. That’s the problem. Your little wolf is a ghost. Every lead we’ve followed turns up cold. Either she’s got soone powerful hiding her, or she’s smarter than all of us combined. Honestly, I’m leaning toward the latter."
His words stung, but I refused to let it show. "Keep looking. She’s out there, Damond. I can feel it."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep looking. But don’t get your hopes up too high, brother. Ghosts don’t like being found."
Just then he started laughing. Stupid moron he hasn’t still grown up always joking with serious matters. The mont he started laughing I knew he had pulled his infamous jokes on . He didn’t speak imdiately, instead tossing a folder onto the table before collapsing into a chair across from .
"Well?" I prompted, my voice sharper than I intended.
Damond raised an eyebrow. "Don’t get your fangs in a twist. I’ve got sothing."
My pulse quickened. "What did you find?"
"A trail, finally. Not much, but sothing. A wolf matching her description was spotted in a town near the witches’ territory. She might have gone to them."
The witches. My stomach turned at the thought. Their lands were forbidden to both vampires and wolves. It was a no-man’s-land for a reason—dangerous, unpredictable, and full of creatures who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anything that threatened their balance. If Leila had sought refuge there...
I stood abruptly. "I’m going."
Damond smirked but didn’t stop . "Good luck getting past their wards, brother. If she’s with them, they won’t let you in. And if you try to force your way in..." He didn’t finish, but the warning was clear.
"I’ll find a way," I said. "I always do."
As I left the chamber, Damond called after . "You’re obsessed, Chase! Don’t say I didn’t warn you."
I didn’t care. She was mine, and nothing—not witches, not even the gods—would keep from finding her.
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