Evelyn ran through the forest, her shoes squishing with every step. Water dripped from her clothes as she followed the creek just like Lucien had told her. Her heart pounded in her ears. Behind her, the howls of the Moonfire Pack grew fainter.
"They think I'm dead," she whispered to herself. The thought sent shivers down her spine despite the warm spring air.
She placed a hand on her stomach, feeling a flutter of something—not movement yet, but a connection. "I'll keep you safe," she promised her unborn child.
After an hour of walking, Evelyn spotted the highway through the trees. Cars zoomed past, oblivious to the drama unfolding in the werewolf territories hidden from human eyes.
"North," she mumbled, checking the position of the sun. "I need to head north to find Ronan Blackthorn."
A truck stop appeared around the bend. Using the last of her strength, Evelyn stumbled toward it. Inside, she found a bathroom where she could change into the dry clothes Lucien had packed.
Looking in the mirror, Evelyn barely recognized herself. Her once-glowing skin was pale, her eyes hollow with dark circles beneath them. She was no longer Luna of the Moonfire Pack. She was a fugitive, a supposed traitor, and now, officially dead.
"Who are you now?" she asked her reflection.
From the backpack, she pulled out a wallet with a new ID. "Emma Reynolds," she read aloud. Her brother had thought of everything.
With her wet clothes stuffed in the trash and her hair pulled into a tight bun, Evelyn—now Emma—walked into the truck stop diner. She ordered a large breakfast with the money Lucien had provided.
"Eating for two?" asked the waitress with a friendly smile, noticing how quickly Evelyn devoured the pancakes.
Evelyn froze, fork midway to her mouth. Could humans tell she was pregnant already? "Just hungry," she said with a nervous laugh.
As she ate, Evelyn studied a map she found in the backpack. The northern mountains were at least a two-day journey by car. She needed transportation.
"Excuse me," she asked the waitress, "is there a bus that heads north from here?"
Twenty minutes later, Evelyn boarded a bus heading to Pinecrest—a small town at the base of the northern mountains. As the bus pulled away, she caught sight of three Moonfire warriors in the parking lot, sniffing the air. Her blood ran cold.
Had they tracked her this far? No—Lucien's trick at the well should have convinced them she was dead. Why were they here?
Through the window, she watched as one warrior held up a phone with her picture on it. They were still hunting her!
The bus turned onto the highway, leaving the warriors behind. Evelyn sank low in her seat, mind racing. How had they known? Had Lucien's plan failed? Or was something else going on?
Night fell as the bus continued north. Evelyn couldn't sleep, jumping at every sound. When the bus stopped for a break at another small town, she slipped into the restroom and stared at her reflection again.
"They're looking for Evelyn Royce," she whispered to herself. "So Evelyn needs to disappear completely."
In her backpack, she found scissors and hair dye—another gift from her forward-thinking brother. With shaking hands, she cut her long, golden-brown hair into a short bob and dyed it black.
When she emerged, even she hardly recognized herself. The woman who boarded the bus again was truly Emma Reynolds—a stranger with secrets.
The next morning, the bus arrived in Pinecrest. Evelyn stepped off, clutching her backpack, and immediately sensed something different in the air. This town sat on the edge of werewolf territory, but not just any territory—this was unclaimed land where rogues and outcasts lived.
"How do I find Ronan Blackthorn?" she wondered aloud.
"You don't find Blackthorn," said a gruff voice behind her. "He finds you."
Evelyn whirled around to face a tall man with intense gray eyes and a scar running down his cheek. He wasn't from any pack she recognized, but the way he looked at her—with recognition despite her disguise—sent warning signals through her body.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, backing away.
The man sniffed the air. "You smell like Lucien Royce, yet you look nothing like the woman they say jumped to her death yesterday." His lips curled into a knowing smile. "Interesting trick."
Evelyn's hand moved protectively to her stomach. "Who are you?"
"Kane. I work for Ronan sometimes." He glanced around the bus station. "And we should leave. Now. You're being followed."
As if on cue, a black SUV pulled into the parking lot. Through the tinted windows, Evelyn caught a glimpse of Victor's Beta, Alaric Dane.
"How did they—"
"Questions later," Kane interrupted, grabbing her bag. "Run!"
They darted behind the station and into the woods beyond. Evelyn struggled to keep up, her body still weak from the broken bond and her pregnancy. Kane noticed her slowing and made a split-second decision, lifting her into his arms without breaking stride.
"Put me down!" she protested.
"Not until we're safe," he growled, leaping over a fallen tree.
Behind them, shouts erupted as Alaric and his men discovered their trail. Kane ran deeper into the forest, taking sharp turns and crossing streams to break their scent.
Just when Evelyn thought they couldn't go any further, they burst into a clearing where a helicopter waited, its blades already spinning.
"Right on time," Kane muttered, carrying her toward it.
"A helicopter?" Evelyn gasped. "Who are you people?"
Inside the helicopter sat a man with midnight-black hair and piercing blue eyes. Unlike Kane's rough appearance, this man wore an expensive suit and had an air of command that rivaled Victor's.
"Ronan Blackthorn," he introduced himself as Kane set Evelyn down in a seat. "Lucien said you might need my help. He didn't mention you'd bring Moonfire's finest on your tail."
Before Evelyn could respond, the helicopter lifted off. Through the window, she saw Alaric and his men burst into the clearing, faces contorted with rage as their prey escaped.
"They shouldn't have been able to track me," Evelyn said, confused. "Lucien made them think I was dead."
Ronan studied her with curious eyes. "Your mate bond is broken, but there's still a trace connection. Victor can feel you're alive."
"That's impossible," Evelyn whispered. "The ceremony was completed."
"Was it?" Ronan asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because from what I hear, you ran before they finished the ritual. A partial bond-breaking is dangerous...and unpredictable."
Evelyn's hand flew to her heart. Could Victor still sense her? Is that how they'd tracked her despite Lucien's clever plan?
"There's something else," Kane said, sniffing near her. "Something that might strengthen the connection."
Ronan's eyes widened as he looked at Evelyn's stomach. "You're carrying his child."
"Yes," Evelyn admitted, seeing no point in hiding it.
Ronan exchanged a meaningful look with Kane before turning back to her. "No," he corrected gently. "You're carrying his children. Twins, if my nose is right."
Evelyn gasped, her hands protectively covering her belly. "Twins?"
"Alpha twins," Ronan added. "Which changes everything. Victor won't just want you back now—he'll move heaven and earth to find his heirs."
As the helicopter soared over the mountains, Evelyn felt a new wave of determination. She wasn't just running to save herself anymore. She had two lives growing inside her—two little souls who would need her protection.
"What do I do now?" she asked.
Ronan handed her a glass of water. "First, you disappear completely. Then, you become someone Victor would never recognize. And finally," his eyes gleamed with something that looked almost like anticipation, "you prepare to return one day and take back what's yours."
The helicopter banked sharply, heading toward a mansion nestled in the mountainside. As they approached, Evelyn felt a strange sensation—like distant fingers trying to grasp her heart. She knew instantly it was Victor, desperately searching for the bond that wasn't quite broken.
What Evelyn didn't know was that back in Moonfire territory, Victor stood alone in their old bedroom, a strange pain in his chest and a single question burning in his mind:
Why could he still feel her?