"Get down!" Mavis yanked Aeryn behind a big bush as two guards walked past. They'd almost made it to the forest's edge when the guard appeared.
Aeryn's heart hammered against her ribs. She clutched her small bag tighter, waiting until the guards' footsteps faded into the night.
"That was close," she whispered.
Mavis peeked over the bush. "All clear. We need to hurry before the next patrol."
Leaving hadn't been as easy as walking out the door. After the announcement of Thorne's engagement, security around the pack house had suddenly doubled. It was almost as if someone expected Aeryn to run.
They crept through the darkness until they reached the tree line. The dark forest loomed ahead, both scary and welcome. Scary because Aeryn had never traveled alone. Welcoming because every step would take her farther from Thorne's treason.
"Are you sure about this?" Mavis asked, her voice cracking. "Where will you go? What will you do?"
"Anywhere but here," Aeryn said. She touched her stomach gently. Though still flat, she felt strongly protective of the tiny life inside. "I won't let my baby grow up watching its father love another woman."
Mavis hugged her tight. "Take this." She pressed a small bag into Aeryn's hand. "It's not much money, but it might help."
"I can't—"
"Yes, you can." Mavis wiped away a tear. "Your brother will meet you in the mountain town of Pine Ridge. I sent word yesterday."
Relief rushed through Aeryn. Lars would help her. He'd been right all along about Thorne.
A twig snapped nearby. Both girls froze.
"Someone's coming," Mavis hissed. "Go! Now!"
Without looking back, Aeryn plunged into the trees. She ran until her lungs burned, the sound of pursuit getting fainter behind her. Only when she couldn't run another step did she slow down, gasping for breath in a small opening.
Had Thorne discovered she was missing? Would he even care? The coldness in his eyes when he'd announced his engagement still haunted her. How could someone change so completely? The man who'd whispered love against her skin was gone, replaced by a stranger who looked at her like she meant nothing.
A howl cut through the night. Wolves. Searching.
Aeryn's blood turned to ice. They were hunting her.
Three days passed. Aeryn walked mostly at night, hiding during the day. She'd crossed two pack areas already, always careful to mask her scent by wading through streams and rubbing pine needles on her clothes.
The baby made flying harder. Morning sickness hit at all hours, leaving her weak and dizzy. Food was scarce – berries, roots, whatever she could safely identify. Water came from streams, but never enough to quench her constant thirst.
On the fourth night, rain poured from the sky. Aeryn huddled under a fallen tree, soaked and unhappy. Her clothes stuck to her body, offering no warmth. Hunger gnawed at her stomach.
"Stay strong," she whispered to her baby. "We'll make it."
When morning came, Aeryn noticed smoke rising above the trees. A town. Pine Ridge must be close. Lars would be ready.
New energy filled her tired legs. She walked faster, hope growing with each step. Soon she'd be safe, with family who truly cared for her.
A snap of branches behind made her spin around. Nothing obvious, but Aeryn felt watched. Had Thorne's wolves found her trail?
"Hello?" she called, her voice shaking. "Is someone there?"
Silence answered. Just birds and wind. But the feeling of being watched didn't fade.
Aeryn hurried forward, no longer thinking about staying hidden. The town was so close. She broke through the tree line onto a dirt road that must lead to Pine Ridge.
As she followed the road, a wagon appeared around the bend. The driver, an older guy with kind eyes, stopped when he saw her.
"You okay, miss? You look half-drowned."
Aeryn paused. Could she trust him?
"I'm heading to Pine Ridge," she said. "To find my brother."
The man studied her face. "Hop in. I'm going there myself."
Gratefully, Aeryn got onto the wagon. The man offered a blanket, which she wrapped around her shoulders.
"What's your name, miss?"
"Aeryn."
"I'm Gabe." He clicked his tongue, and the horses started moving. "What brings you to these parts?"
Aeryn touched her stomach. "A fresh start."
Gabe nodded, asking no more questions. They rode in comfortable silence until the town appeared ahead. Pine Ridge was smaller than Aeryn expected, just a cluster of houses nestled at the mountain's base.
"Where can I find you?" she asked as Gabe helped her down from the wagon.
"I live outside town. Small cabin in the woods." He pointed toward a narrow road. "Follow that trail about a mile. Door's always open if you need anything."
Aeryn thanked him and went into town. People stared as she passed. Her dirty clothes and tired face must make her look like a beggar.
The town center had a small inn. Lars would look for her there. Aeryn pushed open the door and approached the woman behind the desk.
"I'm looking for my brother, Lars. Has he arrived yet?"
The woman frowned. "Don't know any Lars. But there was a man asking about a young woman yesterday. Tall guy, dark hair, fancy clothes."
Aeryn's blood froze. That sounded like one of Thorne's men. How had they gotten here before her?
"Thank you," she mumbled, backing away quickly.
Outside, fear clawed at her chest. If Thorne's pack was here, she wasn't safe. Why would he send guys after her? To bring her back? To quiet her?
Suddenly, Aeryn felt terribly alone. No Lars. No friends. No money except Mavis's small pouch. And somewhere in town, guys looking for her.
She slipped down side streets, keeping to shadows. At the edge of town, she remembered Gabe's offer. His cabin might be safe, at least for a night while she figured out what to do.
The trail was easy to follow, but Aeryn's power was fading. Each step became harder than the last. The baby seemed to drain what little energy she had left.
When the cabin finally showed through the trees, relief nearly brought Aeryn to her knees. Smoke curled from the chimney. Light glowed in the windows. Safety was just steps away.
But those last steps proved too much. Dizziness swept over her. The trees tilted sideways. Aeryn felt herself falling, too weak to catch herself.
As darkness closed in, the cabin door opened. A tall person stepped out.
"I've been waiting for you," a deep voice said.
Not Gabe. Not Lars.
The last thing Aeryn saw before awareness slipped away was a pair of eyes. Not blue like Thorne's, but amber. Wolf eyes, watching her with a look she couldn't read.
"Sleep now, little Luna," the stranger whispered. "You're safe. Both of you are."
Both of you. He knew about the baby.
As Aeryn's eyes closed, the stranger lifted her softly. Her head rested against a warm chest, strong arms cradled her body.
"Finally," he whispered, "you've come home."
Home? This wasn't home.
But as darkness claimed her fully, Aeryn felt something she hadn't felt since leaving Thorne.
The strange, obvious pull of a mate bond.