chapter 6
Escaping Fate
The bonfire crackled in the heart of the clearing, its flames dancing against the night sky. The scent of pine and roasted meat filled the air as the pack gathered around, their laughter and chatter blending into the soothing hum of unity. Maya sat on a log near the edge of the circle, her fingers twitching in her lap. She wasn't laughing. She wasn't talking. She wasn't even really present.
Her gaze kept drifting toward the treeline, where Liam leaned casually against a towering oak. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his sharp eyes scanned the crowd. Though his attention didn't seem to land on her, Maya could feel his presence, a weight on her chest that wouldn't let her breathe freely.
Why does he always have to be here? she thought bitterly.
Maya clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she forced herself to turn away. Her wolf stirred uneasily inside her, tugging at the thread of the mate bond that connected her to Liam, but she pushed the feeling aside. She wouldn't give in.
Next to her, Caleb's warm laughter pulled her back to reality. His easy grin and relaxed posture were a stark contrast to her tension. Caleb had been her best friend for as long as she could remember—steady, kind, and always looking out for her.
"You've been awfully quiet tonight," he said, nudging her shoulder playfully. His voice was light, but his eyes held concern. "Something on your mind?"
Maya hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Caleb's concern was genuine, and the comfort of his presence was undeniable. That's when the idea struck her.
"Actually," she said, trying to keep her voice casual, "I was wondering… would you like to go for a run tomorrow? Just us."
Caleb blinked, caught off guard. "A run? Sure, I guess. Are we training for something?"
"Something like that." Maya forced a smile, though her heart raced.
Caleb's grin widened, and he shrugged. "Count me in. Just don't blame me if you can't keep up."
For the first time that night, Maya laughed—a genuine, if fleeting, sound. But as she glanced back toward the treeline, her stomach twisted. Liam was staring at her now, his piercing gaze locked on her. There was something dark in his eyes, something that made her feel both exposed and defiant.
She met his stare for a brief moment before turning back to Caleb, determined to follow through with her plan.
The morning was crisp and quiet, the sun just beginning to rise over the forest. Maya stood by the riverbank, her breath visible in the cool air. She'd been up for hours, her mind racing with doubts and questions. But now, as Caleb jogged up to meet her, she pushed those thoughts aside.
"Wow, you weren't kidding about this run," Caleb said, his grin as bright as the morning light. He stretched his arms over his head, his movements casual and unhurried. "Didn't think you were much of a morning person, though."
"I'm full of surprises," Maya replied, adjusting the laces on her sneakers to avoid meeting his eyes. Her wolf shifted restlessly, and she felt that familiar tug in her chest again—the mate bond.
She pushed it away. This wasn't about Liam. It was about finding her own path, proving she had a choice.
The two of them started off at a light jog, their footsteps crunching against the dirt trail. The forest was alive with birdsong and the rustling of leaves, the morning light filtering through the trees in golden streaks. Caleb kept the conversation flowing, talking about training sessions and pack gossip, his tone light and easy.
But Maya was distracted.
Every time she laughed at one of Caleb's jokes or leaned in closer to hear him better, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching. Her wolf growled softly, the sound low and warning.
"Everything okay?" Caleb asked, slowing his pace.
Maya nodded quickly, plastering on a smile. "Yeah, just… tired. Let's keep going."
They picked up speed, the wind brushing past her face as they raced through the trees. For a moment, the tension eased. Maya focused on the rhythm of her steps, the cool air filling her lungs, and the steady beat of Caleb's presence beside her.
But then it happened.
A shadow moved in the corner of her vision. It was quick, almost imperceptible, but Maya's wolf immediately snapped to attention. Her steps faltered, and she spun around, scanning the trees.
"What's wrong?" Caleb asked, stopping beside her.
Maya shook her head, her pulse quickening. "Nothing. I just thought…" Her voice trailed off as she searched the forest, but there was no one there.
Except she knew there was.
By the time they returned to the pack's training grounds, Maya was more frustrated than ever. Her plan wasn't working. Running with Caleb had been nice, but it hadn't lessened the pull of the mate bond. If anything, it had made it worse.
She watched Caleb wipe the sweat from his brow, his grin still intact. "That was fun. We should do this more often."
Maya nodded, though her smile felt hollow. She wanted to scream, to tear at the invisible bond tying her to Liam. But she couldn't let Caleb see that.
"Yeah, maybe," she said, her voice distant.
As she turned to leave, a low voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Nice run, Maya."
Her heart sank.
She turned slowly, and there he was—Liam, leaning against the gate to the training grounds. His arms were crossed, his smirk infuriatingly smug.
"What do you want?" she snapped, her anger flaring.
Liam stopped mid-step, his back still to her. The tension in the air thickened, pulling tighter and tighter until it felt like it might snap. He turned slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. There was no smirk this time, no arrogance—just raw intensity.
"You think you can outrun this, Maya?" he said, his voice low but filled with an edge that sent shivers down her spine. "You think flirting with Caleb or anyone else will change what we are to each other? Keep lying to yourself if you want. But you can't lie to your wolf."
Maya's heart hammered in her chest. She stepped forward, closing the space between them, her fists trembling with barely restrained fury. "I don't care what my wolf wants. I don't care about this bond or you. I am not yours, Liam. And I never will be."
His jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "You don't get it, do you?" he hissed, his voice dripping with frustration. "This isn't just about us. This bond—it's bigger than what you want or what I want. You think rejecting me will set you free? It won't. It'll destroy you. And whether you like it or not, it'll destroy me too."
"I'd rather be destroyed than be tied to you," Maya shot back, her words sharp enough to cut.
Something in Liam's expression cracked, the mask of control slipping for just a moment. His eyes burned with something wild, something desperate. He took a step closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating from him.
"You can fight me all you want, Maya," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But one day, when you least expect it, you'll realize the truth. And when that happens, I'll be there—whether you hate me or not."
Maya's wolf stirred restlessly inside her, the mate bond humming louder than ever. She felt trapped, cornered, as though the air itself was conspiring against her.
"Stay the hell away from me, Liam," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion she didn't want to acknowledge.
But instead of stepping back, Liam leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
"Be careful what you wish for," he said darkly, his voice a mixture of challenge and warning. "You might find out that life without me isn't what you think it is."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her chest tight and her vision blurred with unshed tears.
For a moment, she thought she was alone. But then a voice broke through the silence, low and laced with concern.
"Maya?"
She spun around to see Caleb standing at the edge of the clearing, his brows furrowed in confusion and worry. He must have seen everything—or at least enough.
Maya opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She felt raw, exposed, her emotions swirling in a storm she couldn't control. Instead of answering, she turned and bolted into the forest, her feet carrying her as far away from both Liam and Caleb as she could manage.
The trees blurred around her as she ran, her wolf howling inside her mind. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She needed to think, to breathe, to figure out how to reclaim the life that was slipping out of her grasp.
But no matter how far she ran, one thought haunted her, echoing in her mind like a sinister whisper:
What if Liam is right?
The question clawed at her soul, leaving her shaken as she stopped in the middle of the dark forest, her chest heaving. The bond pulsed again, more persistent this time, as if mocking her efforts to resist.
And for the first time, Maya felt a flicker of fear. Not of Liam. Not of the mate bond.
But of herself.