Talia's hands trembled as she locked the clinic door. Her gaze darted to the tree line, where sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, but the memory of those glowing eyes lingered. Every instinct screamed that she wasn't alone.
Kael's warning echoed in her mind, a maddening mix of frustration and fear. You're not safe here.
She hated him for being right.
The walk home felt like navigating a battlefield. Each snap of a twig or rustle of leaves sent her nerves spiraling, her senses heightened in ways she hadn't experienced in years. By the time she reached her house, unease clung to her like a second skin.
Inside, she double-checked every lock, her fingers brushing over the cold metal as if it might ground her. Her wolf stirred uneasily, the part of her she had buried clawing its way to the surface.
"Not now," she muttered, gripping the counter until her knuckles turned white.
Suppressing her wolf was second nature, a habit born from years of running and hiding. But now, it fought her at every turn, snarling for release.
A sudden knock shattered the fragile silence.
Talia froze, her heart slamming against her ribs. She snatched a ceramic mug from the counter, her only weapon against whatever—or whoever—waited on the other side.
"Who is it?" she called, her voice deceptively steady.
No answer.
Her pulse raced as she crept toward the door and peered through the peephole.
Kael.
Of course.
She unlocked the door but left the chain in place, narrowing the gap as she glared at him. "What do you want now?"
Kael's expression was as grim as his voice. "You're not safe here."
Talia's grip on the door tightened. "And whose fault is that?"
"I'm not here to argue," he snapped, his tone clipped. "Let me in."
"No."
"Talia," he growled, his voice deepening with Alpha authority, "this isn't a request."
Her wolf bristled, a low growl rumbling in her chest, but she held her ground. She wanted to slam the door in his face, but the weight of his presence—and her own lingering fear—stopped her. With a frustrated sigh, she unlatched the chain and stepped aside.
Kael entered, his sharp gaze sweeping the small space as if danger lurked in every corner. His proximity was suffocating, a reminder of the bond she'd once craved but now despised.
"What is it this time?" she demanded, crossing her arms.
"They're closer than I thought," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Her stomach twisted. "Who?"
"The rogues. I tracked one near your clinic earlier."
Her breath hitched. The eyes.
"Did you kill it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael shook his head. "Not yet. It was a scout. The rest of the pack will be here soon."
His words hung heavy in the air. Talia's mind raced, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Why are they after me?"
Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. "It's your bloodline. You're... important to them."
She let out a bitter laugh. "Important? Is that what you call being hunted?"
He said nothing, his piercing amber eyes locking onto hers as if searching for something.
"Look," she said, her voice sharp, "I've built a life here. I don't need you barging in and turning it upside down."
Kael's jaw clenched. "You think you can handle this alone? You've been running for six years, Talia. It's time to stop."
The truth in his words stung, but she refused to let him see it. "I don't need your help."
"You don't have a choice," he said, stepping closer, his voice softening. "They'll come for you, whether you like it or not. And when they do, I won't let them take you."
His sincerity was a dagger to her defenses. For a fleeting moment, she saw the man she had once trusted—the Alpha who had sworn to protect her. But she couldn't afford to believe in ghosts.
Talia stepped back, her voice hardening. "I can take care of myself."
Kael exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "You're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"Good. Now leave."
"Talia—"
"I mean it. Get out."
The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Kael nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Fine," he said coldly. "But when they come, don't expect me to stay away."
The door closed with a resounding thud, leaving Talia alone with her racing thoughts.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. She snatched it up, her stomach sinking when she saw Lisa's name.
"Dr. White?" Lisa's voice trembled. "You need to come back to the clinic. There's... there's been an attack."
Talia's blood turned to ice. "What kind of attack?"
"It's bad," Lisa whispered. "I think... I think it was wolves."
---
The clinic was unrecognizable when she arrived. Shattered windows and broken cages littered the ground, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood. Lisa stood outside, pale and shaking, her hands clutching her phone.
"What happened?" Talia demanded, her voice tight.
"I-I don't know," Lisa stammered. "I came back from lunch and found it like this. The animals..."
Talia stepped inside, her stomach churning. Supplies were scattered, the walls marred with claw marks. Whimpers and cries echoed from the injured animals, but it was the message scrawled in blood across the wall that froze her in place:
We're coming for you, Luna.
Her heart pounded as she stumbled back, her chest tightening. They knew.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and Talia's blood ran cold. Slowly, she turned, her eyes locking onto the glowing yellow gaze of a wolf.
It wasn't Kael.
The rogue stepped forward, teeth bared, its predatory stance leaving no room for doubt.
Talia's wolf surged to the surface, breaking through the walls she had so carefully built.
For the first time in years, she let it take control.