APRIL

"What?! You're leaving the pack? You can't!" Lori stumbles over her words. "You can't!"

I reach into my wardrobe to grab my clothes, but she stops me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I have to."

She shakes her head.

I sigh. "He said he can help me bond with my wolf. I have to take this chance."

"And what about me? You know I'm still upset with you," she says. "You didn't tell me he's your mate, and now you're dropping another bomb on me. I have a limit for processing news, but this is just... too much."

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to tell you that Alpha Arik is my mate because..." I pause, licking my dry lips.

"Well?" Lori taps her foot impatiently against the floorboards.

"I don't want to be his mate. There, I said it."

Her eyes bulge. I turn back to my wardrobe and toss a few more items into my duffel. Truth be told, there wasn't much to pack. I've kept my essentials stashed in this bag for months-just in case life here became unbearable and running away was my only option.

"You can't be serious," Lori says from behind me. "How can you not want him? Are you feeling ill or something?"

A dry chuckle escapes my lips before I can hold it back. I face her again. "Looks aren't everything, Lori. Personality matters."

"As far as I know, he's feared and respected. And you should have seen the terror in his eyes when you lost consciousness-he carried you straight to his room himself. He clearly has a good heart for a mate, so drop the act and talk to your best friend."

"He... he was scared?" I blurt out. Lori smirks, realizing she's caught my attention. I quickly avert my gaze.

"He was terrified," she adds with sarcasm."Even his daughter was crying. They're already so protective of you."

At the mention of Reya, a heavy ache pierces my chest at the thought of the little girl crying over me.

We need to see her, Athena suddenly chimes in.

Oh, look who finally decided to show up. Done making me sick, or is there more I should prepare for? I scoff internally.

Don't blame me, my wolf snaps back. It's not my fault the girl I'm bonded with refuses to accept our mate.

Don't turn the tables on me. I didn't do anything wrong-I just don't want to be with him.

Then I have news for you: we're going to his pack, which means he's going to be all over us. You better not mess this up. Athena gets in one last sharp bite before retreating into the quiet corners of my mind.

"Are you talking to Athena?" Lori asks.

"Yeah. But she's gone now." I pull the bag's flap shut and slowly run the zipper around the top. "It's better that way. I'm done talking to her."

Lori chuckles softly. "You can't honestly be mad at her. It's not her fault you passed out. Besides, how are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine. My temperature is back to normal. And what do you mean it's not her fault? She refuses to see my side of this-she just thinks we need to get closer to Alpha Arik."

"Why do you keep putting 'Alpha' in front of his name?" Lori raises an eyebrow, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. "You're his mate. Call him what any other woman in your position would."

She winks. "Call him 'sexy daddy.'"

I burst out laughing, my hands gripping the duffel so hard my knuckles turn white as I stumble while trying to set it upright. Lori steps in to grab the other side, helping me balance it near the bedroom door.

"April," her tone shifts, softening into something calm and serious. She gestures toward my head. "You never talk to me about what's really going on in there. Is it that you genuinely don't want to be his mate, or are you just afraid of wanting him too much?"

Shit. She knows me too well.

"I..." I hesitate, searching for the right words. "What if the Moon Goddess made a mistake? How could I possibly be fated to an Alpha-and not just any Alpha? Him."

"Ah, so you do think he's hot," she wiggles her brows.

I roll my eyes. "He's tolerable to look at."

"You totally want to fuck him!"

"Lori!"

"Okay, okay, I'm being serious now. What's really wrong with being mated with him?"

"It's nothing," I say, dropping my gaze to the floor. "I just... I don't think it's real. Everyone knows how much he loved his late Luna. Whatever he feels for me will never compare to that. I'd rather keep my guard up now than fall into his arms later, only to hear him say he can never look at me the way he looked at her."

Silence hangs heavy in the room between us.

"You know what? Forget it," I mutter, breaking the quiet. "It's stupid of me to think like that anyway. I'm only going to his pack because the distance is hurting Athena and his wolf. I'm doing this for her-not for me."

She won't understand.

Anyways, I just hope my mate stays true to his words and comes after two days.

The faster we do all this, the better.

....

Alpha Arik didn't bother me that night-or the next.

For two days, I waited for the moment his car would pull up outside my house to carry me away from my family.

Breaking the news to my parents had been bittersweet. At first, they were thrilled that I was moving in with my mate; I had finally made my dad proud simply by having one.

But I urged them to keep it quiet, asking them not to tell a soul until the time was right.

Mark had mixed feelings about the whole thing. The Bloodveil Pack had a reputation for being far more ruthless with intruders than any other territory, so the idea of me going there while hiding my true identity deeply concerned him.

"It's fine. I have a plan," I had assured him.
He only hummed in response, squeezing my hand tightly, while Kiera broke into tears. She blamed her hormones, wishing I could stay just a little longer for her delivery.

At six this morning, the sound of a car engine zooming up the driveway makes my heart skip a beat. I know it's him. Sleep has been hard to come by for the past two nights, spent mostly staring out the window and imagining the moment my mate would appear.

He's here now.

I don't want to go.

"April..." Mom's soft voice carries from the hallway.

I pull open the door to find her standing there with a knowing, heavy look. "He's here."

I take a steadying breath and clutch the hem of my shirt, trying to keep my face composed. "Yeah. I just saw."

She nods, trying to force a happy smile, but it fails as miserably as mine. "You haven't slept at all. Please try to rest in the car." She pauses, lightly tapping her forehead. "Oh, I haven't even made you breakfast! Let me whip up a quick sandwich for the road-"

Before she can rush off, I reach out and pull her into a tight hug.

A single tear slips down my cheek as I cling to her. "I'll be back soon."

Her hand pats my back with a gentle, rhythmic rhythm. "If you don't like it there, please come home."

"Are you sure?" I whisper against her shoulder.

"Yes," she says without a second of hesitation. She pulls back slightly to look me in the eyes. "I'm your mother, April. I love you no matter what. If your mate treats you badly, you call me. I'll have your father and Alpha Harden bring you straight back here. Do you hear me?"

I nod at her words, fighting back the urge to cry. Now is not the time for tears. She picks up my luggage with effortless wolf strength, and watching her handle the heavy bags only reinforces why I have to do this. I need to fix myself, and going to Alpha Arik's pack is my only way out.

The rest of my family seems to have heard the car pull up, as they're all gathered in the living room. Their eyes are heavy with sleep, but they blink it away the moment I step down the stairs.

Without a word, Kiera hugs me first, followed by my brother, and finally my dad. My heart races at the quiet solidarity between us-they understand why I have to go. The look in their eyes as they step back tells me everything: I need to be brave and stay strong out there.

And just like Mom said, if it gets unbearable, I can always call.

Right on cue, a firm knock echoes at the front door. Dad opens it, revealing Alpha Arik.

He greets my father and steps inside. His sharp gaze sweeps over my family, offering brief, respectful nods. My family returns weak smiles before quietly giving us space.

"Is that everything?" he asks, turning his attention to me. He lifts both my heavy suitcases with ease.

"Yeah."

I follow him outside with Mom trailing close behind. The moment I step into the morning air, a violent chill runs through me. Even wrapped in my sweater, I feel like I'm turning to ice.

"Sweetheart," Dad calls out, pulling me gently to the side. "Wait right here."

He slips back inside and returns seconds later holding my silver training dagger.

"Dad, that's really not necessary," I whisper.
"It is," he insists, casting a quick side-eye to make sure Arik isn't watching.

I glance over at my mate, who is busy loading my luggage into the trunk. "You don't trust him," I state softly.

"It's not about trust, April. The Rogue Queen has already attacked one of the neighboring packs. I need to know my baby girl can defend herself if things go south."

"Dad..." I sigh softly. "Even if an intruder attacks... I can't kill a werewolf with a small dagger."

"Not unless it's coated in wolfsbane," he mutters, lowering his voice even further.

"W-what? Dad, he'll smell it on me!"

He shakes his head. "No, he won't. Remember, you hide the smell with your gift."

He means disability.

This is nothing but that.

"I masked the scent with Moonbloom extract. It's nearly impossible to find, but Mark managed to source some. Take it." He adds.

Speechless, I take the hidden blade and slide it deep into my backpack before giving my dad one last tight embrace.

"Stop underestimating yourself, April," he whispers in my ear. "You have Beta blood running through your veins. We might not possess the raw strength of an Alpha, but don't ever think we lack the cunning to destroy our enemies. Use everything we practiced. Don't let anyone pull you down out there. Do you understand me?"

I gulp, a thick lump forming in my throat that makes it painful to breathe. "Yes. I understand."

I wave a final goodbye to my parents and walk toward Arik, who has been standing by the car watching the exchange. He holds the passenger door open for me. I slide into the seat and instinctively glance at the back, frowning when I notice the space is empty.

I wait until he climbs into the driver's seat and grips the steering wheel before speaking up. "Is Reya not coming with us?"

"She's traveling with Jacob and the rest of the guard unit," he answers calmly. "They'll be trailing us on foot through the treeline. It's safer for her."

"Isn't she safer inside the car with you?"

He turns to look at me, nodding slowly. "Inside a car, my senses are muffled-I can't smell or hear danger coming as quickly. And putting the two most important people in my life in the exact same target while rogue wolves are actively hunting us? That isn't a risk I'm willing to take."

Silence fills the car. I don't say another word, choosing instead to stare out the window as the trees blur past. Gradually, the weight of the last two days catches up with me. Since I haven't slept, a brief nap seems harmless enough.

I give in to the exhaustion and close my eyes.
The rest is blissfully peaceful-until the car suddenly slams to a halt. The violent inertia jerks my body forward, but before I can hit the dashboard, Arik's broad arm shoots out, catching my chest and pressing me safely back against the seat.

What the-

"Stay here," my mate commands, his voice dripping with absolute Alpha authority. His eyes glow a fierce, bright gold, and a low, rumbling growl vibrates deep within his chest.
"We're being followed."

My blood runs cold. "What?" I gasp, panic instantly tightening my throat. I scan the surroundings through the misty glass, seeing nothing but dense, suffocating walls of pine trees and tangled thickets on both sides of the road. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," he says, his jaw clenched tight. "I can smell my pack guards and my daughter trailing behind us... but there's another scent drifting in. An awful, rotting stench I'd recognize anywhere."

I have a terrible feeling I already know the answer, but I still force out the question.
"Recognize it from where?"

"The Rogue Queen's wolves"

His words fuel a raw, primal terror inside me. All my life, I've heard horrific tales of her pack-feral, bloodthirsty killers who execute their victims without a drop of mercy, obeying only the brutal commands of their queen.

Outside, the early morning light has barely broken the horizon, leaving the forest shrouded in deep gray shadows. A bitter gust of wind slips through the vents, raising every hair on my arms.

Then, total silence falls over the woods. The ambient forest noises vanish completely, replaced by an eerie, unnatural quiet. The wind whispering through my hair seems to chant a single word over and over:

Run.

But I can't move. It's already too late.

Step by silent step, three massive wolves break through the treeline and emerge in front of the car.

They are nightmarish creatures, far larger than standard wolves, with matted, pitch-black fur caked in dried mud and old blood. Scars crisscross their lean, muscular frames, showing off raw pink skin where hair refuses to grow back. Their ears are torn, and their jaws drip with thick, foamy spittle, pulling back to reveal row upon row of yellowed, razor-sharp fangs. But worst of all are their eyes-hollow, milky-white, and completely devoid of any beastly soul, radiating nothing but pure, unhinged violence.

I stare through the windshield, my chest heaving as terror paralyzes my lungs.

The sight of those monstrous beasts makes my stomach drop, and the icy grip of panic tightens around my throat until I can barely squeeze out a breath. My hands tremble violently in my lap.

I'm going to die here.

We're both going to die.

"April."

A heavy, warm palm settles firmly over my shaking knee, anchoring me to the present. I snap my head toward Arik. The golden fire in his eyes has softened just a fraction, steady and entirely unbothered by the nightmare standing outside our car.

"Breathe," he commands gently, his voice a calm grounding wire against my spiraling thoughts. "Listen to my voice. Focus on me, not them."

I swallow hard and force air back into my starved lungs, nodding frantically.

"Good girl," he murmurs, a faint, confident smile playing at the edge of his lips.

Is he serious right now?! I stare at him in total disbelief. How can he possibly be smiling when three demonic death-beasts are staring us down?

"My men and Jacob are closing in with Reya, but they need a few minutes to surround them without triggering an ambush," Arik explains, his tone deadly sharp despite his calm demeanor. "I'm going to step out and stall these three. The moment I draw their attention away from the car, you're going to slide into the driver's seat and drive away. Do you understand me?"

I stare at him, my brain short-circuiting.
"Yes, but... there's one tiny problem," I squeak out.

Arik pauses, his hand on the door handle as he glances back over his shoulder. "What?"

I bite my lip, my voice barely a whisper over the sound of my hammering heart. "I don't know how to drive."