MILLIE

I roll my neck backward, my body in utter turmoil as my depraved emotional and physical loneliness manifests into a beast. Hungry, angry arousal has me panting and sweating on my bed. It's that time of day again. The time for me to become a shamefully lusty woman—cursing Leander while daydreaming of him.

The mate bond is a hell of a drug.

I circle my hips, moaning as the vibrator lights up my sex. The toy is drenched in my wetness. I've orgasmed twice now, but I'm still unsatisfied. My wolf wants Leander. Wants me to ride the tongue that rejected me until he can never speak again. My pussy grinding his face so he can only manage groans. His fingers gripping into my ass cheeks in search of mercy, gripping desperately. His wide, grey eyes locked on mine as he fears I might just suffocate him with my greedy pussy.

I press the button on the vibrator, making the intensity higher, letting it devour my clit until I dig my heels into the mattress and orgasm a third time.

My body curls as pleasure ripples through it. Swirling in my lower belly and taking me to the moon.

I pant and stare at the blank ceiling. The smell of my pheromones clouds the room, but the magic has begun to fade. It's at this time, when the stardust settles and reality becomes as stark as the black sky, that I feel the most lonely. I have no partner to embrace and bask in the safety and companionship that they offer. No one to chuckle with and exchange hushed whispers as if our love is a precious secret to protect.

I've got nothing but a dead vibrator in need of charging.

I sigh. This is what I wanted: to be left alone. But it's a tough pill to swallow.

I force thoughts of him away, praying that one day my heart will stop aching. That I'll stop feeling like I'm being torn in two.

The clock on my nightstand reads 7:03AM. I'll have to go to work soon, but it's a welcomed distraction from my fucked up situation.

I strip the soiled bed sheets and toss them into my hamper, misting them with a scent-masking spray.

I shower and change into jeans and a long-sleeve white top. As I brush my teeth, I hear a knock at the door.

"Hey, Lee! You've got a visitor," Elowen calls.

I pull the toothbrush out of my mouth to shout, "Who is it?"

"The Alpha of the Mockingbird pack, baby!"

I chuckle. Is Leander distributing more mail across the packs and territory? That's the second letter this month.

I finish brushing my teeth and open the door. "Hey, had breakfast yet? We can grab something before we go to the office." I scan her hands. "Where's the letter?"

"What letter?" she asks, smiling from ear to ear.

I raise an eyebrow. "Well, Alpha Mockingbird sent a letter. Where is it?"

"There's no letter. He's here in person!"

I roll my eyes and roll my sleeves up. "Right. Come on. Let's go eat."

"I'm not fucking joking! He's at the edge of the territory, asking for females your age. The rumors were right! He actually came!"

I grip the doorknob so tightly that it accidentally rips off the door.

What the fuck is this? A joke? How would Leander know I'm here?

"But—but..." I stare at her, hoping for a sign that she's lying. But she's practically bouncing with excitement.

This is impossible. I didn't mail the letter four days ago. I tossed it into the trash pile. It should have been shredded to a million pieces. Besides, there was no return address on the envelope.

How did he get his hands on it? How did he track it to me? How did he drop his duties to travel across the country so quickly?

"Did he..." I lick my lips. "Did he cross into the territory by helicopter or foot?"

Clause X.I repeats in my mind, providing a glimmer of safety.

Elowen clasps her hands, bizarrely grinning. Her wildest dreams are coming true as my life becomes a nightmare.

"He's digging a hole to cross over."

Clause X.I doesn't say anything about digging. Would that technicality count as a breach?

My wolf goes crazy, flooding me with joy. For a moment, I dare to bask in her feelings and enjoy one of my own: hope. But then I remember my heartbreak and how long it took to pick up the pieces. I've put myself above him and his needs.

I remember my promise to keep running until the moon stops pulling oceans.

I run to the window, dragging it open. There are no children outside. They're being kept indoors, away from the danger of the raging Alpha that has brought his reign of terror to our doorstep.

"You're his mate, aren't you?" Elowen asks. Her heart is pounding so fast I can hear it from here.

"You don't understand," I grit as I reach under my bed and pull out my pre-packed bag. It's lightly dusted. I prepared it long ago, fearing this day would come.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"Running."

She stares at the duffle bag clutched in my hands as if she can't believe my audacity to run from her fantasy. As if I'm outrageous for not throwing myself at the most eligible bachelor in the country.

"How far has he gotten in his digging?" I ask her.

"Uh—it's only been like ten minutes. He shifted into his wolf form and began digging with his men. You have about thirty minutes before he's under and past the territory line."

Leander is playing a dangerous game by trying to skirt the constitutional rules. He's gambling.

"I have to go. Tell everyone that I'm sorry. That maybe I'll return one day."

"But—but why? And how are you his—" She covers her face. "This doesn't make any sense. You're..."

"Not Luna material? Yes, I agree," I reply.

I sympathize with her breakdown, but I have no time to waste. The clock is ticking, and I've got a lot of land to cover.

I open up the window and shift, tearing my clothes. I grab my duffle bag between my jaws and jump out the second level, my wolf form barely able to fit through the frame. I land roughly, my paws slamming into the grass.

I take off into the woods, following the path I memorized years ago. Past the cherry tree, across the open field, and left into the abandoned railway. There's an underground tunnel that I've explored many times. It was built centuries ago by humans during the wars.

I arranged leaf fibers and plants to hide the entrance from the naked eye. It should save me an hour or two. Enough time to cut through the Driftwood pack without being detected. Getting caught trespassing is the last thing I need.

I run with all I've got, tearing through the dust and spiderwebs in the tunnel. My claws clank on the pebbles and rails. I can't see anything down here, but the darkness is a blessing compared to the grey-eyed devil chasing me.

After half an hour of running straight, I turn left onto Driftwood territory. My heart races faster. Because although I've checked these tunnels out a few times over the years, my insight into Driftwood is limited. I don't know if they have sealed off the entrance.

Everything should be easy after clearing Driftwood territory. There's a supply bag and a safe house at the edge of rogue territory. It's dangerous, but there is no civilization there as it lacks resources like rivers and forests, and the terrain is uninhabitable.

I run into the sunlight, inhaling deeply as I leave the tunnel. I can taste freedom on the tip of my tongue. I'm close.

I'm almost through the territory line when I see them—two patrol wolves running right for me. I drop my bag, losing the extra few pounds to run faster. I keep running for the territory line, hoping they will disengage once they see I'm trying to leave their pack. But these adult, male patrol wolves are quickly catching up to me. They growl warnings, their paws thundering as they give chase.

I'm wearing down, but I snarl and push myself further, unwilling to stop. Unwilling to lose.

I can't get caught by him.

But the moon has always been against me. Even now, as the sun rules the sky, the hidden moon pulls bad luck toward me. My paw gets caught on the foot of a tree, and I slam onto the ground like a meteor.

I stand and shake my fur, growling at the wolves surrounding me. One of them shifts back, revealing his nude body. The branding on his lower abdomen shows he's more than a patrol wolf. He's a fucking Beta. Beta Atlas of the Driftwood pack.

The older Beta smirks at me. His eyes are narrowed with intentions that I can't read yet. My stomach churns. It has been years since I was in the presence of such a powerful man. My skin bristles, but my wolf refuses to bare her neck, convinced she's of higher status as a Luna.

"I apologize, Luna. We were not prepared for your lovely visit."

I scoff, revolted by the title.

I take a step backward, but the second wolf follows me. I shift back and remain crouched. My hair is wild around my shoulders, and my chest is panting as I say, "Let me go. It's in your best interest."

I've done my research and prepared to be captured at Driftwood. As I remain crouched, dirty, and uneasy, I pray that Beta Atlas doesn't underestimate me. My world has been on fire since I met Leander. I'm not above spreading my fire and burning Beta Atlas, searing a second branding into his skin so he never forgets me.

He looks amused. As if I'm a silly girl who thinks she can evade one of the strongest werewolves in the world. Maybe he's right. Perhaps I can't escape, but I'm going down swinging.

"Can't do that, Luna Millie. We wouldn't want conflict with your Alpha and mate."

"He will make my life hell for running. You know this."

He jogs over to my dropped bag and digs through it, retrieving a long, simple cotton dress I double as a nightgown.

The men avert their gaze as I quickly toss it on.

"We've struggled to pass a few treaties with Mockingbird for years. Alpha Leander will surely finish negotiations in exchange for you."

"You want to pawn me?" I grit.

"Nothing personal. It's just business," he replies.

Then they're on me; two wolves grab my arms and drag me forward. I fight with all my might even as they pull me toward the Alpha's house. Bystanders stare and whisper. We don't even reach the front steps of the massive, white, church-like house before the ground trembles with thundering paws.

Leander is here. He made it alone. I have no fucking idea how he ran so fast to catch up with me after I had nearly an hour's head start. He must really be a beast. Too agile and powerful to be worthy of awe, just fear.

Beta Atlas stops walking, holding me up like a prize up for grabs.

Leander keeps getting closer. I stare at his paws and avoid his eyes—not with respect, but with disregard.

I don't know where the Driftwood pack Alpha is, but I doubt Leander needs permission to cross the territory line. Not with all the treaties, resources, and money he can offer.

"How's your mate doing, Beta Atlas?" I ask.

"She's happy to be by her mate's side, where she belongs. You will be content, too."

Condescending asshole.

"Did you tell her about your orphaned child who you dropped off on my territory?"

He stiffens. "How—how..."

"Nothing personal, Beta. It's just business," I snarl back at him. "I told you that letting me go was in your best interest. Now they will all know your dirty secret."

He trembles with rage and squeezes my arm, but his eyes keep flickering toward Leander, who approaches like a demon from hell. Kicking up dust, grass, and a thousand reasons to fear him.

When I hear the cracking of rearranging bones, I turn slowly to face my mate. My wolf aches to shift and greet him. To give him the warmth that I refuse him.

Leander swoops in like a reaper, snatching me close and stealing my breath. His nose skims my neck, inhaling my scent and heating my skin with his hot breath. Fearing that he's going to mark me, I drop to the ground and throw a fistful of dirt. He turns his face aside, and most of the dirt hits his chest.

I growl and cover my neck with my hand. "Stay away."

He lowers himself, bits of dirt raining down. He crouches beside me, shoulders so broad that they deny me the sun. I'm consumed by his shadow. The light and freedom I've enjoyed over these past five years is gone. The darkness is back, and yet there's an unyielding candlelight in my chest that won't stop burning no matter how much he wrongs me. The flamee burned low for him even when he was thousands of miles away, but now it roars.

His grey eyes are the only part of him I recognize. Everything else is hardened; a maze of muscle made to be worshiped and feared. He's so striking that my thoughts tangle, getting lost in the sharp valleys of his abs. But my attraction for him holds steady, too powerful to be disrupted.

I've pictured him as a sixteen-year-old boy ever since I left. I was sorely wrong because somewhere along the line, Leander filled into his body. He aged past his teenage years and became a man made of stone in both body and spirit.

I suddenly understand how he reached me in mere minutes instead of running for the hour that it took me to get here. There's so much muscle, too much girth. Even the cock that dangles between his legs as he kneels—which he makes no effort to conceal—is a sight to behold. Like a fucking whip that would lash a pussy bare.

He mutters two words that make my blood curdle.

"Found you."