The howling grew louder. Amara pressed herself against the back wall of the cave, holding the knife Lina had given her.
Her heart hammered so loud she was sure the trackers could hear it. Heavy footsteps splashed through the falls. Three big wolves emerged, their eyes glowing in the darkness.
But these weren't ordinary dogs - they were werewolves in their shifted forms.
"I can smell her," one growled as he changed back into human form. It was Marcus, the fighter who had been talking to Celina. "She's close."
Amara held her breath. They were right outside her hidden spot.
"The scent trail ends here," another tracker said, sniffing around the cave mouth. "But there's something else. Another wolf was here recently."
Marcus cursed. "Probably a rogue. They might have taken her."
"Good," the third tracker laughed bitterly. "Saves us the trouble of killing her ourselves."
"No," Marcus snapped. "Luna Celina wants proof. We need to find a body."
They looked for another hour before giving up. Amara didn't move until their footsteps faded completely. When she finally crawled out of her hiding spot, the sun was setting.
She had to keep moving. But which way? Every direction looked the same in the rising darkness. A branch snapped behind her. Amara spun around, raising her knife.
A man stepped out of the shadows. He was tall and strong, with bronze skin and dark brown hair tied back. His keen blue eyes studied her carefully.
"Easy," he said in a calm voice. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Stay back!" Amara's voice shook. "I'll fight you!"
The stranger smiled gently. "With that little knife? You're stronger than you look."
He raised his hands to show they were empty. "My name is Jaxon. Jaxon Vire."
Amara's eyes widened. She'd heard that name before. "You're the Alpha of Moonveil Pack."
"That's right." Jaxon took a careful step closer. "And you're running from Kade Blackthorn."
It wasn't a question. Somehow he already knew.
"How did you-"
"I've been watching the Blackthorn territory for weeks," Jaxon explained. "Kade's been acting strange. Making bad choices. And now I find a pregnant omega hiding in caves, running for her life."
Amara's free hand went to her stomach. "You know about the baby?"
"I can smell it on you," Jaxon said softly. "The scent of new life is unmistakable." His eyes hardened.
"And I can smell Kade's scent too. He's the father."
Tears filled Amara's eyes. "He doesn't want us. He told me to... to get rid of it."
Jaxon's jaw clenched. "That bastard. Even for Kade, that's low."
"You know him?"
"He's my cousin," Jaxon said sadly. "We used to be close, before power corrupted him."
He studied Amara's face. "What's your name?"
"Amara. Amara Hale."
Something flickered in Jaxon's face. "Hale? Your parents - what were their names?"
"Elena and Marcus Hale. They died when I was little." Amara frowned. "Why?"
Before Jaxon could answer, howls echoed through the trees again. Much closer this time.
"They're back," he said sadly. "We need to go. Now."
"We?" Jaxon's blue eyes met hers. "You can't live out here alone. Especially not carrying a child."
He held out his hand. "Come with me. I'll protect you." Amara paused. Could she trust this man? He was Kade's cousin. What if this was a trap?
"I know you don't trust me," Jaxon said, reading her thoughts. "But those trackers will find you soon. And when they do, they'll kill you both."
The howls were getting closer. Amara could hear voices now, rough and angry. "She has to be around here somewhere!"
"Check every cave!"
Amara looked at Jaxon's raised hand, then at the knife in her own. She had two choices: trust this stranger or face Celina's killers alone.
She took his hand.
Jaxon smiled and pulled her close. "Hold tight,"
he whispered. Before Amara could ask what he meant, Jaxon's body started to change. His bones cracked and stretched. His skin rippled. Within seconds, a huge bronze-colored wolf stood where the man had been.
The wolf lowered himself so Amara could climb onto his back. She grabbed handfuls of his thick fur just as the trackers burst through the trees.
"There!" Marcus shouted. "The omega's getting away!"
Jaxon took off running. Amara clung to his back as they raced through the trees. Branches whipped past her face. The wind roared in her ears. Behind them, she could hear the trackers giving chase. Their wolf forms were fast, but Jaxon was faster.
He leaped over fallen logs and dodged between trees like he knew every inch of these woods. After what felt like forever, they reached a river.
Jaxon dove into the cold water without slowing down. The river was strong, but he fought against it, carrying Amara safely to the other side. On the far bank, he changed back to human form. Amara slid off his back, her legs shaking.
"Are you alright?" Jaxon asked, breathing hard. Amara nodded, though she felt dizzy.
"Where are we?"
"Moonveil territory," Jaxon said. "You're safe here. Kade's trackers won't cross the line."
As if to make his point, angry howls echoed from the other side of the river. But the trackers didn't follow.
"Come on," Jaxon said softly. "Let's get you somewhere warm."
They walked for another hour before reaching a beautiful manor house hidden among tall pine trees. Unlike Kade's cold fortress, this place felt friendly.
"Welcome to Moonveil," Jaxon said. Inside, the house was warm and bright. Servants rushed to bring food and clean clothes. But Amara barely noticed. She was exhausted, scared, and still trying to understand everything that had happened.
"You need rest," Jaxon said, bringing her to a comfortable guest room. "Tomorrow we'll talk more."
As Amara sank onto the soft bed, one question burned in her mind. "Why are you helping me?"
Jaxon paused in the doorway. His blue eyes were sad and faraway. "Because twenty years ago, I failed to save your mother when she needed help. I won't make that mistake again."
Before Amara could ask what he meant, Jaxon was gone, leaving her alone with shocking questions and no answers.
What did Jaxon know about her mother? How were they connected? And why did she feel strange whenever he looked at her - like something was waking inside her chest?
Outside her window, the full moon cast silver light across the forest. Somewhere in that light, Amara felt a pull she didn't understand. A pull toward the man who had saved her life.
But back at Blackthorn land, another pair of eyes watched the moon with fury. Celina stood on her balcony, crushing a letter in her hand. The letter that told her Amara had escaped into Moonveil land. Beyond her reach.
For now. "Enjoy your safety while it lasts, little omega," Celina whispered into the night. "I'm not finished with you yet."
And in the deepest part of the forest, something old stirred. Something that had been waiting twenty years for Elena Hale's daughter to return. The real story was just starting.