KAYLA POINT OF VIEW

I barely slept that night. I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, my heart was broken, my mind was hazy. There was no way I was going to stand beside Aiden and pretend like everything was fine. He betrayed me, and my parents wanted me to marry him anyway? Never, that isn't going to happen..

I was thinking of my next plan, and hopeful about it. I'm done being my parent play thing.

When the first light of dawn broke through my window, I sat up. My bag was already packed, just a few clothes, some money, and my old necklace. I didn’t know where I would go, but anywhere was better than here.

As I reached for the door, it creaked open from outside. My mother slipped in, closing it behind her. She looked at my bag, then at me. Her eyes were red from crying.

"Mom?" I whispered.

She walked over and sat beside me on the bed. For a moment, she just held my hand, squeezing it tight.

"You really want to leave?" she asked softly.

I nodded, tears welling up again. "I can’t marry him, Mom. I won’t."

She looked at me for a long time, then brushed my hair back like she used to when I was little. "I know," she whispered. "And you shouldn’t have to."

I stared at her, surprised. "But last night you said...."

"I said what your father wanted to hear," she said quickly. "Kayla, listen to me. He cares too much about what people say. But you… you’re my child, my only child. I won’t let them force you to stand beside that boy after what he did. I always promise to protect you and be there for you, and I'm going to do that now."

A sob escaped my throat. "Mom…"

She put her finger to my lips. "Shh...listen. There’s a bus that leaves for Silver Creek before dawn. It passes near the border. You can take it to your aunt’s old cabin in the woods. Nobody will find you there. I’ve already packed you some food."

She reached into her pocket and handed me a small folded envelope. I opened it, it was filled with cash, enough to survive with for a while.

"I can’t come with you, sweetheart," she said, her voice breaking. "But I can help you leave. And I will always check on you through your aunt."

I threw my arms around her, hugging her tight. "Thank you, Mom. Thank you."

She held me for a moment longer, then pulled back and wiped my tears. "Go now! Take the back door. I’ll keep your father busy."

I grabbed my bag, my heart beating heavily, but this time, it felt more alive than ever. I slipped out through the back door. As I step out, I saw people moving about, guest, family, friends, getting ready for the wedding. They look happy, about to witness the biggest wedding in the pack.

"Too bad the bride won't show up," I said, wiping off the lone tear that manage to slip out of my right eyes. I pulled my cap low, holding my umbrella firmly, enough to cover my face. When so one was in sight I ran out immediately. My feet felt light on the ground as I ran toward the road.

FLASHBACK ENDS

At the bus stop, I looked back only once, back at the house where I’d grown up, where everything had fallen apart overnight.

I wasn’t that same girl anymore. I was done crying.

When the bus arrived, I climbed on without looking back again.

The bus dropped me off at the edge of the pack land, right by an old wooden sign that said Silver creak. No doubt Silver Creak is the largest and most famous pack, and their Alpha Zuko is known for being brutal, ruthless and unforgiving.

I took in a deep breath, praying everything goes as plan. I held my bag close and started walking down the road that lead to the pack boarder, trying to calm my racing heart.

All I wanted was to hide, from the whole world, from Aiden, from my father. Immediately I got to the boarder, as I was about crossing the small demarcation, then I heard footsteps behind me. It sounds like a lot of people where coming to my direction.

I froze, nowhere to run to, silently hoping it wasn't Aiden and my father people that caught me.

"Stop right there." The voice said, making me turn around slowly, hoping for the worst.

I froze. My heart jumped. I turned slowly

A man was standing in right in front of me. He looked young, and strong, with dark hair and broad shoulders. His uniform has a single silver stripe, it was obvious he is the Beta. His eyes were sharp, and the way he stared at me made my chest tighten. I didn’t know him, but my wolf did, she woke up inside me, restless.

"Who are you?" he asked. His voice was deep, calm, but there was something rough in it too.

"I’m to pay my aunt a visit, she live at Benvly Street." I replied at once, clutching my bag firmly to myself.

He didn’t move. He just stood there, looking at me like he could see through me. Then he took a slow step closer. I could see the way his nose twitched, like he was trying to smell something in the air.

"You can’t enter my pack without clearance," he said. His eyes dropped to my lips, then back to my face. It made my skin burn, I couldn't deny I was affected by that small gesture.

I stepped back. "I didn’t know I needed to be accepted before coming here. I just needed somewhere to stay for a while. That’s all."

He moved closer again, close enough that I could feel his warmth. He looked confused, and something else too. Hungry, lustful, I guess.

"What’s your name?" he asked. His voice was softer now, but there was a shake in it, like he was holding back something.

"Kayla," I said quietly.

"Kayla." He repeated it under his breath, like he was testing how it tasted on his tongue. Kayla.

His hand twitched like he wanted to touch me. My skin prickled. I didn’t want him close. I didn’t want him at all.

I pushed him back, my palm flat on his chest. "Don’t touch me!"

He stumbled a little but didn’t look angry. He just stared at me, like I had done something he didn’t expect. "You can't just go anywhere without me knowing anything about you, who knows if you're a spy or a rogue."

I stare at him in awe, all my nerve at alert, "No, no, no. I'm not a spy, I came...."

"Shussh," he said placing his hand of his lips to cut me off. "Guards," he called and four hefty looking guy came forward.

I began to walk back before I could start running his voice stopped me. "Don't try it, if you do it won't end well for you." he uttered, tracing my movement with his eyes. "Guard, bring her with me, she has to meet the Alpha, then he decides her fate."

Two guards grabbed my arms, not rough but firm enough that I knew I couldn’t run even if I tried. The Beta didn’t say another word. He just kept glancing at me when he thought I wasn’t looking, his jaw tight, like he was fighting something inside him, the same thing I was also fighting.

They led me through trees to the pack grounds. The Silver Creek Pack was nothing like home, it has tall buildings, training grounds, people moving everywhere. And they all stopped to stare at me. A stranger. An intruder.

I kept my head down and hugged my bag to my chest. My wolf was awake, restless under my skin. She didn’t feel afraid, but I did.

They pushed me through a big wooden door into what looked like an office but felt like a throne room. Dark walls, a giant desk, chairs lined up like someone was about to hold court.

"Wait here," the Beta said, his eyes still burning into mine. He turned and left me with the guards at my sides.

I didn’t know how long I stood there, but every second made my heartbeat louder. I thought about running again. But where would I go?

The door swung open. I lifted my eyes, and froze.

He walked in like he owned the air itself. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair a bit messy like he’d just run his hand through it. His eyes were the first thing I noticed, cold, clear, sharp enough to slice right through me.

The Alpha, Alpha Zuko.

The moment his eyes landed on me, the room felt too small. Too hot. Something heavy pressed down on my chest, my wolf pushed at my ribs so hard I almost gasped.

He stopped a few steps in front of me. His eyes narrowed. I saw his nostrils flare slightly, he was scenting me. The bond hit him too. I saw it. The confusion, the sudden hunger in his stare.

He took a slow step closer. I stumbled back but the guards held me in place.

"Name?" His voice was deeper than the Beta’s. Rougher too. It scraped across my skin and made my breath hitch.

"Kayla," I whispered.

He said nothing, just looked at me. His eyes dropped to my lips, my throat, my hands clutching my bag. Then back to my eyes. Like he was searching for something only he could see.

The Beta cleared his throat behind him. "Alpha, she crossed the border without..."

"Quiet." The Alpha didn’t even look at him. His eyes stayed on me.

His hand twitched at his side like he wanted to reach for me. My wolf wanted him closer. I didn’t, I hated it. I hated how my knees went weak.

His voice dropped to a growl. "Mine."

My breath caught. The Beta stiffened. His eyes snapped from me to the Alpha, and I saw it hit him too. Because, I'm basically feeling the same thing right now.

Right when I saw the Beta at the border, I felt the mate bond, and right here right now, I'm feeling this with another man, can't my life get any better.

The Alpha stepped closer until he was right in front of me. I could feel his heat, his power. His scent wrapped around me like chains.

"You ran here," he said, softer now. "From who?"

I wanted to answer but my throat closed up. He leaned closer, so close I could feel his breath on my cheek.

"You’re not leaving," he murmured. "Not now."

And then he turned his head slightly, glaring at the Beta behind him. His voice was sharp as a blade.

"Everyone out. Now."

The guards looked at each other. The Beta didn’t move.

"Alpha.."

"I said out!" the Alpha barked.

The room emptied in seconds. The door shut. I was alone with him. My heart slammed against my ribs.

He stepped closer, and my wolf whispered mate over and over in my head.

I wanted to run. But I couldn’t move. His eyes burned into mine as he reached out fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my face.

"You’re mine," he growled, fingers brushing my hair.