The forest stretched endlessly before Mira, its silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of her boots against the earth. The dawn's faint glow filtered through the trees, casting long shadows that seemed to reach for her. Every step toward the border felt like a weight lifting from her chest, even as her heart ached with every step she took away from Kaelan.
She clutched her cloak tightly, the chill of the early morning biting at her skin. Her mind raced, replaying the conversation she had overheard between Kaelan and his father. The words were still sharp in her memory—the council demanding a second mate, Kaelan’s defiance, and the impossible pressure weighing him down.
“I can’t stay,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the wind. “He deserves peace, not this constant battle.”
As she neared the border, the faint glow of the boundary stones came into view, their dull light marking the edge of Kaelan’s territory. Her steps quickened, hope sparking in her chest. She was almost free.
But just as she reached the clearing, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking her path.
“Well, well,” a familiar voice drawled, laced with mockery. “Running away, Mira? And here I thought you’d at least leave a note.”
Her breath caught in her throat as Gareth stepped forward, his smirk cutting through the cold morning air. His posture was relaxed, but the glint in his eyes was anything but.
“Gareth,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “What are you doing here?”
He spread his arms wide, feigning innocence. “Oh, just taking a stroll. Lucky me, I happened to run into the Luna of the pack sneaking off like a thief in the night.”
“I’m not the Luna,” Mira replied, her voice sharp. “Let me pass.”
Gareth’s smirk deepened, and he stepped closer, blocking her way. “Not so fast. You see, your little departure throws a wrench in some very important plans. Plans that Liana and I have worked very hard to set in motion.”
Mira took a step back, her pulse quickening. “This has nothing to do with you, Gareth. Let me go.”
He tilted his head, his expression turning cold. “Oh, but it has everything to do with me. You’re not just running away—you’re trying to escape the consequences of your choices. And I can’t have that.”
Before she could respond, Gareth lunged. His hand shot out, gripping her arm with bruising force. Mira gasped, her instincts kicking in as she struggled against his hold.
“Let me go!” she shouted, twisting in his grip.
Gareth laughed, his voice low and mocking. “Or what, Mira? You’ll use your little magic trick again? Go ahead, show me what you’re really made of.”
Mira’s fear turned to anger, and she stomped down hard on his foot, throwing her weight to the side. Gareth let out a grunt of pain but didn’t release her, his grip tightening as he yanked her closer.
“You’re feistier than I thought,” he sneered, his breath hot against her face. “But that won’t save you.”
Mira clenched her fists, her heart pounding as adrenaline surged through her. She swung her free arm, her fist connecting with his jaw. The force of the blow startled Gareth, his head snapping to the side.
“You little—” he growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
Mira didn’t wait for him to recover. She wrenched her arm free and darted toward the border, her feet pounding against the forest floor. But Gareth was faster than she anticipated. He tackled her from behind, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Mira hit the earth hard, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She struggled beneath Gareth’s weight, clawing at the ground as she tried to break free.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Gareth hissed, pinning her arms above her head.
Mira thrashed, her desperation giving her strength. “Get off me!” she screamed, her voice echoing through the trees.
A spark of heat flared in her chest, the same primal energy she had felt during the attack at the ceremony. It surged through her veins, wild and uncontrollable. Mira focused on the sensation, willing it to rise, to help her.
Gareth must have sensed the change, his smirk faltering as he tightened his grip. “What are you—”
Before he could finish, a burst of light erupted from Mira’s body, the force throwing Gareth backward. He hit the ground with a thud, groaning as he tried to regain his bearings.
Mira scrambled to her feet, her chest heaving. Her hands glowed faintly, the remnants of the energy still pulsing through her. She looked at Gareth, who was slowly rising, his expression a mix of rage and disbelief.
“You think that’ll stop me?” he snarled, wiping blood from his lip.
Mira didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and ran, her legs burning as she pushed herself toward the border. The stones were just ahead, their glow brighter now as the dawn fully broke.
Behind her, Gareth’s footsteps grew louder, his curses filling the air.
She reached the boundary and stopped, her chest heaving as she looked back. Gareth stood a few feet away, his face twisted with fury.
“This isn’t over, Mira,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom.