Chapter 1
851words
Rain batters the windshield, the forest road vanishing into shadow and mist.
My fingers lock on the wheel, knuckles white. The wolf inside me stirs, uneasy.
The phone buzzes again. Marcus. I don't have to look.
*You think you can run from me? I'll find you. I always find what's mine.*
*I've already called every pack in three states. Told them you're unstable, dangerous. No one will help you.*
*Remember what happened to that waitress? Keep running and I'll show you what REAL pain feels like if you don't come home.*
My stomach twists. He'd broken that waitress's arm for "disrespect,” then made sure she lost her job.
He'd called it a lesson in pack hierarchy. I called it what it was—abuse.
Three years trapped as the Silver Lake alpha's "mate.” No freedom. No contact. His violence left scars my werewolf healing couldn't erase.
Through the sheets of rain, a sign emerges: RAVENHOLLOW.
Thea's home. My last hope.
I check my burner phone, the one Marcus doesn't know about.
The last message from Thea still glows on the screen: Come to Ravenhollow when you're ready. It's different here. You'll be safe.
Main Street materializes, storefronts glowing against the darkening sky. I park outside a diner, its windows warm with light.
Inside, heat and the smell of coffee wrap around me. Beneath it—wolf scent.
Not like Silver Lake's, sharp and hostile. Softer.
Conversations pause as I enter, then resume after curious glances.
I slide into a booth in the corner, keeping my back to the wall, escape route clear. A waitress with amber eyes approaches.
"Rough night?" she asks, nodding at my rain-soaked appearance.
"Rough year," I mutter.
She smiles. "Coffee might help with the journey, at least.”
"Thanks.” I hesitate. "Do you know Thea Winters? My sister.”
Recognition flashes in her eyes. "You're Selene."
I tense. "She mentioned me?”
"All the time.” Her nametag reads Maya. She lowers her voice. "She's been waiting for you.”
"Is she here? Working tonight?"
"She called in yesterday. Said she needed personal time.” Maya slips me a napkin with an address.
The diner door opens, bringing a gust of rain-scented air and a powerful wolf scent that makes me instinctively straighten. Another alpha.
A tall man with rain-darkened black hair enters, his features sharp and severe. Several patrons nod respectfully as he passes. His amber-gold eyes scan the diner, pausing when they reach me.
Perhaps it's because this town is quite small in scale, they all seem to know each other. The Alpha's eyes immediately lock onto me, the outsider.
I look away quickly, focusing on my coffee. I've learned the hard way not to hold an alpha's gaze too long.
"Alpha Kieran,” Maya says respectfully as he approaches, her posture straightening slightly, "this is Selene. Thea's sister.”
"I see the resemblance," he says, voice deep and rich. "Thea has your eyes."
I force myself to look up, my voice carefully steady despite the power radiating from him. "You know my sister?”
"She's one of my best employees." He slides into the booth across from me without asking. Typical alpha behavior.
But unlike Marcus, he leaves space. Doesn't crowd me. Doesn't try to dominate the conversation with his presence alone.
"Have you seen her recently?" I ask, worry creeping back in.
"Not since yesterday morning. Said she needed time. It's not like her.”
"No," I agree, unease growing. "It's not like her at all."
Maya sets coffee in front of Kieran without him asking. "She mentioned her sister might be visiting," she says. "Said she was excited."
I blink in surprise. How did Thea know I was coming when I'd only decided to flee yesterday?
"I need to find her," I say, standing. "Thank you for the address."
"I'll come with you," Kieran says, rising as well.
I bristle automatically. "I don't need an escort."
A smile tugs at his lips, transforming his severe features into something unexpectedly appealing.
"Not offering to escort you. Those back roads are tricky in this weather, and I need to check on her anyway. She missed our pack meeting this morning."
I hesitate, my experiences with alphas making me wary. But finding Thea is more important than my discomfort.
"My car—"
"Will be fine here," Maya interjects. "I can have someone bring it to Thea's later."
Ten minutes later, I'm in Kieran's truck, the heater chasing away the chill as we drive through rain-slicked streets.
Neither of us speaks, but I remain alert, watching for any sign this is a trap.
"You're jumpy,” Kieran says, breaking the silence.
I swallow, debating how much to reveal. "I have my reasons.”
"Bad experiences with other packs?”
"Something like that.” I turn slightly toward the window, making it clear the topic is closed.
He doesn't push further, and the silence returns, punctuated only by the rhythmic sweep of windshield wipers against the strengthening rain.
We pull up to a small cabin nestled among towering pines. No lights shine from within.
"Thea?" I call as we approach the porch. No answer.
