Chapter 25

Alanza’s POV

"That bastard was here."

Sombra's voice was a low rumble in my head, rough like a snarl. The dog body she wore paced the small bedroom, hackles stiff, sniffing every corner. She was intimidating even as a husky.

"He won't harm you," she confirmed, her lip curling slightly. "I can smell his regret with every step he took."

The fear I’d felt earlier rushed back, stronger now. The refreshed feeling I had before seeing the sign of him was gone. My legs turned to water, and I collapsed onto the floor.

"What am I going to do? I can't stay here," I whispered, pressing my hands to my temples. "If he found me, that means Dad can find me."

Perhaps. Sombra stretched, letting out a large, theatrical yawn before fixing me with a direct stare. I would not worry yet, cub. You are not as defenseless as you once were. And you cannot run forever.

"But—"

You cannot run forever, she repeated, the mental push behind the words sharp.

The panic fluttering against my ribs stilled me. I couldn't argue with her. One day, you might have to fight back.

Fight back? The idea had never entered my mind. How could a wolfless defect like me fight anyone?

You are not wolfless, she reminded me, circling once before settling onto the couch cushions. You are strong. You have me. We will not return to your pack.

"What will we do?" I asked, feeling helpless.

Sombra yawned again, settling her head on her paws. Live, she said simply. Just as you have been. Do not borrow trouble before it finds you.

I sighed and let my head fall back against the couch, trying to soak up the simple command: Just live. It sounded so easy when Sombra said it.

She lifted her head, her piercing blue eyes fixing on me. You cannot keep going as you have been, though. Your body is soft. Weak. You must strengthen it.

A frown pulled at my mouth. "What do you mean?"

She nudged my arm with her cold, wet nose. Exercise. Train your body as you would your mind. You cannot rely solely on me to protect you forever.

I blinked at her. I’d had to run for months. I wasn’t completely soft. But compared to shifters, I knew she saw me as frail. She wanted me to get fit, build muscle, increase my stamina. The thought brought a tremor of fear, but I couldn't deny the logic.

If Teo, or anyone from my old pack, came for me again, I needed to defend myself. Becoming strong enough to fight back was the only path to true, lasting freedom.

I nodded slowly, steeling my resolve. "Okay. What do I need to do?"

The next morning, I approached Mrs. Elkins at The Novel Grind. "I need to leave early three days a week," I told her, putting on my best serious face. I gave her a vague story about a new evening class I decided to take. I didn't dare tell her the truth.

Mrs. Elkins's brow furrowed, but she didn't pry. "Of course, dear. As long as your work is done before you leave, I don't mind at all."

Relief washed over me, tight and warm. "Thank you, Mrs. Elkins. I really appreciate your understanding."

She gave me one of her soft, grandmotherly smiles. "Not a problem, Alanza. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

I forced a smile in return. Her kindness was a sharp ache in my chest. If she only knew the real reason I needed to leave early.

That evening, the training started. Sombra had me doing basic exercises in the small living room: push-ups, sit-ups, air squats. A hundred of each. My muscles burned with the sudden exertion, but I grit my teeth and pushed through the pain.

This became our new routine. Three nights a week, after leaving work early, I met with a self-defense instructor Sombra had somehow found. His name was Kiko, an older packless wolf. His lined face and calloused hands showed a hard life, but his pale blue eyes held a steady kindness that calmed me.

To Kiko, Sombra was just a large husky who tagged along with her owner. He never seemed to notice anything unusual about her, which was probably for the best. I wasn't sure how I would explain the truth even if I wanted to.

The training was grueling. Kiko ran me through basic strikes, blocks, and simple takedowns, pushing me past what I thought my limits were. I often left each session bruised, my body screaming in protest.

But I kept going, driven by Sombra's firm encouragement. With each passing week, I could feel a change. I was getting stronger. My endurance was better. My movements felt more fluid, more precise.

I was toughening up, preparing myself for whatever came next. I wouldn't be a helpless victim waiting for rescue anymore.

A few nights a week, I still noticed Luciano’s scent in my apartment when I got home. I had changed the locks, but he still found a way in. I didn't know how to feel about it, so I tried not to think about him too much.

More shifters had started appearing in town, stopping by The Novel Grind. I overheard them talking about a brewing war between the Crystal Lake and Westwood packs. I wanted to know more, but digging up information was hard. Werewolves kept their pack politics quiet. I couldn't just search the news online.

No one seemed to be talking about me anymore, though. I didn't know what that meant, and I was too afraid to find out. Maybe I should talk to the pack alpha here, but I couldn't risk him handing me over to my family.

So, I just lived. Like Sombra said. I went to work. I trained with Kiko.

I wasn't at ease, even though Sombra seemed unconcerned. I kept looking over my shoulder these days. Aside from the lingering scent of Luciano on my things, nothing felt different.

Until now.

I pasted on my customer service smile as a figure stepped up to the counter. "Hello. What would you like to order today? We are currently running a special on all our hot coffee."

The person across from me gave me a look that wasn't confused, but… knowing. They didn't even glance at the menu.

"I’ll just have the usual, Alanza. I’m not running from trouble this time."