Chapter 4

Kaia POV

I watch them walk away into the distance, my mind spinning at what I had just heard.

Kidney donation?

I never thought that Than’s purpose was to use my kidney to save Alora...

This is ridiculous!

So, from beginning to end I was a meaningless existence to him. He only thought of me as just an organ donor...even though we were mates for goddess’s sake.

He was only with me for a kidney. How could he be like this...cruel!

My brain couldn’t think anymore, and the strong buzzing of overthinking was giving me a splitting headache. What little hope I had was shattered and I couldn’t find any reason to continue living.

“You need to remain strong...” My wolf’s encouraging words filter into my mind.

“...you are with child.”

“Yes, you’re right.” I wipe away my tears, I must stay strong for the baby. I couldn’t just sit back and wait for death. I now have an innocent child to fight for.

Suddenly, I feel as if all eyes and ears of the pack are on me, all serving Than, spies all ready to betray me.

I can’t remain, I can’t stay and wait for Alora to wake, wait for my death. I can’t trust anybody.

I have no choice... Run!

I must run...

....

It’s been a week since I decided to leave, and I haven’t seen Than during this entire week.

This morning Freya said that Alora had physical reactions, showing more signs of her imminent reawakening.

Thinking she may wake in the next few days, I planned my escape already but have now pushed it forward to tonight. I couldn’t wait any longer.

At midnight, I waited until the cover of darkness to executive my plan of escape.

I try my best to avoid places where pack members were on duty. I knew I needed to get to the gate, hoping the midnight shift change may be my opportunity to elude the guards.

I’m using the path that runs adjacent to the training field, thinking no one should be training now.

Only to find Than exercising with a warrior...shit.

I duck behind a tree praying to the moon goddess that I hadn’t been seen.

They both stop, looking towards the wooded area, my heart thumping outside of my chest as I hide behind a tree.

“Kaia?” His eyes scan the area as I feel him push on my mind-link. Shit! He must have seen me after all.

Closing my eyes to concentrate, I don’t give anything away.

I make it seem like I am asleep...not even attempting to push him out of my mind.

Only moving again when he returns to training.

Now changing my route, I manage to get close to the gate remaining undetected.

I watch from the shadows, waiting for the most opportune time to escape when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I sense someone now behind me.

“What are you doing?” Than finds me crouched down, a humorous smirk upon his face.

Was my life funny to him?

“I’m leaving Than. I’m not staying anymore.” I stand up, straightening my back.

“I don’t think so...” He takes a step towards me but is interrupted by the warrior he was training with. “Alpha? Beta Zane says you need to return to the hospital...”

“Not now.”

“He says, she’s awake?” The warrior seems to not understand the own words relaying on his lips from the beta’s mind-link.

Than stares me down for a moment before spinning on his heel, his warrior following him.

I am now left alone, this was my only chance...her reawakening giving me a chance to leave.

I don’t give the pack grounds another look, I run straight out of the gate.

........

I kept running until I reached the nearest city. It didn’t take long for Than to know I left through those gates...his warriors tracking me throughout the night.

I manage to find a secluded coffee shop where I find time to rest, my feet are burning and my throat is dry from thirst.

I am pregnant and have no pack. What should I do now? I’m not entirely sure but I know no matter what challenges are ahead of me, I refuse to return to the Amber Desert pack...to Than.

“You aren’t from around here, which pack are you from?” The silver haired elderly coffee shop owner asks as he refills my coffee cup. He’s been watching me for a while now, knowing I am not human like the other customers.

“No, I’m looking for someone...someone who was last seen at a pack...”

“Which pack?” He mutters under his breath, keeping his voice low.

“The Dark Phantom pack?” I shrug my shoulders not expecting him to have heard of the pack, but I catch his eyes glaze over slightly into a mind-link.

“What business have you with that pack?”

“I’m trying to track someone down. Do you have a map? Can you show me the location?” I ask with slight hope, but he shakes his head before returning to his regular customers.

I remain for around another hour, the owner ignoring my attempts at making eye contact with him. He hasn’t returned once to me but has all the other customers.

I return my used coffee cup to the counter, readying to settle my bill when the cute bell rings signalling the door has been opened.

That’s when the most intoxicating scent hits me.

Burnt oranges with dark chocolate.

The smell invades my nostrils, the scent causing my mouth to salivate.

With my back on the door, I turn, but I already find a tall strong male engulfing my frame from behind.

“I hear you’ve been asking about me?”