CHAPTER SIX - Hunted

A cold wave of dread washed over Evelyn as the scent of Silvercrest wolves grew stronger. Her muscles tensed, instincts screaming at her to run. But she didn’t.

Not this time.

Ronan was already moving, his body taut with readiness as he positioned himself in front of her. His sharp amber eyes scanned the treeline, tracking the approaching wolves before they even appeared.

Evelyn’s heart pounded as she inhaled deeply.

Three. No—four.

She recognized one of them instantly.

Beta Marcus.

Her breath hitched. He was Damien’s most trusted warrior—his second-in-command. If Marcus was here, it meant Damien had sent him.

They had tracked her.

The realization sent a sharp, bitter feeling coursing through her. Not because she missed them. Not because she longed to go back.

But because she hadn’t run far enough.

The rustling in the underbrush grew louder, and then they emerged—four wolves, their sleek coats shining under the morning light.

Marcus was the first to shift back. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features and dark, calculating eyes. His expression was unreadable, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath the surface.

“Evelyn.” His voice was smooth, almost too calm.

She forced herself to meet his gaze. “Marcus.”

His eyes flickered to Ronan, scanning him with mild interest before returning to her. “You’ve been hard to find.”

Evelyn clenched her fists. “Wasn’t trying to be found.”

Marcus tilted his head slightly, as if considering her words. Then he sighed. “The Alpha wants you back.”

Her stomach twisted, bile rising in her throat.

Damien wanted her back?

No. No, that couldn’t be right. He had rejected her—cast her aside like she was nothing. So why would he send warriors to retrieve her?

She squared her shoulders. “Tell Damien I don’t take orders from him anymore.”

Marcus’s lips twitched, as if she had just said something amusing. “You were his mate, Evelyn. That bond doesn’t just disappear because you decided to run.”

Her nails dug into her palms. “He made it disappear when he rejected me.”

For the first time, something flickered across Marcus’s face—something close to pity. It made her stomach churn.

“Come back,” he said, his voice softening. “Make this easy.”

Evelyn took a step back, shaking her head. “No.”

She wouldn’t go back. She couldn’t.

Marcus sighed again, but this time, his expression hardened. “Don’t be difficult.”

Ronan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “She said no.”

Evelyn shivered at the quiet authority in his tone.

Marcus turned his gaze to Ronan, studying him more closely now. “You must be the rogue who’s been keeping her.”

Ronan didn’t react. “She doesn’t belong to you.”

Marcus’s lips curled. “She doesn’t belong to you either.”

Ronan stepped forward, his presence radiating something dangerous. “She belongs to herself.”

The air between them crackled with tension.

Evelyn could see the other three wolves shifting on their feet, their eyes darting between their Beta and Ronan, as if waiting for an order.

Marcus exhaled, shaking his head. “This isn’t your fight, lone wolf.”

Ronan’s jaw clenched. “It is now.”

Then—chaos.

Marcus lunged first, shifting mid-air, his powerful wolf form a blur of gray fur and bared teeth. The other wolves followed instantly, launching themselves toward Ronan.

Evelyn didn’t think. She shifted.

Pain flared through her still-healing body, but she ignored it, her silver wolf snarling as she threw herself into the fight.

She barely had time to react before one of the wolves—a dark brown male—charged her.

She dodged, twisting her body just in time to avoid his snapping jaws. He was fast, but she had trained for this. Even if she hadn’t been Silvercrest’s Luna, she had been their warrior.

He lunged again, but this time, she countered.

Her teeth sank into his shoulder, and he yelped, staggering back. She didn’t let up. She darted forward, ramming into him with all the force she had, knocking him to the ground.

But then—pain.

Sharp teeth clamped down on her hind leg, dragging her backward. She yelped, twisting to fight, but the weight of another wolf crashed into her side.

She hit the ground hard.

The world spun, and for a terrifying second, she thought—this is it.

Then, a blur of black fur.

Ronan.

His massive wolf collided with the wolf pinning her, a feral growl ripping from his throat. His strength was terrifying—he sent the attacker flying several feet before turning on the next one.

Evelyn scrambled to her feet, her leg throbbing. But there was no time to recover.

Marcus was circling her now, his gray wolf’s eyes locked onto hers.

Evelyn bared her teeth, ignoring the pain.

Come on, then.

Marcus lunged.

She met him head-on, their bodies colliding in a violent clash of fur and claws.

He was strong. Too strong.

His weight bore down on her, forcing her onto her back. His teeth snapped inches from her throat, but she kicked upward, pushing him off just enough to wriggle free.

She barely had time to react before he lunged again.

This time, his teeth closed around her shoulder.

Agony.

Evelyn howled, her vision flashing white. She twisted, desperately clawing at him, trying to break free.

Then—Ronan’s roar.

It was deep and deadly, the kind of sound that made even battle-hardened wolves pause.

A blur of black fur. A sickening crack.

Marcus was ripped away from her, his body slammed into the ground.

Ronan’s massive paws pinned him down, his jaws hovering just above Marcus’s exposed throat.

For a moment, no one moved.

Evelyn panted, blood dripping from her shoulder, her silver fur matted and stained.

Marcus lay beneath Ronan, chest rising and falling rapidly.

The other Silvercrest wolves froze, eyes flicking between their Beta and the rogue standing over him.

A silent standoff.

Then, Ronan let go.

He stepped back, his towering form still radiating dominance.

Marcus slowly shifted back into his human form, coughing as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees. He wiped blood from his mouth, glancing at Evelyn with something almost unreadable in his gaze.

Then, he looked at Ronan.

“This isn’t over.” His voice was hoarse but filled with certainty.

He turned to the others. “We’re leaving.”

The Silvercrest wolves hesitated.

But they obeyed.

One by one, they shifted and disappeared into the trees.

Evelyn didn’t move until their scents faded completely.

Then, and only then, did she let herself collapse.

Strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.

Ronan.

She was too exhausted to protest as he lifted her easily, carrying her back toward the cabin.

Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to look at him. “Why?”

He didn’t ask what she meant. He just held her tighter, his voice quiet but firm.

“You’re not theirs anymore.”

Then, darkness claimed her.