Chapter 21

Prue

I walked steady out of the office, leaving them to enjoy their cozy little family chat – the kind that involved shocked faces, unspoken words, and hopefully some righteous scolding. But the moment the door clicked shut behind me, my stroll turned into a full-on dash down the stairs. I yanked out my little bottle of scent masker, spraying a generous cloud over myself before tucking it back into the handy hiding spot in my bra. Honestly, bras were life-saving inventions – storage units, shields, and smuggling compartments all in one.

I barely avoided crashing into an unsuspecting omega as I darted toward the main entrance, rounding the corner like a criminal on the run. Without a second thought, I made a beeline for the woods, slipping out the way I came in, as if I’d never been there in the first place. Mission semi-accomplished.

As soon as I hit the tree line, I slowed my pace, convinced I was in the clear. The forest floor crunched softly under my feet as I strolled along, whistling a mischievous little tune like the villain I was apparently destined to be. My mind replayed their stunned expressions, and I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Hopefully, he was getting properly roasted by his parents right now. Maybe they’d even agree with him – but either way, their faces had been priceless.

“So much for keeping me your dirty little secret, Alpha boy,” I whispered with a grin.

I was thoroughly enjoying my little victory parade when a sudden whoosh of air cut through the silence. And there he was – Andrew – standing in front of me shirtless, furious, and radiating heat like a barely contained storm. I nearly tripped at the sudden appearance but recovered quickly, biting the inside of my cheek to hold in the startled gasp. Shoooot.

“Where’s the rush?” I asked with a mocking smile, pretending to be unbothered. “Did you forget to tell me something?” I played it cool. I was good at that. Years of practice.

He didn’t appreciate the humor. “Yeah,” he said darkly. “I forgot something.” I didn’t have a good feeling about this.

“You.”

I arched an eyebrow, playing the clueless card. “Me? I’m still right here.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re coming with me.”

“Yeah, no,” I replied coolly, crossing my arms and lifting my chin defiantly. Why he still believed he could boss my around was beyond me.

“I’m going home.” My voice was sweetly condescending. “See you tomorrow at school. Or not.”

I glared at him and made to walk past him, but he was faster. He grabbed me around the waist, pulling me flush against his bare chest. The sudden press of his warm, bare skin sent an unwanted jolt through me. His scent curled around me like fog at dawn, soft but disorienting, scrambling my brain for a brief, infuriating moment. I glared harder to compensate.

“You’re coming with me back to the packhouse. Be a good girl for once, and don’t start one of your dramatic scenes,” he sneered. Why so salty? Still bitter I threw a wrench into your flawless plan to crash and burn so quickly, huh? My blood boiled. The nerve.

“I am a good girl” I purred sarcastically, “but only for my Daddy, who’s waiting for me at home.”

My voice dropped low. “Now take your filthy paws off me before I sink my nails into you and make you bleed like a stuck pig.”

My threatened with pure venom, sweetened with a fake smile worthy to get up on stage and portray Miss Universe. He raised an eyebrow, amused but unbothered.

“No can do,” he said flatly clearly bouncing back my own words. The nerve. I hate him.

Before I could react into his face, he effortlessly lifted me up and slung me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I kicked, twisted, and punched, but it was like fighting a wall of muscle. He held me firm – annoyingly solid for someone his age.

So, I changed tactics.

Stretching one clawed finger, I began etching upside-down letters into his skin.

“Stop that!” he growled.

Of course, I didn’t stop. My nail scratched fresh insults across his back – A-S-S, P-R-I-C-K, and B-R-A-T. The shallow cuts healed instantly, but the red traces were enough for my satisfaction. The giggles of a few children watching from the side made it all the better. Good, let them see. At least someone will remember apart from me.

“Tickle, tickle,” I mocked, without believing he could be ticklish.

“Pole, pole, wire, wire…” I draw patterns on his back like a bored child.

“Electricity!” At that final word, I willed my claws and drove them deep under his ribs. He gasped, buckled on one knee, and loosened his grip. With a swift motion, I sprang off his shoulder and landed gracefully, arms raised like an Olympic gymnast sticking a perfect landing after a triple salto.

“Ten out of ten, me,” I whispered to myself as I strode past him with my head high. I marched forward, deliberately keeping my pace steady, but I didn’t run – wolves chased when you ran. I walked calmly, hoping he might respect my exit.

But, of course, that hope lasted about ten seconds.

“Oh no, Prudence,” his voice growled behind me, hot on my heels. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I tried to pick up speed, but his hands snatched me up again with infuriating ease. He threw me over his shoulder once more and gave my a.ss a sharp smack that made me squeal in surprise.

“And don’t you dare pull that stunt again,” he warned with a dangerous edge. “Or I will punish you.”

I froze. He wouldn’t dare... would he? Like lock me up? Visions of cold, dark, tiny cells flashed through my mind – my worst nightmare. Small, suffocating spaces made my stomach twist – a relic from some forgotten trauma I had no interest in revisiting.

For now, I went limp, playing dead like a floppy doll. My arms dangled uselessly as he carried me along, and the giggles from the watching children grew louder. Perfect. The audience was enjoying the show.

But then another idea sparked in my mind. I mentally facepalmed — why didn’t I think of that sooner? So much for being the smart one, huh?

In a flash, I shifted, shredding my last smart casual clothes as my wolf form exploded free. Caught off guard by the sudden shift in weight and size made Andrew stumbling to his knees, his hands digging into the earth to brace himself.

My wolf didn’t waste a second. She bolted into the trees, legs pumping with speed and grace as we darted toward the border.

“PRUDENCE!” Andrew’s voice roared behind us, but it was too late.

Seconds later, we had crossed the border, his furious shouts fading into the distance as the forest swallowed us whole.

My wolf kept running, paws pounding the forest floor, but my human mind was already grinning. Take that, Alpha boy. I could almost picture his face, twisted in frustration, probably plotting a dozen ways to skin me alive once he caught me. If he caught me. Which, obviously, he wouldn’t. Not today.

Freedom tasted sweet. The cool air rushed past my face, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, replacing his suffocating presence with the wild, untamed promise of the woods.

He thought he could control me? Please. He’d have to try harder than that.

But what will I do with him at school? Will he try to kidnap me from there?

I groaned inwardly. Would he drag me out during lunch? Block the exit? Corner me in the hallway with that stupid smug smirk of his? Ugh.

I might have escaped for now, but tomorrow? Tomorrow, I might need a full-on battle plan. Or at least a solid escape route and a big enough distraction. Maybe release the fire alarm. Or bribe the cafeteria ladies to dump spaghetti on him.

Yep. I’ll need to get creative.