Chapter 4

Kat's POV

We kept running, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The sound of heavy paws pounding against the forest floor was getting closer, the snarls of the rogues echoing through the trees. They were catching up.

Suddenly, my mother stopped so fast that I almost crashed into her. She spun around, gripping my face between her trembling hands. Her eyes, usually so warm, were filled with fear and determination.

“Kat, listen to me,” she said, her voice firm but shaking. “I love you, baby. But you have to keep running.”

I shook my head, my throat tightening. “No! I won’t leave you!”

She pressed her forehead against mine for a brief second. “You have to. I’ll find you when this is over. I promise.”

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But deep down, a terrible feeling settled in my stomach.

Before I could argue, she pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me like it was the last time.

Then—she let go.

She turned away from me and ran toward the rogues.

“Mom! No!” I screamed, reaching for her, but she was already shifting into her wolf.

Her dark fur shimmered under the moonlight as she lunged at the nearest rogue, her growl fierce and unyielding. The rogues didn't hesitate—they attacked her all at once, their snarls mixing with the rustling of the trees.

I stood frozen, my body refusing to move. My mother fought desperately, her claws slashing, her teeth sinking into flesh. But there were too many of them.

Her golden eyes met mine for a second, filled with urgency.

"Run!"

Her voice was in my head, commanding, begging.

A rogue turned toward me, his blood-red eyes locking onto mine.

That was when my feet finally moved.

I turned and ran.

The forest blurred around me as I crashed through bushes, my legs aching, my lungs burning. I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

Behind me, I could still hear the growls, the fighting, my mother’s fierce snarls mixed with the rogues’ brutal attacks.

Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away and kept running.

I had to get away.

Branches scraped against my arms, cutting into my skin, but I didn’t slow down.

My breath came in short, painful gasps. My body begged for rest, but I pushed forward.

The trees around me felt endless, their tall, shadowy figures stretching high into the dark sky. The forest was eerily quiet now—too quiet. I could no longer hear the growls, the snapping jaws, or my mother’s voice.

What was happening?

Was she okay?

I wanted to turn back so badly, but her words echoed in my head. “Run, Kat! Keep running!”

So I forced myself to push forward.

My feet stumbled over tree roots, my body sore from the crash, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I didn’t know where I was going—only that I had to keep moving. If the rogues caught me, it would all be for nothing.

Then, up ahead, I saw something—a border.

It was faint, but I could feel it. A shift in the air, a scent I didn’t recognize. A pack’s border.

I had made it.

I staggered forward, my legs barely able to hold me up anymore. My heart pounded in my chest, my throat dry from crying. My mother wasn’t with me. She was still back there. Fighting.

And I had left her.

The guilt hit me like a punch to the stomach, but before I could take another step, my vision blurred.

My body swayed. My knees buckled.

I tried to stay awake, but exhaustion won.

As I collapsed to the ground, my body gave out completely. My vision blurred, and the last thing I saw was a shadowy figure standing above me. Then—everything went black.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the soft beeping of a machine. My body ached all over, but the pain wasn’t as sharp as before. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Where am I?

I turned my head and saw that I was lying in a bed, my arms wrapped in bandages. The room smelled like antiseptic and fresh linen, and I realized I was in what looked like a pack hospital.

Panic filled my chest as memories of the attack came rushing back. My mom. The rogues. The running. I sat up too quickly, pain shooting through my side.

Just then, the door opened, and a man in his twenties, wearing a white coat, walked in. His kind eyes met mine as he smiled. “You’re awake,” he said. “That’s a good sign. How are you feeling?”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “Where am I?” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

“You’re in River Moon Pack’s hospital,” he said gently. “Some of our patrol warriors found you unconscious near the border. You were injured and exhausted, but you’re safe now.”

Before I could process what he was saying, another man stepped into the room.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had an air of authority that made the room feel smaller. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and his dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it one too many times.

He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

Something inside me shifted, a strange pull in my chest that made my heart race.

The doctor stepped aside, and the man walked closer. His gaze never left mine.

“I’m Alpha Liam,” he said, his voice deep and commanding. “You crossed into my territory. Who are you?”

As soon as he spoke, I felt it.

That pull. That connection.

My breath hitched, and for the first time in my life, my wolf stirred inside me, sending a strange warmth through my body. A single word echoed in my mind, soft but undeniable.

Mate.

My heart pounded so loudly that I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. No. This couldn't be happening. The Alpha of this pack—my mate?

I looked up at him, my breath shallow. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had an air of authority that made it impossible to look away. His piercing blue eyes bore into mine, sharp and unreadable. My stomach twisted, a mix of panic and something else I refused to name.

His gaze didn’t waver as he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “What’s your name?” His voice was deep, smooth, and commanding.

I parted my lips to answer, my real name sitting at the tip of my tongue. But at the last second, I stopped myself.

I couldn’t tell him.

If Alpha Jacob was looking for me, I had to stay hidden. I couldn’t afford to draw attention to myself, and there was no bigger spotlight than being the mate of an Alpha.

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay calm. “Lana,” I said, the lie slipping out effortlessly.

Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. It felt like he was trying to look right through me, to see past the lie.

I clenched my hands in the blanket covering me, forcing myself to act normal. I had to ignore the mate bond.

I broke eye contact, pretending I didn’t feel the pull, the strange heat simmering beneath my skin. Maybe… just maybe… he wouldn’t feel it either.

But as I shifted my gaze, I saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for me.

A sinking feeling settled in my stomach.

He knew.