Chapter 8

Elena’s POV

I felt the surge of panic deep in my bones as I ran, each breath ragged and shallow. My body ached in ways I couldn’t even describe, but the adrenaline rushing through me wouldn’t allow me to stop. I limped forward, pushing through the branches and overgrown shrubs as fast as I could. Oliver was chasing me—I could feel him getting closer, the bond between us pulsing like a magnet pulling us together. I was already weakened by the silver cuffs and the pain in my broken bones. I didn’t stand a chance if he caught me, not with his strength and speed.

But I had to try. I had to get away.

The sun had fully dipped below the horizon now, leaving only the faint glow of the rising moon to guide my way. The thick forest was filled with unfamiliar sounds—the rustling of leaves, the calls of nocturnal creatures—but nothing was louder than the pounding of my heart in my ears.

“Please,” I whispered to the darkness, stumbling forward, “just let me get away…”

Suddenly, my foot caught on a root, and I went tumbling to the ground. The pain shot through my body like lightning, and I bit back a scream as I lay there, breathing heavily. I tried to push myself up, but my body refused to cooperate.

“No…no, not now…” I pleaded with myself, tears welling up in my eyes.

Just as I managed to lift myself onto my hands and knees, the familiar scent of pine and something darker, something primal, hit me. My head snapped up, and there he was—Oliver—standing at the edge of the clearing, his chest heaving, his eyes locked onto mine.

“Elena,” he said again, his voice low, dangerous.

I scrambled to my feet, my hands shaking. “Stay back!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fear.

His face softened slightly, but his eyes were still hard as steel. “You can’t run from me, Elena. You’re hurt. Let me help you.”

“I don’t need your help!” I spat, backing away. “I don’t want to be part of your world anymore, Oliver. You made that clear when you rejected me.”

The word “rejection” hung in the air between us, and I saw a flicker of something—regret, maybe?—flash in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly.

“This isn’t about the rejection,” he said, stepping forward. “You’re in danger. There’s another pack—”

“I know!” I interrupted, my voice rising with panic. “I know about the other pack, but that doesn’t mean I want to stay here. I’m leaving, Oliver. I’m leaving your pack, your territory, your life. Just… let me go.”

He was silent for a moment, and for the briefest of seconds, I thought he might actually let me go. But then his eyes darkened, and his expression hardened again.

“I can’t do that,” he said firmly, his voice a low growl. “You’re mine, Elena.”

Before I could react, a loud snarl came from behind me, and I whipped around to see the rival pack’s wolf charging at full speed. My heart skipped a beat as terror froze me in place. The wolf was huge, its fur dark and matted, eyes glowing with vicious intent. I could feel the weight of its predatory gaze as it barreled toward me.

I barely had time to scream before Oliver lunged in front of me, his massive wolf form appearing in a blur of motion. His growl was deafening, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine. The two wolves collided with a sickening thud, their bodies crashing into each other as they snapped and snarled, teeth flashing in the moonlight.

I stumbled back, my hands shaking as I watched the fight unfold. The rival wolf was vicious, its attacks relentless, but Oliver was stronger. He fought with a fierce, brutal precision, his claws tearing into the rival wolf’s flesh. Blood sprayed into the air as they wrestled on the ground, and I felt a wave of nausea roll over me.

But I couldn’t just stand there and watch. I had to do something.

My eyes darted around the forest, searching for a weapon or anything I could use to help. There, lying near a fallen log, was a sharp piece of wood—jagged and deadly. Without thinking, I ran to it, grabbing it with both hands.

The rival wolf had Oliver pinned for a moment, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his throat. My heart raced as I ran toward them, holding the wood tightly. I didn’t know what I was doing—this wasn’t a fight I could win—but I couldn’t just let Oliver die, not like this.

With all the strength I had left, I drove the sharp wood into the side of the rival wolf. It howled in pain, its body convulsing as it turned to me, blood dripping from its maw. For a brief moment, I thought it would attack me, but then Oliver surged forward, sinking his teeth into its neck and snapping it with a sickening crack.

The rival wolf went limp, collapsing onto the forest floor with a final, defeated growl.

Oliver, still in his wolf form, stood over the body, his chest heaving as blood dripped from his fur. His golden eyes found mine, and for the first time since I’d known him, I saw something that looked like fear.

I dropped the wood, my hands shaking violently as I backed away from him.

“Elena,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper as he shifted back into his human form.

But I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t face him. Not after everything that had happened.

Without another word, I turned and ran, deeper into the forest, leaving Oliver behind.

Oliver’s POV

My heart pounded as I watched her run away, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the trees. Every instinct screamed at me to chase her, to bring her back. But I couldn’t. Not this time.

Elena seem different from the last time I saw —stronger, more determined. She wasn’t the broken girl I had rejected. She had changed. And part of me hated that I was the reason for that change.

I wiped the blood from my face and looked down at the dead wolf at my feet. It wasn’t the only threat out there.

But Elena was mine. And I wasn’t going to let her go so easily.

“I’ll find you,” I whispered to the wind. “And when I do, nothing will keep you from me.”