Chapter 3 This Can’t Be Happening!

Jade’s heart raced as she and Sofia hastily shoved essentials into their backpacks.

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room as they worked in tense silence.

Sofia, Jade’s best friend and closest confidant, glanced nervously at the clock.

Midnight was only minutes away, and they had to move fast.

Jade’s wedding to the cruel alpha her father had chosen was set to happen at dawn, a fate she couldn’t accept.

“Are you sure about this?” Sofia whispered, her voice trembling.

Jade nodded firmly, her emerald eyes flashing with determination. “It’s now or never.”

They crept through the silent pack house, their every step measured and deliberate. Jade’s heart clenched as they passed the familiar rooms that had been her prison for years.

The weight of what she was leaving behind threatened to crush her resolve, but she pressed on.

Reaching the back door, Sofia paused to check for patrols. “Clear,” she mind linked, and they slipped out into the cool night air.

The forest loomed ahead, a dark labyrinth they had to navigate to reach the pack’s borders.

Freedom was so close she could taste it.

As they approached the border, Jade’s heightened senses prickled with unease.

The air was thick with tension, and the usual stillness of the night felt off.

Suddenly, Sofia stopped, her eyes wide with fear. “Jade,” she hissed, pointing ahead.

Jade’s blood ran cold as she saw the unmistakable figures of pack warriors patrolling the perimeter.

Her father had anticipated her escape. “He doubled security,” Jade whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

The warriors were positioned strategically, their movements methodical and precise. There was no way to sneak past them unnoticed.

“We can’t go back,” Sofia urged, gripping Jade’s arm.

“We have to find another way.” Desperation clawed at Jade as she scanned the area for an alternative route.

But just as they turned to retreat deeper into the woods, a low growl rumbled behind them.

Spinning around, they found themselves face-to-face with Jade’s father, his eyes blazing with fury.

“Did you really think you could run from me, Jade?” he snarled, his voice dripping with menace.

Sofia stepped in front of Jade, her stance protective, but her trembling hands betrayed her fear.

Before Jade could respond, a deafening howl split the night, followed by the sudden appearance of a massive rogue wolf from the shadows.

The warriors scattered, shouting in confusion, as the rogue charged toward Jade and Sofia. Jade froze, her mind racing.

The rogue didn’t attack, though; instead, it positioned itself between them and the warriors, growling menacingly.

The rogue’s piercing golden eyes met Jade’s, and something in her gut told her to trust it. “Run,” Sofia urged again, pulling Jade toward the rogue.

With no other option, they followed the rogue deeper into the forest, leaving the chaos and her father’s wrath behind.

For now, their escape had taken an unexpected turn, and Jade couldn’t shake the feeling that the rogue wasn’t just a random savior—it was part of a much larger plan.