Chapter 4

Elara's POV

Adrian's Alpha Command slammed into my spine like a spike. Pain ripped through me, stealing the air from my lungs. I couldn't even take a step back.

I cried out through the agony. "Let go of me, Adrian!"

"If you had given me a child sooner, we would have completed the Blood Bond already. My power would be stronger, and maybe I would have become Alpha King by now," he spat each word like it was tearing into my skin. "You worthless piece of trash!"

A shrill ringtone cut through his roar.

He scowled and snatched up the phone. "What now?"

Whoever was on the other end spoke for a few seconds. I couldn't see his face, but his shoulders stiffened, and fear flashed briefly in his eyes.

"I understand," he said, his voice dropping. "I'll be there now."

He hung up and didn't spare me a single glance. It was as if the one he had just pinned to the floor was not his fated mate, but a stray dog on the roadside.

The pressure vanished instantly. I collapsed against the floor, gasping for breath.

I had to leave. I couldn't stay here any longer.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was Cora.

I answered, my voice shaking. "Cora... I need to leave..."

"Elara, help me!" Cora's voice came through the line, sharp with panic. "Someone's outside my apartment. I think I'm being targeted."

I shot to my feet. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"After we hung up, I went back to sleep," she said, breathing fast. "I woke up to the doorbell downstairs. When I looked out the window, there was a line of black sedans parked below, and a whole group of werewolves surrounded the entire building."

My stomach dropped. "Could it be some kind of emergency?"

"No!" Her voice cracked. "Someone called me and told me to come downstairs right now!"

I froze. "Why would they do that?"

"I don't know," she said, her voice trembling now. "An enemy, maybe. Or something else. I can hear them. They keep saying my name."

Cora was my only friend and the closest thing I had to family.

I had to do something.

I said, "Wait there. I'm coming to get you. Right now."

-

When I pulled up outside Cora's building, my heart sank.

Rows of black Rolls-Royces were lined up perfectly at the entrance.

Two lines of werewolves dressed in black stood on either side of the road, sealing the entire apartment complex off from the world.

I texted Cora, [Use the rabbit hole.]

The rabbit hole was a game we used to play as kids. The fire escape exit of her apartment was right next to her window. We had spent half our childhood climbing in and out of it.

A few minutes later, Cora really did climb out of the second floor window. She moved fast and light, and the moment her feet hit the ground, she slipped straight into my car.

She was panting. "Thank the Goddess..."

"Seatbelt," I said. Then I eased the car forward, creeping past the long line of guards who looked like they belonged to some mafia headquarters. "Do you know who these people are?"

"No." Cora shook her head. "But I saw the mark of the Forest Pack."

"The Forest Pack?" I frowned. "What's that?"

"This is what happens when you find your fated mate too early," she muttered. "Adrian never told you? The Forest Pack is the strongest pack in all of New Arcadia."

My head buzzed. "Then we stand no chance against them. Why would they come after you?"

Cora shrugged. "No idea. Maybe one of my friends pissed them off."

I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm. "It's fine. Don't be scared. I'll just drive us out."

I stared at the mass of black-clad werewolves ahead, then took a deep breath and told myself there was nothing to fear. But the closer we got, the heavier the pressure became. It felt like the air itself was being crushed by their presence.

Suddenly, a strange heat surged through my chest. My heart slammed wildly against my ribs. In that instant, every Forest Pack werewolf turned to look straight at my car.

"What's happening?" Cora gasped. "Elara, what did you do?"

"I don't know!"

I didn't have time to think. I yanked the steering wheel hard. The tires screamed as the car spun sharply, pulling off a tight turn in an impossibly small space.

"What the fuck, Elara?" Cora shouted. "Since when can you do that?"

"When I was dating Adrian," I answered fast, eyes locked on the road. "He always made me drive."

"You're a legend," Cora smacked my arm. "Not marking you is the dumbest thing Adrian has ever done."

As I veered off the main road, black cars surged after us. We tore through the city, weaving through streets until the buildings thinned and the edges of the city came into view.

"We need to go back to Midnight territory," Cora said. "That's the only place we'll be safe."

"Okay," I said, slamming my foot down on the gas.

I shot onto the forest highway, thinking I could lose them. I was wrong. More than a dozen luxury cars closed in from every direction, moving like a coordinated pack. They tightened their circle until we were completely boxed in.

The werewolves in black moved with military precision, all pulling out guns in unison. One of them even had two massive Neapolitan Mastiffs on thick leashes, their eyes glowing a fierce, bloody red as they stared at us. Drool slowly dripped from their jaws, and it was clear we were nothing more than prey in their sight.

"Are you sure you didn't piss off the mafia?" I asked Cora under my breath. "This is overkill even for hunting a traitor."

You don't know the Forest Pack," Cora said tightly. "They never leave room for mercy."

We didn't get a chance to say more. A werewolf who looked like their Beta raised his phone, and there was a single line of text on the screen.

[Please get out of the car, or we'll drag you out.]

Cora and I exchanged a look. There was nowhere left to run, so we stepped out.

We were instantly surrounded. This was the first time I truly felt the pressure of the Forest Pack.

I grabbed Cora's arm without thinking. I didn't want to show how scared I was, but the scene was terrifying. Cora was shaking too. We clung to each other, trembling so hard I could feel my teeth chattering.

One of the men flipped through a stack of documents and looked straight at Cora. "Cora Evans?"

She lifted her chin. "Yes. What do you want?"

They didn't bother explaining. Two of them moved to take her, then one glanced at me. "You can go."

I stepped in front of them immediately. "I'm not leaving. I'm going with her."

Cora shook her head at me. "Go, Elara. Thank you for everything you did for me today."

"No." My voice shook badly. "I won't leave you!"

Tears slid down her face. "Elara, when you go back, stop obeying Adrian like that."

"I won't, Cora," I cried. "You protect yourself. I'll come get you!"

They pulled us apart and shoved her into another car.

I clenched my teeth hard enough to hurt. I was going to find Adrian. He was the Alpha of the Midnight Pack. He had a duty to protect Cora.

I jumped back into my car and floored it, racing toward home. I had barely cleared the forest when an SUV suddenly cut in from the side and forced me to stop.

My heart jumped. I got out of the car.

It was Adrian.

His eyes glowed with cold light.

"Adrian! Cora was taken!" I rushed to him and grabbed his hand. "Please save her. The Forest wolves took her. They surrounded her—"

"That doesn't matter."

He suddenly tightened his grip on my wrist.

I froze. "What?"

"What happens to Cora doesn't matter," Adrian said calmly. "What matters is that tomorrow, we'll hold the marking ceremony."