CHAPTER THREE

HOPE’S POV.

We made it back to the cave safely.

But I knew it would not stay safe for long.

Duncan would be furious. He would not forgive what I did. By now, his men were probably searching the forest, turning over every rock and sniffing every trail. He would want revenge.

Inside the cave, the four of us finally had a moment to breathe.

The fire burned low. The air smelled of smoke and herbs.

“This is Hunter,” I said quietly.

Hunter nodded. “Hunter.”

“Maya,” Maya said softly.

“Elise,” Elise added, watching him carefully.

Hunter gave them both a calm look. “Thank you for helping.”

Elise crossed her arms. “We didn’t do much. Hope did.”

I ignored that.

Maya still looked shaken. She sat close to the fire, her hands trembling slightly.

“Elise,” she said after a while, “we can’t keep living like this.”

Elise looked at her. “You mean as rogues?”

Maya nodded. “Tonight proved it. We almost died.”

I stayed silent.

Elise looked at me. “What about you, Hope? Maybe it’s time we join a pack.”

My chest tightened.

Join a pack?

After what happened at Red Moon?

After being rejected by my own family and pack?

“I’m not ready,” I said quietly.

“You don’t have to go back there,” Maya said gently. “There are other packs.”

I forced a small smile. “If things get too dangerous, I can go home.”

It was a lie.

But I didn’t want them worrying about me.

They both looked relieved.

“Good,” Elise said. “At least you have somewhere.”

Somewhere.

If only that were true.

The next morning, Maya and Elise decided to leave together and search for a pack that would accept them.

Before they left, the three of us hugged tightly.

“I’m going to miss you,” Maya whispered, tears in her eyes.

“You’ll be fine,” I said, even though my throat felt tight with unshed tears.

Elise pulled us both close. “If you get yourself killed, I will haunt your ghost.”

I gave a small laugh. “I’ll try not to.”

Then they left.

And just like that, it was only Hunter and me in the cave.

Silence filled the space.

I turned to him.

“You’re free now,” I said. “Duncan will be looking for us soon. You should leave too.”

Hunter looked at me calmly.

“You saved my life,” he said. “Wherever you go, I go.”

I frowned. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.”

Ever since he opened his eyes in that dark room and looked at me, there had been something strange in his gaze.

Something I refused to acknowledge because it made no sense.

I shook my head and started packing my things—my herbs, my small knife, a few clothes.

Hunter silently helped me.

Just then, my phone rang.

I froze.

Almost no one had my number.

I looked at the screen.

Dad.

My father was the only one I hadn’t blocked. My mother, Amber, Derek—they were all on my blacklist.

Since I left the pack, my father had called many times. I never answered.

But something felt wrong this time.

So I answered.

“Hello?”

There was heavy breathing on the other end.

“Hope…” His voice was shaking.

My heart dropped. “Dad? What happened?”

There was a long silence.

Then he said the words that changed everything.

“Amber is dead.”

The world stopped.

“What?” I whispered.

“She died during childbirth,” he continued. “There were complications.....”

I couldn’t breathe.

Amber.

Dead?

Images flashed in my mind.

Two little girls running through the fields.

Amber braiding my hair.

Amber and I holding hands and protecting each other when we were scared of thunderstorms.

That was before Derek.

Before betrayal.

Before everything broke.

“When is the funeral?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady.

“Tomorrow,” Dad said weakly. “Please come home. Even if it’s just this once.”

Tears rolled down my face.

“I’ll come,” I said softly.

When the call ended, my hands were shaking.

Amber was gone.

No more anger.

No more fights.

No more chances to forgive.

I felt like my chest was being crushed.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me.

Hunter.

He didn’t speak. He just held me.

And somehow, that simple warmth helped.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

I didn’t push him away.

For the first time in months, I cried in someone’s arms.

An hour later, I finished packing.

“I’m going back to Red Moon Pack,” I said.

“I’m coming with you,” Hunter replied immediately.

I looked at him. “You don’t have to.”

“I have nowhere else to go,” he said. “I told you. I lost my memory. Duncan kidnapped and tortured me. You’re the only clear thing I remember.”

I searched his eyes.

There was honesty there.

“And wherever you go,” he added softly, “I’ll follow.”

I hesitated.

Taking him back to Red Moon could cause trouble.

But leaving him alone felt wrong.

“Fine,” I said. “But don’t cause any problems.”

A small smile appeared on his lips. “I’ll behave.”

We rented a car from a nearby town.

The drive took days.

We stopped at small motels and gas stations. Sometimes I caught him watching me.

“What?” I asked once.

“You don’t look weak,” he said.

“I’m not.”

“You’ve suffered,” he continued. “But you’re still standing.”

I didn’t know how to answer that.

When we finally reached Red Moon Pack, my heart pounded hard.

The tall gates stood in front of us.

Familiar.

Painful.

The entire compound was decorated in black and white.

Funeral colors.

My throat felt dry.

As we drove inside, pack members dressed in black walked quietly across the grounds.

Then I saw him.

Derek.

He stood near the main pack house, wearing black. His face was pale. His eyes looked empty.

He looked thinner.

Sadness surrounded him.

Our car stopped.

Hunter stepped out first, then came around to open my door.

As soon as I stepped out, Derek’s eyes locked onto me.

Shock filled his face.

“Hope,” he breathed.

It had been seven months since I left.

Then his gaze moved to Hunter.

His expression darkened instantly.

“Who is he?” Derek asked sharply.

Before I could speak—

Hunter leaned down and kissed my cheek gently.

“I’m her boyfriend,” he said calmly.

My eyes widened.

What?!

Derek’s face turned dark with anger.

“What did you just say?” he growled.

Hunter slipped an arm around my waist like it belonged there.

“You heard me. Hope and I are together.”

The air became heavy with tension.

Derek’s Alpha aura pressed down slightly, but Hunter didn’t move.

I stood frozen between them.

Boyfriend?

Why would he say that? And why wasn’t I saying anything to correct what he said?

Derek stepped closer, his jaw tight. “You move on quickly.”

I met his eyes.

“You lost the right to comment about what I do with my life,” I said quietly.

His face tightened with pain—and anger.

“You brought a man to your late sister’s funeral?” he demanded. “Did you even pause to think about how this would look, Hope?”

“I didn’t come to seek anyone’s approval, especially not yours,” I replied firmly. “I lived seven peaceful months without it, thank you very much.”

The words hung in the air.

Hunter’s arm stayed around me.

Derek’s eyes burned.

And I realized something.

Coming back home was not going to be as simple as I’d hoped.

Not at all.