Chapter 6

Zinnia’s POV

"Run!"

Joseph’s hand tightened around my arm. The howls grew louder. They sounded close. Too close.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I ran beside him through the dark forest. Branches scratched my arms. My breath came out in short gasps.

The silver-haired woman ran with us. Her movements were fast and smooth, like she had done this many times before.

"Who are you?" I asked again, my voice shaking.

She glanced at me as we ran. "My name is Christiana. I was your mother’s best friend. I blocked the mate bond to protect you."

My feet almost stopped. Protect me?

Before I could ask more, a big black wolf jumped out from behind the trees. Its eyes glowed red under the moonlight.

Joseph pushed me behind him.

"Stay back!" he shouted.

The wolf attacked. Joseph shifted in one fast movement. His dark gray wolf with silver marks crashed into the attacker. They rolled on the ground, growling and snapping.

Christiana stood beside me. She placed her hand on my shoulder. Warm energy flowed into me.

"Let Selene out," she said. "Do not hold her back anymore."

Tears ran down my face. I had hidden my wolf for so long. I was scared to let her free.

But the howls were getting closer. More wolves were coming.

I closed my eyes. I stopped fighting.

Selene surged forward.

Power rushed through my body. My bones shifted. Silver-white fur covered my skin. I landed on four paws. My crescent moon mark burned bright on my shoulder.

I felt strong. I felt alive.

I ran to help Joseph. Together we fought the black wolf. I bit its shoulder hard. It yelped and ran away into the trees.

But more shadows moved between the trees. At least six wolves now.

We ran again. My wolf legs moved fast. The wind rushed through my fur. For the first time in years, I felt free.

We reached a small clearing near the river. Christiana stopped us.

"We cannot outrun them," she said. "We must talk now."

I shifted back to human form. My clothes were torn. I was breathing hard.

Joseph shifted too. Blood ran down his arm, but he looked okay.

Christiana looked at me with kind but serious eyes.

"Your mother asked me to block the bond," she said. "She knew Draven’s family would destroy you. She wanted to give you time to grow strong first."

My knees felt weak. I sat down on a rock. Tears fell freely now.

"All this pain," I whispered. "All these years of loving someone who never loved me back. It was never real?"

Christiana knelt in front of me. She took my hands.

"It was real for you," she said gently. "Your love was real. That is why it hurts so much."

I cried harder. My shoulders shook. All the nights I waited for Draven. All the times I smiled when my heart was breaking. All the moments I watched my son grow up in a cold house.

It was too much.

Joseph stood guard nearby. He kept watching the trees.

"I am sorry," he said softly. "I did not want to tell you like this. But you deserve the truth."

I looked up at him. Through my tears, I saw real kindness in his eyes.

"Why do you care?" I asked.

Joseph looked away for a moment. When he looked back, his voice was quiet.

"Because I lost my mate three years ago. I know what it feels like to have your heart broken by this world. When I saw you… I saw someone who still had the strength to fight."

His words touched something deep inside me. For the first time in a long time, I did not feel completely alone.

The howls came again. Closer this time.

Christiana stood up quickly.

"They are here," she said. "Draven’s wolves. And Maelis is leading them."

I stood up too. My legs still shook, but I felt Selene ready inside me.

"I will not run anymore," I said. "I want my son back."

Joseph nodded. "Then we fight together."

Three wolves burst into the clearing. Maelis was in front. Her pale gray wolf looked beautiful and deadly.

She shifted back to human form. She smiled at me.

"Little Luna," she said. "You should have stayed quiet."

Draven stepped out from behind the trees. He was still in human form. His face looked full of rage.

"Zinnia," he said. "Come back now and I will let you see June sometimes."

His words hurt. But I stood tall.

"No," I said. My voice was stronger than I expected. "I am done begging for your love. I am done being small for you."

Maelis laughed. "You think you can win? You are nothing without him."

Christiana stepped forward. "She is more than you know."

Draven looked at Christiana. His eyes widened.

"You," he said. "I remember you. You were at our wedding."

Christiana smiled sadly. "Yes. And I have watched you break her heart every single day."

Draven’s face twisted with anger. He shifted into his huge black wolf. It looked bigger and more dangerous than before.

The fight began.

Joseph and Christiana fought beside me. I let Selene take control. We moved together like a real pack. For the first time, I felt powerful.

I fought Maelis directly. Our wolves crashed into each other. She was fast, but I was stronger than I ever knew.

I pinned her down. My teeth were at her throat.

"Give me back my son," I growled through the link.

Maelis laughed inside my mind. "He already calls me Mommy. He will forget you soon."

Her words gave me new strength. I pressed harder.

But then Draven attacked me from the side. His massive wolf slammed into me. Pain exploded in my ribs.

I fell to the ground.

Joseph jumped in to protect me. He fought Draven hard.

Christiana helped me stand.

"We must run," she said. "We are outnumbered."

I looked toward the pack house. My son was there. My heart pulled me in two directions.

Then I heard a small voice in the distance.

"Mama!"

June.

He was calling for me.

Tears filled my eyes again. I turned toward the sound.

But Maelis had shifted back. She held something in her hand. A small silver dagger.

She ran toward me with it raised.

Joseph saw her. He pushed me out of the way.

The dagger sank into his shoulder instead.

He cried out in pain.

"Joseph!" I shouted.

He fell to his knees. Blood flowed fast.

Draven stood over us. His wolf eyes glowed with victory.

"Now," he said. "It ends."

I dropped beside Joseph. I pressed my hands to his wound. Golden healing light flowed from my palms. But the blood kept coming.

"Stay with me," I whispered. My tears fell on his face. "Please."

Joseph looked up at me. His breathing was weak.

"Save… your son," he said softly. "Do not worry about me."

More wolves came out of the trees. They surrounded us.

Draven shifted back to human. He walked closer.

"Give up, Zinnia," he said. "Or watch everyone you care about die tonight."

I held Joseph’s hand tightly. My heart was breaking into pieces again.

But deep inside, something new was born.

I would not give up.

Not tonight.

Not ever.

Suddenly, Christiana raised her hands. Bright silver light exploded around us.

"Run, Zinnia!" she shouted. "Take Joseph and run! I will hold them back!"

The light blinded everyone.

I pulled Joseph up. He leaned heavily on me.

We ran into the dark forest together.

Behind us, I heard fighting. Howls. And Christiana’s voice calling out powerful words.

I did not know if we would survive the night.

But for the first time, I was not running away.

I was running toward my freedom.

And toward my son.