CHAPTER 14: REUNION

LOUISA’S POV

Where is he?!

It has been close to an hour and Travis hasn't returned..

I swallow hard, trying to steady myself, trying to breathe.

Gaines is here.

I knew this day would come. I knew it. For years, I have been running, hiding, watching over my shoulder, always waiting for the day he would catch up.

And now he’s here.

“Mama?”

I snap my head up. My babies.

They are both watching me with wide, confused eyes, their little faces pinched with worry. Lia, always the sharp one, is frowning, studying me like she’s trying to figure something out. Leo is chewing on his lip, his brows furrowed.

“Mama, what’s wrong?” Leo asks.

“Why is everyone acting weird?” Lia adds. “Why did the alarm go off?”

I force a smile. “It’s nothing, baby. Just their pack business.” My voice sounds tight, thin. Not convincing at all.

Lia narrows her eyes. “It doesn’t seem like nothing.”

I hate that they’re smart.

Leo looks around. “Where did the Alpha go?”

I swallow, ignoring the way my stomach clenches. “He had to handle something.”

They share a glance and I can see the questions in their eyes. They don’t ask them, but I know they want to. They don’t know about Gaines. They don’t know why I react like this to his name.

How do I even explain it to them?

How do I tell them about the monster I barely escaped from? The man who swore he would find me, who hunted me for years and who now probably wants me dead- or worse?

I can’t.

So I straighten my back, push my fear down, and do what I always do.

I pretend I’m fine.

“It’s nothing,” I repeat, smiling brighter this time. “Just a normal pack thing.”

They don’t look convinced, but they don’t push it.

I sit back on the edge of the bed, rubbing my temples, trying to think.

Gaines is here.

How did he find me?

For thirteen years, I’ve stayed hidden. I’ve been careful. I moved constantly, never staying in one place for too long. I barely interacted with packs.

The only reason I even ended up here was because of because of the twins.

And Travis.

Asshole who wouldn't let me go.

Did Gaines find me because of him?

Or… has he been watching the pack this whole time?

After all, I know how much he hated Travis.

A cold shiver runs down my spine.

There were times over the years when I thought I was being followed. Times when I heard whispers of his wolves searching for me.

Once, they almost caught me.

I remember it vividly.

I had been running with the kids- they were both barely three and we were exhausted, hungry, and desperate. I had no choice but to stop at a rogue settlement to rest for a night.

I should have known better.

They found us.

I don’t know how, but they did. I still remember the way my stomach dropped when I heard them sniffing around, the way my pulse pounded as I clutched my babies and hid in a dusty, abandoned cabin.

I thought we were done for.

But then, out of nowhere, another group of wolves attacked them. A rogue faction.

A bunch of wild, lawless wolves who had nothing to do with me but had a deep hatred for pack wolves.

It was chaos.

I used the distraction to escape, running as fast as I could, carrying my children, not looking back.

That was the closest he ever got.

Until now.

I clench my fists.

I have to leave. I have to take my kids and run before it’s too late.

But where?

Before I can figure it out, the door suddenly bursts open and I jump to my feet, my heart leaping into my throat, already in a defensive stance-

Then I freeze.

“You sneaky bitch!”

The voice is familiar.

My brain stutters for a second, like it can’t process what I’m seeing.

Tammy?

I blink, my heart hammering for a whole new reason now.

Tammy.

My best friend.

She looks exactly the same but different. Stronger. Sharper. More confident.

But her face- her face is filled with frustration and anger.

“How could you?!” she snaps, storming in like a hurricane. “How could you just leave me like that? Not a single word? Not a damn letter? Nothing?”

I don’t even know what to say.

I’m frozen. Stunned.

Because out of everything that happened when I ran, out of all the things I regretted… leaving her behind was at the top of the list.

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

I didn’t mean to leave her.

I wanted to tell her. I wanted to explain.

But I couldn’t.

I was too scared.

Too desperate.

She stares at me for a few seconds before she shakes her head, her expression softening just a bit. “Goddess, Lou, I have missed you.”

Something cracks inside me.

I launch forward and hug her and she hugs me back just as fiercely.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

“You better be,” she mutters, squeezing me tighter. “I almost punched Mark when he told me you were here.”

I laugh, a little teary. “Mark?”

“Yeah, Mark. Our Beta. He called me and told me to get my ass over here.” She pulls back, arching a brow. “Which, by the way, what the hell is going on? Why are you here?”

“It’s… a long story.”

Tammy folds her arms. “Well, I have time.”

I shake my head, laughing softly. “Goddess, I can’t believe it’s really you.”

She smirks. “Believe it. And get used to it, because I’m not letting you disappear on me again.”

I exhale, still overwhelmed. “What even happened to you? You’re- you look different.”

She grins. “I grew up.”

“Clearly.”

“I also got promoted.” She leans against the wall, looking smug. “I’m kind of a big deal now in the pack.”

I raise a brow. “Oh?”

“I travel. I go between packs, settlements, human towns, making sure everyone stays on good terms. I keep the peace.” She flips her hair. “I’m basically an ambassador. But cooler.”

I shake my head. “Damn. I’m impressed.”

“You should be.”

I snort.

For a moment, it’s like nothing ever changed. Like we’re just two girls gossiping again, like the past thirteen years never happened.

And then…

“Mama?”

A small voice.

I turn.

Lia is standing there, looking between us with curious eyes.

Leo is beside her, watching too.

Tammy frowns. “Mama?”

I freeze.

Oh.

I see the exact moment realization dawns on her.

She blinks. Once. Twice.

Then slowly turns to me.

“Louisa…”

She stares at me. Then at them.

Then back at me.

“Mama?” she repeats, her voice going slightly higher.

I hold my breath.

And she gapes at me, eyes wide.

“…Are these your kids?!”

AUTHOR NOTES: Hello, my wonderful readers. A huge and gigantic thank you for selecting my book to read. It really warms my werewolf heart. I would love to hear from you all, your thoughts, opinions, feelings. Who pisses you off? Who do you absolutely love? Where do you think this story is going? I want to hear it all. So, please do comment and support my book. Your dear Author, Adeline Valois