Aella
My room feels different tonight, like it’s aware of the secrets it’s holding. The house is quiet, not even the creak of a floorboard or the distant murmurs of nocturnal pack members going about their business.
It’s as though even the walls are holding their breath, complicit in my defiance and aware of my plans. The moon is my only companion, casting a pale glow through the curtains and onto the floor.
It has been three weeks since I started hatching this plan, and now I am putting it in place.
Moving carefully, I pull the hidden duffel bag from the depths of my closet and start to refill it with essentials—a change of clothes, some toiletries, and a few snacks. I reach under my bed and pull out a hidden stash of cash I’d been saving for emergencies.
This feels like an emergency.
Shoving the cash into a small purse, I place it next to a knife in the bag. The cold steel feels heavy in my hand before I let it go, a grim promise of the threats that lie ahead in the world I’m so desperate to join.
Before closing the bag, my gaze lands on a framed picture on my dresser. It’s a picture of my mother, her smile forever caught in a happier moment, long before she was taken from us. My eyes meet her frozen gaze, and my voice breaks the night’s silence.
“I hope you understand, Mom,” I whisper, tears brimming in my eyes as I pick up the frame. A lump forms in my throat, but I push it down. There’s no room for weakness now. A single tear escapes, splashing onto the wooden frame as if sealing my silent promise to her.
Closing the bag, I sling it over my shoulder and move towards the window. My hand hovers over the latch, trembling. A voice in my head screams caution, reminding me of the monumental risk I’m taking.
The aftershocks of my departure could cause turmoil, even spark a war between packs. And what about my father? Would he see this as the ultimate betrayal, or would he finally understand the gilded cage he’d built around me?
I could be endangering them all, trading their safety for my freedom.
As these thoughts flood my mind, I feel myself shrinking back, my hand pulling away from the latch as if it were hot. But then, a surge of emotions drowns out my doubts—fear, excitement, and a fierce, burning resolve.
At this crossroads between the known and the unknown, the unknown beckons more invitingly than it ever has.
My hand steadies. With a muted click, the latch is undone, the window pushed open. Cool air floods the room, as if inviting me to my new life. It’s now or never.
My pulse is a relentless drumbeat in my ears as I slip through the open window, landing lightly on the balls of my feet. The world outside is a tapestry of shadows and silhouettes under the cold moonlight.
For a moment, I’m paralyzed, every instinct screaming at me to go back inside, to adhere to the comfort of conformity. But my resolve snaps me back to reality, and with a deep breath to steady myself, I break into a brisk run.
My bag bounces lightly on my back as I make my way around the mansion, skirting the manicured lawns and elegant sculptures that have always signified home. Now, they only seem to taunt me, silent witnesses to my midnight rebellion.
I aim for the tree line of the sprawling forest that serves as a natural boundary to our territory. Once I cross that, I’ll be in uncharted land, away from the prying eyes of my pack.
My heightened senses are both a blessing and a curse. I can hear the distant chatter of guards near the mansion's perimeter, their laughter riding the wind. The scent of their humanity laced with their wolfish undertones brushes past my nose. But I have studied them over the past few weeks; they don’t give a damn about ‘keeping guard’ after 11pm.
I duck behind an opulent fountain, statue angels pouring an endless stream of water. My heart is pounding so loudly in my chest I’m convinced they can hear it— and they would if they weren’t talking so much. Then they pass by, chatting and oblivious. I wait until their footsteps fade into soft echoes before emerging from my hiding place.
I’m almost to the forest line when I sense it—another presence. It’s neither human nor wolf but something in between, a tracker.
Panic surges within me; trackers are the pack’s specialized force, equipped to seek and find. If anyone could locate me, it would be them. The scent is faint but unmistakable, and it’s drawing near.
I glance around frantically and spot a copse of bushes ahead. I dive in, my breaths shallow and quick. Through the gaps in the foliage, I see a figure approaching. He’s moving silently, a shadow among shadows, his eyes scanning the landscape meticulously.
I recognize him; it’s Victor, one of our most skilled trackers. He pauses, lifting his head, and I know he’s caught a whiff of my scent and my heart sinks.
Then, as if on cue, a rabbit bursts from the bush beside me and darts across Victor’s path. Startled, he looks in the direction of the fleeing animal, then shakes his head, muttering to himself.
Apparently deciding it was a false alarm, he turns and retreats in the opposite direction. I suppress a sigh of relief; the universe seems to be conspiring in my favor tonight.
I take the opportunity to continue towards the forest, but I’ve barely taken ten steps when a voice breaks the stillness of the night.
“Aella, what are you doing?”
I freeze. The voice is close, too close, and drenched in a soft-spoken authority— Marcus, my guard.
“What are you running from?” he asks, stepping into the moonlight.
I look into his eyes, searching for a clue, an inkling of his intentions. All I find is an odd blend of sadness and understanding, as though he’s seen too much yet understands even more.
“I could ask you the same,” I retort, my voice filled with desperation, hoping I am not giving my intentions away. But he sees right through me.
“Your actions tonight could lead you down a path with no happy endings,” he warns, shaking his head. “This will not only impact your life, but the entire pack, Aella.”
“Maybe it’s better than a life with no choices,” I reply, my voice thick with emotion. For a second, something flickers in his eyes, but then it’s gone. “My father doesn’t need me for anything but to be a wife to some man who kills without remorse. This entire thing has shown me his true colors.”
Marcus sighs, stepping back into the shadow. “I can’t stop you, but remember, defying your Alpha is a risky venture.”
His words hang in the air as he turns, melting away into the darkness as quietly as he came. I’m left standing there, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing a thousand miles a minute.
Why did he let me go? What is his agenda here? But I have no time to think about it, I need to get going!
Finally, I make it to the tree line, plunging into the forest’s green embrace. The canopy overhead swallows the moonlight, but my wolf’s instincts guide me through the tangled underbrush. My footsteps are muffled by the damp earth as I navigate deeper into the labyrinth of towering trees and thick foliage.
I pause only once to look back, my eyes finding the distant silhouette of the pack mansion. A single howl fills the air, an emotional aria that speaks of farewells and new beginnings. With that, I face forward and quicken my pace, my body surging with a mix of adrenaline and fear, and perhaps, a sliver of hope.
I’m no longer a mere pawn in someone else’s game. Whatever lies ahead—capture, freedom, or something else entirely—I’m ready to face it. My escape might not have the fairy tale ending I’d once dreamed of, but at least it's a story of my own making.
AellaMy escape from the pack feels like a dream, a vivid haze of adrenaline and fear. After three days on a bus with strangers, none the wiser about my origins or my destination, I find myself in Seattle. The city greets me with its iconic skyline, each building a monument to human ingenuity and defiance. For a moment, as the bus nears its final stop, I marvel at how different this concrete jungle is from the natural terrains of my previous life.As I disembark, I pull my hood over my face to ensure that I remain anonymous. The sheer amount of smells in the atmosphere is causing my wolf senses to be overwhelmed, with a blend of gasoline and grease, as well as the sea-salted air. My eyes catch on a grunge band poster, its vibrant colors a contrast to the dull grays and browns of my old world. This is not just another chapter in my life; it’s an entirely different book.I head straight to the hotel I had booked two days prior. The lobby is nondescript, a mix of burnt amber and creams
AellaLife has a way of becoming mundane, a dull routine of getting up, going to work and coming back home. Two years since my escape, two years since I severed all ties with my past, with the responsibilities that once threatened to suffocate me. Now, I live in a small town far away from my pack, my family, and most importantly, from Roman, the man who believed he owned me just because he is an Alpha.Each day bleeds into the next, a swirl of lattes, bagels, and forced smiles. I work at “The Corner Café,” a place small enough that it’s never crowded but just popular enough to keep afloat. I made one friend, Sam, at the cafe where I work. He’s a gorgeous Greek God of a man who also happens to be exceptionally gay, much to some of the female patrons’ dismay.But no one knows me here, not really. They know my face, my voice, even my schedule. But not me—not Aella. And I prefer it that way.I still look over my shoulder everyday, though; I haven’t let my guard down at all. When I walk
AellaHe’s here. The guy from the café, standing in front of a dryer and pulling out a T-shirt. Our eyes meet, and the world seems to halt, all sounds muffled, all thoughts obliterated by the shock of the moment.“Evening, beautiful,” he says in that rough drawl, shooting me a wink. “Fancy meeting you here.”“What are you doing here?” The words spill out before I can stop them and immediately regret the words as they come out. Great going, Aella!He grins, that same earth-shattering smile from earlier. “Doing my laundry. What about you?”I shake my head, disoriented. Of all the laundromats in all the towns, of all the apartment buildings, what are the chances? “I can see that, but what…” I trail off, scoffing and feeling a blush rising into my cheeks. This man does not owe me any explanation, but I immediately slam those walls back up. This can’t be a coincidence. I refuse to believe that.“Same,” I manage to say, my voice sounding far away, as though coming from someone else. I wal
RomanI can’t stop the smirk from forming on my face as I walk away from Aella, knowing I’ve already wormed my way into her thoughts. That look on her face when she saw me again told me everything I needed to know; just one smile from me and I had her.Ah, she’s still as feisty and cunning as the day she disappeared, and that’s what makes this whole charade thrilling. I relish in it—the chase, the hunt, the eventual capture.Reaching for my phone as soon as I step into my apartment, I dial Kaden’s number. He doesn’t take long to answer, either.“It’s me. The plan’s in motion. She’s taken the bait,” I say, and Kaden’s laughter rumbles through the speaker.“Seriously? That easily? You sure she doesn’t suspect anything?” he asks. “Relax. She has no idea. I’m Jay now, the charming neighbor. Besides, you know as well as I do, she wouldn’t recognize me. No one outside the family has ever seen my face.” I say, falling down on my bed and sighing.“Right, the mysterious Alpha, ruling from the
AellaFive days. It’s been five long days since I last saw him. I’ve been counting—counting the days, the hours, even the minutes since he last walked through the café door. Five days. How did five days without seeing him turn me into this... this ball of confusion? One minute he’s all flirt and grin, making my insides do weird somersaults. The next, he’s cold and distant, as if he’s a different guy. What’s his deal?I have to admit that it terrifies me how much I look forward to seeing him. I know I shouldn’t, right? The only thing I know about him is his name and how he likes his latte.Now I’m at the laundromat again, daydreaming about God knows what, when the door creaks open. I don’t need to look up to know it’s him; I can sense him and that rugged scent always clinging to him. But when I do look up, my face flushes. God, he looks divine. His shirt is unbuttoned, carelessly open, revealing an impeccably chiseled chest. It’s not just a chest; it’s a masterpiece, an altar of lean
AellaOkay, I finally understand what people mean when they say their stomachs get twisted in knots.The entire day felt like some weird version of emotional roulette. I dressed up, even watched a stupid makeup tutorial on how to get that ‘natural, but like, also hot’ look. I went through my closet three times, wanting to wear something nice but not too desperate-to-impress kind of nice. I was so nervous the whole day. Like, the kind of jittery that has you overthinking everything. I tried doing my laundry, but even the noise of the washing machine seemed to mock me, drowning out the tick of the clock that was going way too slow. Hell, I even scrubbed the kitchen counters like they had offended me or something.Also, I stared at my phone a bunch of times, hoping he’d text. You know, something like, “Looking forward to tonight.” But nothing. It was as if my phone was on a strike, refusing to bring me any good news.My stomach was doing flips, so eating lunch was a no-go. I just kind
AellaSo the next day was wild. Lunchtime rush, orders flying, the espresso machine whirring like a monster—that kind of wild. I was knee-deep in the chaos, and then the doorbell chimed. My heart did this stupid little leap because I didn’t even have to look up because I have his earthy forest scent memorized. Jay walks in, and he has a rose in his hand. A single red rose. Could the guy be any more cliche? But deep down, I was kind of touched.He waits in line, his eyes catching mine every now and then. I try to focus on the coffee I was making, trying to keep my hands from shaking. Finally, he was at the counter. “A latte, please,” he said, sliding the rose toward me. “And this is for you. I’m really sorry about last night.”I take a deep breath, feeling everyone’s eyes on us. “Thank you for the rose, Jay. And the apology is accepted. But I haven’t changed my mind. You had your chance.”He nods, almost like he was expecting it. “Fair enough. Can’t blame a guy for trying, though.”I
AellaIt’s 6:45 PM and I’m pacing. My date with Jay starts in fifteen minutes, and I swear I’ve changed my outfit like three times already. Goddess, it’s like déjà vu— I just hope it’s not the same film replaying.My phone buzzes on the coffee table—it’s a text from him saying he’s on his way. A weird mix of excitement and nerves bubbles up in my stomach. OH MY GOD IT’S HAPPENING, ISN’T IT?When the clock hits 7:00, there’s a knock at the door and my heart literally stops for a few seconds. Deep breath, Aella. I swing it open, and there he is, looking... damn, he’s in a three-piece suit, and he looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.“Wow, someone cleans up nice,” I say, greeting him with a smile I hope doesn't show my discomfort or nerves.For a moment, he just stands there, his green eyes widening as they sweep over me from head to toe. The corners of his mouth twitch, as if fighting the urge to break into a full-on grin, yet he somehow maintains a composed demeanor.“You..