Hurry!

Cora 

I've been a nervous wreck since those two wolves stepped into the diner, but Robbie has been watching me closely. He thinks it's just because of who they are, and he's not entirely wrong in that assumption. Robbie doesn't know that it's also because I know Alpha is my mate, who I really hope can't smell me, but still, I need to get out of here!  

After I called Tess, I felt a little relieved because my son was safe, and we had a better chance of getting the girl out to safety. I don’t know who they are or what pack they come from, nor do I care, but since Freya said her Alpha and his pack abused her, we are not taking any chances. 

I know Tess has spent years helping women, wolves, and humans alike who have a history of abuse. Sometimes, she even went as far as providing them with free shelter, and in some cases, new identities, to keep them safe and hidden. Naturally, she was the first person I thought of to help us. 

Over the last two years, she’s become a big part of my life, helping me deal with my PTSD and with my son, but I still keep myself at a distance due to my past, and I don’t want to be directly involved in her little side business as she deals with a lot of shifters for my liking. 

Honestly, if I could, I would avoid all shifters. Hypocritical, I know, since I am one, and so is my son, but after everything that happened to me, I'd rather stay away and live alone with Eli. Even now, despite knowing these women and Robbie, who are good people, I would still rather not deal with shifters. 

Not long after I gave birth, I tried to avoid shifters as much as possible and lived, or hid more like, among humans. It worked pretty well for a while, but as Elijah grew up and his wolf became more aware, I knew I could no longer ignore his need to be around our kind. 

However, I’m still very cautious, borderline paranoid, about who I expose us to as I don't want anyone to find out my real identity or, more importantly, which pack I escaped from. 

Due to all the bullshit and lies I've experienced, from my sheltered upbringing to my ex, I've learned not to trust anyone completely. Fuck, even my knowledge of shifters and our so-called ways is limited. 

Thanks to all the lies I've told over the years, I’m still not sure today what is true or not, but the little I do know or have heard about, I don't like. The laws, politics, their whole way of life is fucked up. 

Eh, whatever. I stopped caring about all that shit a long time ago. My pup is the only one I need and is the only light I have left in this world. End of the day, I do whatever the fuck I want since it's my choice and my choice alone. 

Ignorance is bliss, right?

Having said all that, I can’t ignore people in need. It’s just not in my nature. If people had ignored me when I needed help, I wouldn’t be where I am now. 

On the few occasions I stumbled upon someone needing assistance like this young girl, I did what I could and then passed them off to Tess, and I went back to my life, pretending I didn’t know shit. 

I spent the entire time glancing at the door or Robbie, willing Angie and Tess to come as fast as possible. These two make me nervous, and it’s obvious they are up to something, as I can see them mind-linking and talking out loud. 

I don’t think they know about me, but I can tell they are trying to sniff me out. 

‘Good luck with that.’ Luna smugly says in my head. 

About fifteen minutes of eerie silence go by, except for the sound of the two men eating. I finally hear the door jingle, and Robbie tells me to go. I don’t need to be told twice, and I quickly run to Robbie’s apartment above the diner. 

I rush through the door, following the girl’s scent, and enter his bedroom. 

“Freya, wake up. We need to leave now!” I gently shake her, trying to keep my voice calm. 

She jolts awake and looks around in panic. 

“Shh, it’s okay, but we need to go. It’s no longer safe here.” I tell her, cupping her cheeks. I let my aura wash over her so she could calm down and breathe. Freya takes a deep breath and puts her hands over mine. 

“What’s going on, and where am I going?” She asks. 

“Some wolves came into the diner and quite possibly caught your scent. I don’t know if they want you or not, but it’s an Alpha and his Beta, and we don’t want to risk it.” Her eyes widened in terror, and her heartbeat began to beat fast again. 

I quickly shushed her again, pushing out my aura a little more to keep her calm. 

“I called my friend Tess to come and get you. You may remember her from the group.” I say, as I hear her heartbeat slowing down. 

She nodded, and I smiled before letting her go. 

I went into the closet to retrieve some of my clothes, which I had stored there in case I needed to change during one of my shifts. Just as I handed them to her, we heard the door open, and Freya shrieked. 

“It’s Tess. It's okay, you’re safe. We won’t let anything happen to you.” I say softly, cupping her face again.

“She’s right, sweet girl. Hi, I’m Theresa, but I prefer Tess.” She jokes. 

Freya looks at her, then at me, before landing her gaze on Tess and giving a small, uneasy smile. I let her face go, stepping back as Tess moved to her and hugged her. 

“What’s your name, sweet girl?” Tess asks her, rubbing her back. 

“I’m Freya.” She shyly replies. 

Tess moves back, smiling. “What a beautiful name. Looking at you, yes, I agree. Mighty indeed.” 

“Exactly what I told her. Now, Freya, be quick, please, we have to go!” I say, clapping my hands, and she swiftly moves into the bathroom. 

I turn to Tess with a serious look. “Now what?” I ask. 

Tess blows out a breath. “I was about to ask you the same thing. I saw the Alpha, and I somewhat recognized him. I think he’s called Alpha Wyatt, but other than that, I don’t know much about him. I ran before he took over, plus he doesn’t interact with other packs very often. Rumour has it he doesn’t like the other Alphas.” 

“Okay, but that doesn’t determine whether they are a threat or not, so it’s still best to move Freya.” I sigh heavily, scrubbing my face. 

“I agree. What’s up with you? You seem more jittery than normal.” She asks, worried. 

“What do you know about mate bonds?” 

“Fated or chosen?” She warily asks. 

“Fated. I already know about the other, remember?” I dryly reply.

She awkwardly purses her lips and nods. “Of course, forgive me. I’m tired, and a lot is going on.” 

“Anyway, I don't know much, as it doesn't often happen anymore, but based on the little I've been told, your mate will smell like your favorite thing in the world, and your wolf would yell ‘mate’ in your head or out loud. Why?” 

I tilt my head back, groaning in frustration.

“My wolf didn’t yell ‘mate,’ but one of them smells fucking incredible to me, exactly how you described. He smelled like bourbon and vanilla.” There's no need to tell her anything more since, over my dead body, I will accept another mate bond. Just the thought disgusts me. 

“Huh, well then, good chance you have met your mate, although weird your wolf didn’t yell ‘mate’.” She rubs her chin, contemplating. 

‘That’s because I don’t want fucking mate.’ Luna growls in my head, and I growl outwardly, with Freya jumping in fright as she steps out of the bathroom. 

I shake my head, taking a breath. 

“Sorry. Ready?” I ask, and they both nod. 

“Can you shift?” I ask Tess.

“Yes, but if what you said is true, it might also be best for you to shift now in case your mate is still lurking out there and he won’t recognize you in wolf form." She says, and I nod, starting to undress.  

"Once we are outside, we will shift as well. That way, we can move faster. "She says, unaware. 

“It would be two of us, with Freya riding one of us. Her wolf is a little weak…” I say, awkwardly trailing off and glancing in Freya's direction. Tess follows my eyes and sighs, catching my drift.

“I'm sorry. I don’t mean to be a bother.” She says, getting teary-eyed. 

Tess goes up to her again and takes her hands. 

“Oh, child, no, you are not a bother, and I also apologize for being insensitive. I should have known, as I've dealt with many she-wolves with similar problems. You will ride on my wolf, and then, when you are well-rested and safe in the Sanctuary, we will work on getting your strength and your wolf back.” She wipes Freya’s tears with her thumb. 

“The Sanctuary?” She gasps. 

Tess nods, smiling. “Yes, sweet girl, you will be safe there.” 

“Okay, guys, later. We are out of time.” I clap my hands, kicking off my last piece of clothing, and take a deep breath. 

‘Ready?’ Luna asks. 

‘No, but we have to.’ I say, gasping as my bones begin cracking and rearranging themselves, with Luna coming to the forefront. 

“Why is she in pain?” I hear Freya ask.

“Unfortunately, that is the result of the abuse some of the she-wolves have suffered. Cora is one of the lucky ones because she only endured a few years of this.” Tess answers in a sad tone.

“Excuse me, but how is that lucky? She looks like she is going through hell.” Freya asks again, watching me intently as I lowly whimper and howl in pain.

‘Almost there.’ We both huff out, and finally, after a few minutes, the shift is complete. Luna huffs as she stands up, shaking her head and fur out, looking at both women.

“Hi, Luna. Long time no see.” Tess comments with a smile. 

Luna lets out a cheerful yip. Her version of saying ‘Hi’.

Tess turns to Freya. “Because soon you will meet women who have lost their wolf due to years of feeling the pain of infidelity on the mate bond as well as years of physical, sexual, and mental abuse from their so-called former mates, whereas Cora still has Luna, albeit painfully.” 

Freya closes her eyes and sniffles, the gravity of Tess's words sinking in. 

Luna walks up to her, places her snout under her palm, and licks it, wanting to comfort the young Gamma. “I’ve never seen a wolf like you. You’re gorgeous,” Freya whispers, looking into Luna’s eyes. 

Luna is exceptionally tall by she-wolf's standards, her head reaching Freya’s chest. Both women pet Luna before she barks and points with her head to the door. 

Tess nods. “Yes, let’s go.” 

We barely make it twenty steps from the apartment when we hear low growling from the bushes behind us. 

Luna growls back, looking over her shoulder. Tess instinctively grabs Freya and moves her out of the way when a wolf runs towards us, coming out of the bushes he was probably hiding in. Luna kicks him back with her hind legs, sending him flying back. 

Luna takes a protective stance in front of the women and gets low, growling menacingly. 

The wolf gets up, lifts his snout, and howls—a howl of the hunt—and suddenly, two others come out of the shadows, joining him. 

All three of them lick their snouts, looking at us like we are prey or dessert. Luna and Tess growl from behind, pushing Freya further behind her. 

One of them shifts. He smells like a Beta. “Well, lookie here, boys. It looks like we've found ourselves some she-wolves. High-ranking ones, too. Perfect.” He smiles sadistically, rubbing his hands as if he’s won some prize.  

“Submit now!” He says, using his aura, but Freya is the only one who feels it. 

She lets out a soft whimper while Tess and I snarl in defiance. Luna shows her sharp teeth, getting low again, ready to pounce. 

Suddenly a blonde guy, the Beta from inside, appears out of nowhere and punches the guy’s jaw, making him fall back on his ass. 

“I don’t think they want to come with you, so fuck off.” He says, fighting off that guy’s aura with his own. 

Freya takes a deep breath out of relief. 

‘Tess, take her and run.’ Luna tells her via the link. Tess gasps. 

‘Not now, and I don’t know how I'm doing this. Just go!’ Luna angrily tells her. I’m also wondering the same thing, but now's not the time. 

Before she gets a chance to move, the Beta guy snarls and shifts into his wolf, and the blonde Beta, standing next to Luna, lets out a howl and shifts himself. I guess he's on our side?

Two of the smaller wolves pounce on me while the two Betas fight each other. Luna tries her best to keep the two wolves away from the women, but we aren’t the best at fighting after years of not training, especially in wolf form and not being at full strength. 

As Tess said, I may be lucky because I can still shift, but Xander left his mark in more ways than one. 

Luna manages to kill one of them by biting hard into his neck to the point we feel the cracking of bones, tasting his nasty blood, but the other warrior takes that chance to claw down my back, making both women scream in horror. 

Luna growls, kicks him back with her hind legs, and puts herself between him and the women when we hear a louder roar that shakes everything around us.

We watch the Alpha shift mid-air and immediately go after the Beta, while his Beta goes after the wolf that clawed Luna. 

The moment they took the fighting away from us, I felt instant relief, but also the full extent of the injuries, thanks to the loss of adrenaline, and we collapsed with Luna whimpering in pain. 

Tess, Freya, and Robbie run over to us while the others still fight. 

Tess and Robbie check our back while Freya rubs Luna’s snout and head, tearfully whispering ‘thank you’ repeatedly into our ear. 

“Which one is your mate?” Tess asks, whispering in my ear. 

‘The Alpha.’ I say, panting heavily. 

Son of a bitch, this hurts! I hope they kill the little shits. Not long after, I hear voices, growling, and a sickening crunch. Yup, someone’s dead. Good riddance. 

“Alright, whatever you do, stay in your wolf form.”  

I hear more snarling and growling, bones cracking, and then I see the Alpha approaching us. Luna growls at him and rolls on her stomach, weakly standing up, snapping, and showing her teeth. 

“Woah, it’s okay. I just want to help.” He says in a gentle tone, his hands up in surrender.

Luna doesn’t care and lets out a warning growl, with Robbie beside her. She tries to stay up on her feet, but her back fails to support her.  

Suddenly, I feel some sort of a tether and hear a weird buzzing sound fluttering in my head, and I look over my shoulder. 

‘What did you do?’ I ask, confused. 

‘I just accepted you as my Alpha.’ 

Uh, what?!

Then darkness….