Chapter 2

I didn’t run and I didn’t turn around. I just grabbed my bag of groceries and walked out of the store like everything was fine.

But it wasn’t.

I could feel them behind me, the two wolves, watching and following me.

My heart was racing, but I kept walking. “One step at a time, Seraya. Don’t panic. Don’t look back.” I muttered to myself.

The motel was only a few blocks away. If I could just get there on time..

I picked up my pace, walking faster and almost running. The footsteps behind me got louder.

They weren’t trying to hide it anymore that they were following me.

I reached the motel and went to my room. My hands shook as I pulled out the key. I was just about to open the door when a strong hand slammed into it, stopping me.

I froze.

“Going somewhere?” a deep voice said behind me.

Shaking, I turned around slowly.

The man in front of me stared back with piercing green eyes. He was tall and bulky, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his jacket. A weird smile tugged at his lips, and his eyebrows raised like he found the whole situation amusing.

“Do you mind if we come in?” he asked, his voice smooth.

I shook my head quickly, almost too fast. “I mind. Please, you can’t come in.”

Behind him, the second man stood a few steps away, watching me. He was taller, wider and more intimidating. His face was stern, his jaw tight, and the way his muscles flexed under his shirt made it clear he didn’t joke with his gym lifestyle.

I didn’t know who they were and I didn’t want to know but one thing was clear. They aren't people I want to mess with.

Sorry, but I didn’t mean that as a question,” the one with green eyes said.

Before I could react, he gently tried to shove me aside but I stood my ground, pressing my back to the door. I wasn’t going to let him in. But what chance did I have?

I was just a weak, pregnant wolf and he knew it.

He won. He pushed past me like I weighed nothing, stepping inside without hesitation. Then he turned, nodding toward me.

“Come in,” he said like he owned the place.

I stepped inside slowly, heart pounding. He dragged a chair away from the small table and sat down, crossing one leg over the other.

“So… I’ll go straight to the point. Why is a pregnant and mated wolf hiding out in our small town?”

I stared at him, silent. I had no intention of answering his questions.

Damn the ability of other shifters to sense a pregnancy… or a bond.

I thought I’d finally found peace here. A town full of humans, no pack, no rules. Just a place of quiet and peace.

But I was wrong. So very wrong.

“What do you want from me? And why did you follow me here?” I snapped, folding my arms tight across my chest. “I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong for you to come at me like this.”

The green-eyed one leaned forward slightly, his smile fading.

“Oh, you’ve done something wrong,” he said. “You might’ve just put our entire pack at risk.”

I blinked, confused. “What?”

He pointed to my neck. “From that mark, it’s pretty clear you’re mated to an Alpha and let’s not even talk about the fact that you’re carrying his pup.”

His eyes narrowed. “If he finds out you’re here… do you really think he’ll take it easy on us?”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said sharply. “Nothing like that is going to happen. He wouldn’t even come here or try to fight for me. I'm a hundred percent sure of that.”

“Sorry,” he replied. “But we don’t have the luxury not to worry. And also, you need to come with us. You can’t stay here.”

“I’m not going anywhere with anyone,” I hissed, stepping back and placing a protective hand over my stomach. “I’m staying right here.”

“See, we mean no harm. But if we let you stay, you’ll bring danger to everyone here. This is for safety. No one’s going to hurt you.”

“No! Stay away from me!” I almost screamed as the green-eyed man took a step toward me.

He paused, hands raised, like he didn’t want to scare me off but the look in his eyes said he wasn’t backing off either.

The second man still stood by the door. He hadn’t said a word since we got here. He just watched. Silent and unreadable and that somehow made the whole situation worse for me.

“You can clearly see I’m not a threat,” I said, my voice shaking. “You’re overthinking this. My mate’s not coming. He never cared. He probably hasn’t even noticed I’m gone.”

My voice cracked on the last word, but I kept going.

“If you just leave me alone, I’ll disappear. You won’t even know I was here.”

The green-eyed man sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I get it, okay? I’m not heartless. But pack rules are pack rules. And this… this isn’t something we can ignore.”

I shook my head, backing up until my shoulders hit the wall. “You don’t understand. That man, my so-called mate, doesn't want me. He made that clear over and over again. I ran to save myself.”

He looked at me, face softening for a second. But then his jaw tensed again.

“It doesn’t matter how he feels,” he said. “You’re still marked. You’re still carrying an Alpha’s child. That puts our pack in danger whether you like it or not.”

“That’s not fair!” I shouted. “I finally found a place where I can breathe, just breathe, and you’re telling me I have to give that up because of him?”

“Not because of him,” he snapped. “Because of what he’ll do if he finds out. You think an Alpha lets his mate and unborn child vanish without consequences? If he tracks you here, he could burn everything down. Including us.”

I stared at him, heart racing, throat tight. “So what? You’re dragging me back to him?”

“No,”.. “We’re not taking you to him. We’re taking you to our pack, not to him.”

My eyes darted between them. “Why should I trust you when I don’t even know who you are?”