The Alpha's Heartbound

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rn-out dresses, a frayed coat, and shoes that had seen better days. It was a bitter reminder of how little I meant in this

easier. No ties, heavy bags, no one to notice me slipping away in the dead of night. I wasn't ruining Alpha Martin's family by leaving; I was doing

This was the final act of a life I never belonged to. Nyx's rejection had been the last nail in the coffin, though I wasn't su

y were probably making final plans to announce Anya as Nyx's mate, sealing the fate of the Shadow Claw Pack's

s, but the garage was tucked far enough from the main house that it wouldn't be immediately apparent if I made a quick getaway. I had no intention

's

but enough to satisfy my burning rage. He had everything-power, we

filling the air. I scanned the lineup of cars, each more expensive than the last, gleaming under the dim overhead light. Nyx's car stood out

ht, I

fident no one would steal from him that he didn't even bother hiding them. Cocky bastard. I turned the key, and the engin

ne c

o gear, my foot pressing hard on the gas pedal. The car shot forward, and I steered it toward the gate, praying the guards would

ity with Nyx's car working in my favor. I sped past them, the wind whipping thro

dare lo

s estate disappeared behind me, a new wave of uncertainty s

escaped the prison of the Shadow Claw Pack, I

own on me with each passing mile. I might have left them behind, b

fter

hed through the car's cracked windows. Every mile passed, and it felt like another layer of the pac

fore rolling to a dead stop. "What the-?" My h

escaped without any plan, without any resources. No money, no direction, and now no

eve of my birthday. I reached into my bag and pulled out the stale bread I'd stolen earlier from the kitchen.

have been

omething else. Every breath felt like a sharp reminder of how easily I was cast aside. What if I had rejected him, too? Maybe then this pain would have been shared and lessened. But no, A

e, his cold eyes, his dismissive words. How easily he'd chosen Anya. And here I was, sitting in

longer. Dawn was still far off, but I didn't want to be near the pack by the time the sun rose. They

l, and I quickened my pace, my senses heightened, hoping no one was tracking me. The goal was simple: get to huma

something off. The air shifted, growing thick

lv

n to emerge from the darkness. Eyes gleamed from the shadow

f them, their scraggly forms almost blending into the surrounding trees, but I could sm

wolf had never surfaced. I was vulnerable, alone, and

g across his face, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming

g in my throat. "Leave me alone," I managed, t

You smell of the Shadow Claw Pack, but you're no

ong. I was an easy tar