Chapter Three

Chapter Three. 

Aliya. 

The bus slowly gathered speed as the driver ran it through its gears and demanded the massive vehicle respond. The entire time, Jake kept pace, his glare focused entirely on me as he ran behind the bus. I hadn’t feared him a few months ago, not when I had discovered he was a billionaire, when i found out he was a werewolf. Even discovering he was an alpha hadn’t frightened me. But right then, right now, I was deathly afraid. Afraid for myself, i rubbed my stomach, attempting to soothe the child still within me afraid for my baby. 

He continued their rapid race down the street, the surrounding cityscape passing with an ever increasing speed, until the world around us was nearly a blur. And still he kept pace with us. At least until two other large bodies came abreast with his racing form and tackled him to the ground, ceasing his pursuit. His bodyguards. They went everywhere with him. At first it had been a novelty, something that annoyed me but my love for him overshadowed those feelings. Now, i was truly thankful the men were at hand. They were good at their jobs and never let Kai out of their sight. In his current condition, with his anger riding him hard, he would have chased the bus no matter the risk to himself. Wolves liked a good chase…

Snarls erupted on the street, and i knew he battled with the two other males.

They wouldn’t be able to hold him down for long, even two against one. He was the Alpha for a reason. But for now, i had some breathing room. With a sigh, I relaxed against the grime caked bus floor. I had no idea what coated the ground, but i had more important things to think about. Such as my escape plan. I didn’t know how he had found me again, i just knew that I had to disappear once again.

“Are you okay, miss?” The driver’s voice was deep and caring yet tinged with unease.

I swallowed hard, and forced myself to push aside the rising panic. “I’m-I’m fine. Just,” i took a deep calming breath. “Just an ex-boyfriend.”

“Looks like it’s a good thing he is an ex. I don’t normally have problems with those wolves, but that one,” he shook his head, “that one looks like trouble.”

Trouble? That was one way to look at my relationship with Kai. Deadly was another, but I kept that to myself. 

I remained in place, catching my breath after that mad dash. I would get up soon. When my heart no longer fought to burst from my chest.

The bus driver glanced in his rearview mirror, and then turned his attention back to me for a brief moment. “I can’t see him anymore. Why don’t you go ahead and slide onto that seat there?” he said gesturing to an empty seat. 

It was a question, but more like an order. One I was more than happy to abide by.

With a groan i heaved muself to my feet, grasping a nearby pole to steady myself before finally settling onto one of the benches. I ignored the stares, the questions that lingered in other passengers’ eyes and the hateful glances shot my way. It was always that way in the larger cities. In places where wolves were

less likely to congregate. Suburbia and small towns accepted werewolves without a problem. They were used to seeing them on two feet and four throughout the years. Inner cities, however…

“Miss?” The driver drew my attention back and I focused on the kind, large man.

“Yes,” i nodded, “He is a lot of trouble.”

“Is there somewhere I can drop you that is safe? There is a shelter on my route…”

A shelter. Yes, that would be a good place to hide, to keep away from him while i figured out where to run next. The baby rolled and pressed against me, kicking my stomach as if in protest. I rubbed the bulge with a soft murmur. It was as if the child knew my thoughts and protested my desire to continue running.

 I had been running for months. How long now? Six months? Seven? The first night I had given myself to Kai , I had become pregnant, losing my virginity and gaining a child in one passionate act. When I had woken that next morning, it was to find a beaming Kai looming over me, a wide smile splitting his lips.

“Good morning, beautiful. You have made me the happiest wolf alive.” He traced the line of my nose with a single finger and then tapped the end. “When you are prepared, we will rise and make our announcement to the pack.”

I had furrowed my brow, confusion filling me. “What announcement?”

Kai ran his hand down my abdomen and finally stopping when he reached my lower stomach. “That you carry the future of the pack.”

And that had been the beginning of the end.

“Miss?”

The past had a way of drawing me in. I shook my head, banishing those thoughts. “No,” i needed to settle this mess. “I will get off at the stop by my house.”

I couldn’t avoid him forever. Definitely not now that he had found me. It was time to stop running and time to make a stand. He may rule the pack in New York , but his title and status meant nothing here. I could confront him, and then send him on his way. There was nothing he could do to me here. At least, i hoped not. Because it was no longer just my life at stake, but also the life of my child. Kai’s Alpha bitch had made that more than clear.

You are safe for now because you carry his child. But the moment you do not, you will be discarded. Am his true Luna and will always be the one he loves. 

All too soon the air brakes on the bus whistled and thumped as they slowed the vehicle, and it rolled to a gentle stop at the all too familiar bus stop. I gave the driver a grateful smile, hoping to banish the frown from his lips and wasn’t surprised when it remained firmly in place.

“I’m not so sure about this, miss.”

“Everything will be fine.” Even i didn’t believe my own words.

Without a second glance, I carefully made my way down the steps and steadied myself when my feet finally rested on the sidewalk. The further along I got in my pregnancy, the harder it was to move around and retain my balance. The baby wiggled and stretched inside me, reminding me of his presence, and i gently rested my hand atop my roundness. “We will be home soon, little one.” I whispered almost to myself. 

My home, not Kai’s. That was something i needed to keep at the forefront of my mind and remind Kai of when it was time to finally have our confrontation.

I slowly waddled toward home, forcing a smile to my face as I passed the park and waved at the children calling out to me. I often spent afternoons there, watching the little ones play and laugh, as i hoped my child would someday. Not stopping, i drew nearer to my apartment. It wasn’t long before i was gripping the handrail of the stairs and carefully making my way up the steps to the second floor. I dug in my purse, easily finding my house keys, but before u could slip the key inside the lock, the door was wrenched open.

And there he was, Kai, the man I had run from for so long.