Chapter 4: A Familiar Scent

*Gwen’s POV*

Fear surged through me as the guards dragged me into the back of the van. The floor, made of cold metal, sent shivers through my body as I curled up in the corner.

My hands were tightly tied with silver restraints. The van started moving, and I knew we were headed toward the outskirts of our territory, where the pack dungeon was located among the trees.

With every bump and twist along the rough road, my heart raced faster. Each jolt seemed to taunt me with the grim reality of my situation.

I stole a glance out of the tiny window, observing the trees whizzing past in a blur. My mind spun with thoughts of escaping, but the guards remained watchful, their eyes keen and alert.

Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, fate intervened. Suddenly, there was a sharp jolt, followed by a hissing sound as air escaped. The van came to a stop. We had a flat tire.

The guards cursed as they got out of the van to inspect the damage. They opened the back of the van where I was and took out a spare tire to replace the flat one. While I sat waiting for them to finish, I noticed something that made me feel incredibly happy.

The van doors were not properly closed, and they swung open easily with just a gentle breeze. With trembling fingers, I reached for the latch, my heart pounding in my ears as I realized the opportunity that lay before me. This was my chance to escape.

Summoning every ounce of courage within me, I shifted into my wolf form, the familiar rush of power surging through me as my senses sharpened. Without hesitation, I darted out of the van and ran into the forest.

Behind me, I could hear the guards shouting in anger and frustration as they chased after me. Their voices were filled with rage as they yelled, "Stop! Stop or face the consequences!"

I paid no attention to their warnings, focused solely on putting as much distance between us as possible. The fear of getting caught pushed me to run faster than I ever thought I could.

Despite branches scratching at my fur and causing me pain, I kept going. All I cared about was reaching the safety of the rival pack's territory, where the guards couldn't pursue me.

After what seemed like forever, I finally entered the rival pack's territory. The scent of unfamiliar wolves filled my nose. With a sigh of relief, I shifted back into my human form and hid among the trees, observing as the guards stopped at the border, unable to cross.

As they talked to each other, deciding their next course of action, I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I had escaped unfair punishment. But as the rush of adrenaline faded, exhaustion swept over me, and I became acutely aware of my injuries and tiredness.

Once I was certain they had left, I carefully went deeper into the forest, searching for a secluded spot to rest. Sitting down, I winced as I inspected my bleeding leg and the scratches covering my body. The cut was so deep, and I knew it would take weeks to heal properly.

I was able to navigate my way through the outskirts of the pack's territory because I often went hunting and tracking in secret during my free time. Unfortunately, our customs forbid Omegas like me from showcasing such skills. If I had been caught, I would have faced serious consequences.

My thoughts drifted back to Derek's betrayal, "Damn you and your friends Derek" I muttered out loud.

I was certain it was Derek and his friends who had spread the rumor that led to my unjust punishment, it was obvious in their faces.  I knew that Derek had wanted to bask in the attention, to revel in the power he held over me.

"I pray that the moon goddess will pay you back for all you made me go through Derek," I said.

Despite the pain and the humiliation, I refused to let despair consume me. I had escaped my pack's punishment and this time, I was determined to make the most of my freedom.

I decided that I would rest where I was for some minutes before I thought of where next to go, but before I knew it, exhaustion claimed me, and I slept deeper and longer than I had planned.

I was awakened hours later by the sensation of someone poking me with a stick. Startled, I looked up to see a group of men standing over me, their faces had a serious expression.

"Who are you?" one of them demanded, his voice filled with suspicion. "And why are you in our territory?"

I stared at them, speechless. My throat felt parched, and the words seemed to stick in my throat.

"Answer us. Which pack are you from?" another one asked, his eyes narrowing. I tried to explain, but my voice wouldn't just cooperate.

The bearded man clicked his tongue in annoyance. Exchanging a look with his companions, they spoke in hushed tones, their words unintelligible.

Soon they all turned to me and one of them spoke, "Shouldn't we take her to the infirmary first? She is injured" the man asked, glancing at my leg.

Another one scoffed. "She could be a spy. Medical attention can wait. Let the Alpha decide her fate."

Just great. I had escaped one trouble, only to enter another trouble. I was bundled up by the guards, and we started making our way towards their pack clearing. The walk felt like forever, and every step was a struggle.

My leg was already hurting from my escape attempt, and it protested with every move I made. The forest canopy above provided some relief from the scorching sun, but the air felt heavy and sticky, sticking to my skin like glue.

I couldn't help but feel curious. Where was I?

This pack seemed different from mine. The buildings were grand and looked after well. And the people here, they seemed genuinely happy, unlike in my pack where it often felt like only the higher ranking wolves were happy, while the rest of us were just trying to get by.

Eventually, we arrived at a huge building right in the middle of the pack. It was way bigger than any other building around, with fancy designs sparkling in the sunlight. I figured that must be the Alpha's palace.

The guards pushed me inside, and I ended up on my knees in front of a giant throne. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the sound of birds chirping outside breaking the silence.

One of the guards went in to fetch their Alpha, leaving me there with his other colleagues. Soon, the doors squeaked open, and a person dressed in black stepped inside. I turned my head to get a good look at their Alpha, but my breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was.

It was him. The man from the club. The one who stood up to Derek.

Back then, it was hard to see him clearly in the dim light, but now, there was no mistaking those eyes. He looked really good, tall and strong, with wide shoulders that filled the doorway. His jawline was sharp, and his eyes were a piercing blue. He looked much better than Derek ever did.

As he stepped closer, a familiar scent filled my senses. He is my second chance mate.

I could feel my wolf limb with joy. It had not even been up to 48 hours since Derek had rejected me as his mate, but here was I, already with another mate, and an Alpha at that. I couldn't believe my luck.

But as I looked up at him, a pang of embarrassment washed over me, knowing that he had seen me in that situation with Derek. I wondered if he recognized me. I silently hoped that he would give me the chance to explain myself.

The Alpha stopped a few feet in front of me, his gaze locked on mine. I was already prepared for the worst. But what he said next, I never saw coming.

"Unbind her," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"My mate shouldn't be treated like a prisoner."