20

Scarlett

My hands shook as I locked Sweet Escape’s door, the key scraping against the lock three times before I finally managed to turn it. Finn’s scent still lingered in the air – pine and smoke and everything I’d tried so hard to forget. Ray whimpered inside me, already mourning his departure all over again.

The street lights cast long shadows as I hurried away from the café, my heels clicking against the pavement in an uneven rhythm. Every shadow made me flinch, every rustle of leaves had me looking over my shoulder. After five years of careful anonymity, I felt exposed, raw, as if Finn’s appearance had stripped away all my carefully constructed defenses.

“Scarlett!”

I nearly jumped out of my skin before recognizing Alisha’s voice. She jogged toward me, her usual smile fading as she caught sight of my face. “I was just coming to meet you. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“In a way, I have.” My voice sounded strange even to my own ears - hollow, distant. “We need to go. Now.”

Alisha fell into step beside me, matching my hurried pace. Her wolf’s protective instincts were clearly on alert. I could sense her scanning our surroundings, positioning herself slightly ahead of me when we passed dark alleyways. “What happened? Did someone threaten you?”

“Not exactly.” I kept walking, my eyes darting to every reflective surface, searching for any sign of pursuit. “Please, just... not here. Wait until we’re home.”

The six blocks to our apartment had never felt longer. Every car that drove past made my heart race. Every male figure on the street had me tensing for flight. By the time we reached our building, my shoulders were so tight they ached.

Alisha took the keys from my trembling hands and unlocked the door. The moment it closed behind us, she engaged all three locks and turned to face me. “Okay, we’re safe. Now tell me what’s going on. Who scared you like this?”

“Finn.” The name fell from my lips like a stone. “He found me.”

“Finn?” Alisha’s eyes widened, then flashed with anger. “Your mate? The one who—”

“The one who rejected me, yes.” I sank onto our white couch, suddenly exhausted. “He walked into the café just before closing.”

“That’s impossible.” Alisha paced the length of our small living room. “We were so careful. New identities, new territory, no contact with any packs. How did he find you after all this time?”

The question sent a chill down my spine. “He said he’s been searching for years. Ever since he heard about...” My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach, and Alisha’s face softened with understanding.

“What does he want?”

“Me.” I laughed, but it came out more like a sob. “He wants another chance. Says he was wrong, that he’s changed, that he wants to earn my trust back.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“That I’m not the same wolf he rejected. That I’ve built a life here, without him or any alpha.” The words had felt strong when I’d said them to Finn, but now they tasted like ashes. “But Alisha, if he could find me...”

She went very still, her face paling as she reached the same conclusion I had. “If your mate could track you down—”

“Then Dickson can too.” The name of my husband – my jailer – filled the room like poison gas. “If Finn could find Sweet Escape, it’s only a matter of time before Dickson does too.”

“We’ll run again,” Alisha said immediately. “We did it once, we can do it again. I still have contacts who can—”

“No.” I stood up, and Ray stirred within me, her presence strengthening my determination. “I’m done running. This is my home now. My business. My life. I won’t let them take it from me – not Finn with his guilt, and not Dickson with his possessiveness.”

“Scarlett...” Alisha’s voice held a warning.

“I know it’s dangerous.” I moved to our window, looking out at the city lights that had become my sanctuary. “But I’m not the same broken wolf who escaped Dickson’s cells. I’m stronger now. And this time, I have something worth fighting for.”

The determination in my voice surprised even me. Five years ago, I’d fled in terror and sadness. But now? Now I had built something real, something that was entirely mine. And no alpha – mate or husband – was going to take that away from me.