22

Scarlett

“Alpha Dickson isn’t someone who gives up easily,” Alisha said, her fingers nervously tapping against her coffee mug.

I lifted my gaze to meet hers. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“The letter, Scarlett.” Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “You know what he’s capable of.”

“So what would you have me do?” Heat crept into my voice. “Crawl back to that hell? Let him treat me like his property again?”

“God, no!” Alisha’s eyes widened in horror. “That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just worried he might track you down here.”

I straightened my shoulders, feeling the new strength that coursed through my veins. “Let him try. I’m not the same weak wolf he knew. Peter’s training has made sure of that.” The letter from Dickson still burned in my memory, though I couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to have it delivered. One thing was certain – I’d rather die than return to his pack, to the nightmare I’d escaped.

“My life belongs to me now,” I declared. “No one else gets to decide my fate.”

Alisha fell silent, watching me as I finished my coffee. The clock on the wall caught my attention.

“I need to get going,” I said, rising from my chair. “Peter will be waiting.”

“Okay,” she replied. “I will look after the shop.”

“Thank you. I will be back soon.”

Peter was one of the few wolves I’d met in this territory, though he knew nothing of my true identity or Alisha’s. He was waiting in our usual spot when I arrived.

“Ray!” he called out, using the name I’d adopted in the human realm. His face lit up as I approached.

“Peter,” I replied, unable to suppress my smile. Despite everything, his presence had become a comfort I looked forward to.

“How are you?” He reached for my bag, as he always did, despite my protests. “Bring that.”

“I’m fine,” I said, surrendering my bag with a small shake of my head. His fingers brushed mine, and I saw that look in his eyes again – the one I pretended not to notice. Relationships weren’t part of my plan for survival. “Thank you.”

“Shall we?” He took my hand, leading me to our training grounds. The gesture was casual, friendly, but held an undercurrent I couldn’t afford to acknowledge.

“Give me a minute to change,” I said, slipping away to the locker room. I changed quickly, my movements efficient and purposeful.

“Wow,” he gasped when he saw me. “You look so stunning.”

“And broken,” I said with a tease.

“No,” he said firmly. “Never broken.” I forced a laugh and nodded, but the truth sat heavy in my chest. He saw what he wanted to see, not what I really was.

“Ready?” I took my stance. Without warning, Peter launched his attack. I sidestepped smoothly, my body moving on instinct.

“Impressive,” he praised, coming at me again. I deflected each strike, my movements becoming more fluid with each passing second.

“Stop defending!” he growled. “Attack!”

Something shifted inside me then – a surge of power I’d never felt before. Raw energy coursed through my veins, and before I could think, my body moved.

The next thing I knew, Peter was on the ground, groaning.

“Oh god,” I gasped, rushing to his side. My eyes widening as I couldn’t believe what happened just now. “How is this possible?” Peter, who was on the floor, groaning. His face was pale, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. Clutching his side, he grimaced in pain, trying to catch his breath as he struggled to sit up.

“I’m so sorry, Peter,” I apologized.

“Don’t apologize,” he managed, struggling to sit up. “That was incredible.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks. “You’re just saying that.”

“You’re a warrior, Ray. I’ve known it since I first met you. With more training, you’ll be unstoppable.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, worry creasing my brow.

“I’m fine.” His eyes locked onto mine, suddenly intense. “Why do I feel like you could vanish at any moment?”

“Peter…”

He pulled himself up, swaying slightly. “I can’t shake this feeling that you’re not really here, that you’ll disappear.”

“How could I be?” I whispered. “That is not possible, Peter.”

Without warning, he pulled me into an embrace. The gesture was so unexpected, so unlike our usual interactions, that I froze.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, but instead of answering, he cupped my face in his hands.

“You take my breath away,” he confessed. “I’ve fallen for you, Ray.”

And there it was – the moment I’d been dreading. My heart clenched.

I pulled away. “I’m sorry. I—”

Before I could finish my statement, he shut me up.

“From the first day I walked into your coffee shop, you’ve had this hold on me,” he continued, cutting off my protest. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. I promise to cherish you, to protect you...”

I stared at him. “I keep visiting your place every day just to see you. Just to hear you talk, Ray.” His eyes beamed, smeared with desire and pure, genuine truth. I knew instead it was fate, given we were both wolves. I hadn’t hidden anything about myself from him. I told him everything he was supposed to know about me, just to make sure he wouldn’t fall in love with me.”

He wasn’t lying. I first noticed Peter in my shop because he kept coming every now and then. We clicked, and we started talking as friends. He told me everything about him. He was once the head of warriors in his former pack before a tragedy struck, making him flee to the human realm.

When he first told me how he was mated and his mate got killed in the attack, my mind immediately went to my father, wondering if he was involved. But Alisha assured me not to think that way because Peter claimed it was a rogue attack.

I clenched my fists together. I didn’t know it could come to a day I would reject someone’s confession. Peter was a very good person. He was tall and had a commanding aura. I valued our friendship too much to risk it by entering a romantic relationship.

“I’m so sorry,” I finally managed, my voice barely a whisper. “I can’t accept your feelings.”

“You should at least think about it before you reject me, Ray,” he said, his voice sounded hurt. How was I different from those people who hurt me?

“Our friendship means everything to me,” I said. “Please understand.”

“I want more than friendship, Ray. Please.”

“I’m sorry,” I said before running away inside the changing room. I needed to get away. I hated the fact that I’d hurt him.

I quickly changed back into my clothes before walking out. Peter was still in the same spot I left him.

“I’m truly sorry,” I repeated before rushing out into the street.

My mind raced with images of his hurt expression as I hurried away. “It’s for the best,” I muttered to myself, trying to figure out how I could possibly face him again.

A hand suddenly grabbed my arm, and I spun around, expecting Peter.

“Peter, I need to explain—” The words died in my throat as I met those familiar eyes. Eyes that had once looked at me with such hatred. Eyes that still haunted my nightmares. Eyes that made me go weak in my knees. My heart raced, caught between fear and hate, as a shiver ran down my spine.

“Hello, Luna,” the voice that had tormented me for so long said, thick with malice. “I hope you miss me like I do.”