Chapter 68

Emma’s heart pounded as she sprinted through the trees, her breath coming out in sharp, uneven gasps. The cool breeze burned her lungs, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

Branches clawed at her arms, the damp earth shifting beneath her feet as she ran blindly through the dense forest. Her heartbeat roared in her ears, drowning out everything else—except for the heavy footsteps closing in behind her.

Tyler was following.

“Emma!” His deep voice rang through the trees, urgent and commanding. “Stop running!”

Her pulse pounded harder.

No. She couldn’t stop. She didn’t want to hear whatever he had to say. Didn’t want to face him, didn’t want to deal with this. Not now. Not ever.

But he was fast.

Too fast.

Her legs burned with exhaustion, but Tyler showed no signs of slowing. His heavy footsteps grew louder, closer.

“Emma, stop!”

She tried to push herself harder, forcing her body to move faster—but before she could get any farther, a strong hand clamped around her wrist.

A startled gasp escaped her lips as she was yanked backward.

She collided against a firm chest, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. Tyler’s heat enveloped her, his scent earthy, warm, and undeniably familiar wrapping around her like a vice.

“Let me go,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tyler’s grip was firm, his fingers wrapping around her wrist like an unyielding chain. “Not until you tell me why you’re running.”

Emma struggled against his hold, twisting and pulling, but he was unmoving. He wasn’t hurting her, but he wasn’t letting go either.

“I don’t want to talk,” she snapped, shoving at his chest with her free hand. “Just let me go, Tyler.”

“No,” he said simply, his tone firm.

Her frustration spiked. “You don’t get to decide that!”

Tyler exhaled, his grip loosening just slightly. “Emma, please. Just talk to me.”

Her hands clenched into fists. She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t even know what to say.

She was confused. Angry. Terrified.

And the worst part? A part of her, her wolf didn’t want to run.

She could feel the bond between them humming in the air, a quiet but insistent pull trying to reel her in.

But she refused to give in.

“I just want to be alone,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

Tyler shook his head. “That’s not true.”

Emma’s jaw clenched. She hated how easily he could see through her.

His eyes searched hers, his expression unreadable. “Tell me the truth, Emma.”

She bit her lip, her pulse hammering wildly.

Say nothing. Push him away. Leave.

But the words came out before she could stop them.

“You’re my third mate.”

Silence.

Emma held her breath, bracing herself for his reaction.

But he didn’t look surprised.

He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “I know.”

Emma’s stomach dropped.

She blinked. “What?”

Tyler nodded. “I knew.”

The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.

Since when? How?

Her voice came out shaky. “How long have you known?”

“For a while,” he admitted, watching her carefully. “That’s why I stayed close to you.”

Emma took a step back, her legs weak beneath her, but his grip on her wrist kept her from going far.

She felt dizzy. “You knew? And you didn’t say anything?”

Tyler’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t want to scare you.”

Emma let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Well, congratulations, because I’m terrified.”

Tyler sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Emma, listen to me. I didn’t tell you because I knew how much you were already dealing with. I didn’t want to make things harder for you.”

She shook her head, stepping back again, this time, he let her. “This isn’t normal, Tyler. A werewolf doesn’t have three mates. It’s impossible.”

Tyler’s expression darkened, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “It’s possible.”

Emma scoffed. “No, it’s not. Mates are fated. Not just meet out of being nice.”

Tyler hesitated before saying, “Just like it’s possible for a wolf’s fate to be switched.”

Emma’s breath caught in her throat.

She stared at him, her mind racing.

“What did you just say?”

Tyler’s expression remained calm, but there was something heavy in his gaze. “It’s rare, but it happens. A wolf’s mate bond can be altered.”

Emma shook her head, her pulse pounding. “That’s not true. That’s just a myth.”

Tyler exhaled, his grip finally loosening. “It’s not a myth, Emma. It’s real.”

Her whole body went cold.

She had spent years trying to understand why her life never made sense. Why everything always felt… wrong.

And now, Tyler was telling her that fate itself might have been altered?

“No,” she whispered. “That can’t be true.”

But deep down, something inside her, something primal told her it was.

And that terrified her more than anything.