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Harper skips on ahead, and I smile, watching her kick the fall leaves. They’re really starting to pile up now that the season has shifted. It’s such a simple thing, but I see how happy it makes her, and I can’t deny I feel a tentative peace beginning to settle. Decisions always feel easier when I think about what’s best for Harper. And right now, that is the safety and happiness she’s found here.

But what does that mean for me? I envisaged a whole new life for us on the mainland. All we had to do was get away from the Collinses and head to the coast; I knew I’d stolen enough money to get us on the ferry and set us up for a few weeks. I was scared senseless about it, but it felt clear. I was saving us. All by myself.

Callum stepping in to save us changed everything. Firstly, it reminded me of my failings—that I can’t really protect Harper by myself, after all. And secondly, that I can’t outrun reality.

Harper is Callum’s daughter, and the weeks she has spent here in the safety of his pack, learning about her magic and finally feeling safe, have transformed my already beautiful daughter into the best version of herself. She’s thriving. To take her away from that would be incredibly reckless. To leave the security he’s offering her for the unknown on the mainland and poverty, not to mention the rogues that keep attacking the town and border properties—I know they’re looking for Harper, but I just don’t understand why when they wanted to get rid of her. It makes no sense.

But still, it’s hard to give up the dream I had of a new life away from the island. Away from the prejudice that has dogged my life every step of the way. Callum says all the right things about wanting us to stay, but I know that’s because he wants to keep Harper close—of course he does. He’s stepped up, and I think he’s going to be an amazing dad. I know he wants me, but it’s like when we were younger. He can’t keep his hands off me when we’re alone, but there’s no declaration about being mates, no sign I’d be a part of his life in the pack. Outside the house, he’s getting on with his life as alpha, dealing with the rogues and pack. There’s no us. I know I should be grateful that he accepts Harper so readily. She’s the one who matters, but what if he takes a luna later, and I’m just left to live on the periphery again? Maybe that’s my place in life, and all I can hope is that Harper has better.

I’d be a fool to fall for him again, yet that’s exactly what I’m doing, because he’s all I ever wanted. As a man, he’s maturing into someone even better than I imagined. His exterior may still be demanding and hard-headed; I see through that, especially when I watch him with Harper.

Harper stops to pick up some leaves, and I glance at the time. I promised Sarah we’d be at the new refuge building in an hour after walking to meet some of the women at the old property. Things have moved fast since Callum confirmed the funds for the refuge and offered the use of the new building. After seeing the conditions the women were staying in at the cabin just outside town, it couldn’t come soon enough.

The worn-out single story reminds me of my childhood home and reeks of desperation, which is the last thing these women need after fleeing violence and abuse. Even the cabin’s position at the very edge of town was deeply unsuitable, as it left them vulnerable to their ex-mates constantly trying to reach them. Callum had already thrown two of the ex-mates out for abuse, but they’ve probably just joined the rogues, because there’s no other option on the island. You’re either in the packs or you’re rogue. Banishing wolves just creates instant enemies, which is why abuse went unchecked by Ralph.

I’m glad to see Callum is punishing the men, but that’s not the end of these women’s stories. I was reluctant to get involved with the shelter, but I promised Sara I’d go down with her. Initially, I was dismayed when I saw a few other women from the pack I recognized, and they looked unsure, too, but as we worked, painting the old building and preparing the rooms, things started to get easier. Tentative conversation slowly gave way to small jokes and stories, and as the days passed, I realized I no longer felt nervous.

The rest of the pack still feels daunting, but I’m starting to see friendlier faces. Perhaps because these women have either already suffered misfortunes themselves or are already open to helping those who the pack deems to be on the outside. Harper began playing with some of the children from the shelter while I talked to the moms about what they’ve been going through—although they were with their mates rather than strangers, their situations sounded very similar to my treatment at the Collinses. Seeing their dingy accommodations in the shared cabin only made me appreciate how well Harper was thriving at Callum’s and made me more determined to help these women in any way I could.

Given today is the final moving day and by tonight all the women and pups will be settled in the new building safe in town, I decided to take Harper for a walk over to the cabin to see if I could help Elena and Lucy, the two women who left sorting things at that end. It’s quite a walk through the park trails, but it’s such a beautiful day that it hardly seems to matter. Harper hasn’t complained once about the walk. In fact, she’s bonded so much with all the women at the shelter that she’s just excited to be a part of it all.

As we walk down the trail, I hear the leaves rustle behind us, but when I look back, no one is there. It must be the breeze, but it’s oddly persistent. Harper is still slightly ahead, collecting leaves and flowers. Suddenly, she gasps and points into the trees. At first, I think it’s just her imagination, and there are always shadows and animals moving around in the forest. But then, something moves out of the corner of my eye, sending chills down my spine.

Three wolves leap from the cover of the trees. I instantly know they’re rogues, and scream for Harper. One lunges for her, but she’s too quick and bolts toward me, hiding behind me as the wolves block the trail ahead. “H-harper, you turn and run, scream all the way, and don’t be afraid to use your gift. Scream at the top of your lungs. Okay?” I ask, keeping my voice low. I will fight these wolves with everything I have, but I need Harper to run; she can’t just stand here. “Go. Scream.”

I push Harper back slightly, and she starts running and screaming. The wolves in front simply look bored, and I know they’ll chase her down if I don’t fight. The fear inside me gives way to rage, and I feel her rising, my wolf fighting to the surface. My wolf surges forward as if in slow motion, pushing my human form back until it feels like my bones are snapping and then melting into the ground. In reality, despite not shifting for years, it only takes seconds, and I’m on all fours, snarling at the wolves who would dare hurt my child.

They don’t wait, the first lunging and snapping at me, but I twist and clamp down on the bone in his leg, tossing him to the side. The next body slams me and is so much larger that I’m tossed to the side. One tries to run past me to go after Harper, but I leap with all my strength to crash into him. We roll and take out the other wolf, trying to shake off his injury. In wolf form, I can hear them talking.

“Leave the bitch, we only need the kid,” one snarls.

I don’t understand why. I jump back, missing a snap, and the other two wolves fall in behind him. “She’s just a child,” I say. “Leave her alone.”

The third wolf laughs, “We don’t give a fuck about the kid, just her power.”

My blood runs cold, and I know I have to stop them. They’re still advancing, but I stop retreating and instead lunge at the first, locking my jaws around his throat. He screams as blood flows freely to the ground. I waste no time turning my attention to the next, trying the same move but catching the side of his face and biting down. This time, though, the other wolf leaps onto my back, sinking his teeth into my shoulder.

I know I can’t escape this. It’s a fight to the death. But every second I keep them here, Harper takes longer to reach the town. She must be almost there now, and I heard her screaming all the way down the trail, so hopefully, someone else will have heard, too. The pain is excruciating as he pulls his jaw from side to side, and I scream, releasing my grip on the other wolf. I’m flung against a tree, unable to move.

“Get that little bitch while I finish this one,” the wolf snarls. “She’s killed him.”

I weakly look over to where the other wolf has bled out on the ground, feeling glad at least one of them is dead. I try to lift my head, but I can’t. The other wolf takes off down the trail, and I close my eyes, praying Harper has made it to town. The second wolf turns to me, my own blood dripping from his jaw. “Right, bitch. You’re done.”

He lunges at me, and I close my eyes; a picture of Callum and Harper practicing their magic in the meadow appears in my mind, and a tear slips from my eye as I consider it’s everything I ever wanted. At least I got to pretend to have it for just a moment.

A blood-curdling cry fills the air, and I snap my eyes open to see a wolf I’d recognize anywhere pinning my attacker to the ground: Charlie. I watch on in disbelief as he tears into the attacking wolf, flinging his dead body onto the ground within seconds. He instantly shifts back and rushes over to me, my body half shifting back, struggling with the injuries.

“H-Harp,” I whisper. “W-where?”

Charlie grabs some of the torn clothes and uses them as bandages over my wounds, pressing hard. “More wolves on the trail. We heard the screaming and came. I haven’t seen Harper. She’ll be okay.”

My tears flow freely. I just need to know she’s safe.

“Where is she?” I hear Callum’s frantic voice as he tears into view. My body has almost completely shifted back as he kneels down beside me, another wolf’s blood covering his body. He turns to Charlie. “You take out these two?”

Charlie shakes his head, inclining it towards me. “Ava had already taken one out; it looks like she took multiple wolves on.”

Callum’s eyes snap to me, and I see a mixture of fear and pride in them. He nods. “Call the others and make sure Harper has been found.”

Cold dread seeps through me despite the burn of my wounds. The panic in Callum’s eyes is real. Where is Harper? I watch my brother make the calls, each one increasingly frantic. By the time he turns to us, I already know the answer.

Harper is gone.