Page 3

Chapter

Three

Jade returned to where she’d left her clothes in the woods and dressed, and as she listened to the sounds of the night around her, she heard low voices and, against her better judgment, she’d followed them.

Creeping through the woods, she’d followed the voices to the alpha’s house, where she’d seen Alpha Holloway standing on the back patio with two of his high ranked males and speaking to three other males she didn’t recognize.

She couldn’t explain it, but there had been something devious about the whole thing, something secretive. They were meeting while the pack was hunting, and even though it was out in the open where anyone could see, no one ever went back to the alpha’s after the hunt; they simply went home.

Except for her, apparently.

See? This is why he thinks you’re rebellious and a troublemaker.

She didn’t dare get close enough to catch every word of their conversation but picked up enough to hear words that chilled her to the core.

Arranged mating.

It’s not up to her.

Punishment.

Her wolf let out a worried whine in her head. Her stomach churned as she turned back and made her way silently to her house, where she tossed and turned all night.

By the time the sun rose the day after the full moon, Jade was certain that Holloway was talking about her.

There were several unmated females in the pack.

Perhaps the group was talking about more than just her, but one thing she could feel deep in her bones: her days of remaining unmated were coming to a close.

Suddenly, the way the alpha had been treating her recently made sense. He was perhaps trying to break her spirit, get her in a mental place where she’d welcome an arranged mating if it meant leaving his pack.

Which, hello, she would like to leave. But she’d like to make the choice herself.

She’d never heard of the alpha arranging matings without the consent of the parties involved, but the way he’d met with those males under cover of darkness? It seemed highly likely that the scenario that filled her with dread was going to come true.

She was going to be forced into an arranged mating.

Considering Holloway didn’t like her, she could guess he wouldn’t pick the nicest, most handsome male to pair her up with.

While she guzzled her second cup of coffee and stared out the window over her kitchen sink with a mixture of terror and anger, she tried to figure out what to do.

Could she escape? Where the hell would she even go? If she got in her car, she’d be stopped for sure since the town was routinely patrolled by pack members loyal to the alpha.

Sadie came to mind.

The rumors about her mom, Evelyn, helping her to leave flitted through the train of thought of the only person Jade knew who’d ever escaped the alpha’s wrath.

Finishing the coffee with two large gulps, she shoved her feet into her tennis shoes and hurried out the door, not even bothering to brush her hair or put on clean clothes.

Making her way to Evelyn’s tiny home, she was about to knock when she heard someone approaching and spun around.

“Jade? What are you doing up so early?” Evelyn asked. She held a basket filled with wild blackberries and a small bouquet of flowers.

Jade stared at the woman who’d been kind to her over the years, more so after her father died, sharing treats and sweet words with her.

As she stared into Evelyn’s kind eyes, she broke down, too exhausted to hide the fear that coursed through her.

Evelyn hurried her into the house, shushing her gently. They sat on the couch and Evelyn set her things on the nearby coffee table.

Evelyn gave her a hug and rubbed her back. “You know, don’t you?”

“I…heard things,” Jade said, explaining what she’d witnessed between sobs.

“I was going to come find you today,” Evelyn said, brushing the hair from Jade’s face with a motherly touch.

“Yesterday morning, I was tasked with cleaning the alpha’s house before the full moon.

Around lunchtime, Holloway bellowed to me that he needed drinks served in his office for guests.

By the time I gathered a tray of refreshments, there were a handful of males in his office along with several high ranked males from our pack. ”

“Did you know who they were?”

Evelyn hesitated and said, “I didn’t think I knew them at first because I assumed they might be from his brother’s pack. You remember that his brother is an alpha and came to visit last month? It was right after my daughter left the pack?”

“I remember.”

“Well, these men weren’t his brother or from his pack, but as I was leaving, one of the males made eye contact with me, and I recognized him. It’s been a long time, but you don’t forget a male like that.”

“Like what?”

“Dangerous. Violent.”

Evelyn shared a story from several years ago about a cousin of Holloway’s who ran his pack with an iron fist, taking who and what he wanted.

“He has a scar on his face, running from his temple to his jaw. He got it when he went after a lion pride who tried to take over the pack’s territory when he was a teenager before he could shift.

I don’t have to tell you the kind of male who goes after a lion alpha before he can even take on his wolf form.

” She shuddered. “His name is Dane, and he’s here because he wants to form an alliance with Holloway and take over the town next to Ironwood, which you know is entirely human.

In exchange for the alliance, he’ll hand over several females from his pack as mates for the high ranked males of our pack. ”

Jade’s heart sank. “Holloway is giving me to him?”

“I’m sorry, honey, but I believe so.”

“When?” she asked, her voice squeaking with emotion.

“Tonight. Holloway was making arrangements for a ceremony tonight when I finished cleaning the kitchen.”

“What am I going to do?”

“You’re going to get out of town, that’s what.”

“But I don’t know if I can. Where would I go?” She had a little cash on hand, but enough to start a new life somewhere and also stay hidden so no one from her pack would find her? It seemed impossible.

“It’ll be okay, Jade, I promise. I helped Sadie get free of the pack, and I’m going to help you.

But it has to be now. I don’t think you can wait.

” Evelyn rose to her feet. “Go into Sadie’s room.

Hanging on the closet door is a crossbody bag.

Fill it with a change of clothes from the dresser. Do you have your phone?”

Jade stood and brushed at the wetness on her cheeks. “Yes.”

“Okay, turn it off. I’ll have my friend bring a new phone for you when she meets you. Only turn your phone on to make a call.”

“Call? Who? What are you planning?”

“I have a friend named Alli, a fallen angel who lives in Northern Ohio. I’ve known her for years.

She helped Sadie get to safety and she also knows a wolf pack in the area that’s very welcoming.

I’ve got a plan, but I need to reach out to her first.” A text pinged on Jade’s phone containing Alli’s contact information.

“Now, turn off that phone and hurry to pack a bag. I’ll be ready when you’re done. ”

When Jade didn’t move because she was too surprised by everything that was happening, Evelyn said, “Listen, Holloway was going to put Sadie in a cell to keep her away from his asshole brother when he came to visit. Because he liked to blame all the pack issues on her being ‘bad luck,’ he wanted to hide her away because he was embarrassed by her. I wouldn’t put it past him to put you in a cell to keep you where he can find you easily.

You don’t have the luxury of time right now, okay? They could come for you at any moment.”

Jade nodded and hurried down the hall, powering off her phone as she did so. She found Sadie’s room and the bag where Evelyn said it would be. Digging through Sadie’s things, she rolled up a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and stuffed them inside, along with a pair of sandals.

Evelyn had made plans by the time she walked out of the bedroom.

Jade would shift into her wolf and run until she was out of the territory.

She would keep running until she reached the next town, where she’d shift back into her human form, get dressed, and then board a bus to take her to Ohio, right to the town where Alli lived.

“I just ordered your ticket,” she said as she handed Jade a piece of paper.

“I sent it to your phone, but here’s the confirmation number.

It’s bus number 2455 and leaves in one hour.

You can check in at a kiosk at the station and board the bus.

Turn your phone on only if you need to contact Alli.

She’ll be waiting for you at the bus station when you get there.

It’s a long bus ride, but it’s the safest way to get you to Ohio. ”

“Why are you helping me like this?”

“Because you remind me of Sadie. And also because I knew your mother once upon a time, and I miss her. She was a sweet, kind female.”

Jade felt a tightness in her chest. She hadn’t been allowed to talk about her mom, who’d been ousted from the pack when Jade was too young to remember her.

The only thing she knew for sure was that her mom and dad had been an arranged mating, and her mom had been miserable.

Holloway clearly hadn’t been good at arranging matings, and Jade doubted he’d gotten any better at it over the years.

Giving Evelyn a hug, she said, “Thank you so much.”

“Sadie’s in a town called Whisper Creek. You can have Alli take you there to visit with her. And Alli knows how to get in touch with me without compromising your safety.”

“What if you get in trouble?”

She shrugged. “It’s worth it to help you. Dane Malrick is dangerous on a hundred different levels, and I’m certain the life you’d have with him would be brutal. I can give you a chance at a good life, and I want that for you.”

“You could come with me.”

“Maybe someday I’ll leave, but today is about you.”

They discussed the patrol schedule, and then Jade stripped and shifted into her wolf form.

Evelyn tucked her clothes and shoes into the crossbody bag, along with some cash and a few granola bars, and hung it around her neck.

Evelyn checked to make sure the coast was clear before opening the back door, and Jade hurried off.

Her paws were silent as she made her way through the woods, her heart racing with fear and uncertainty.

She didn’t know what the future would bring, but she knew that this was possibly her only chance at freedom, and she had to take it.