02

I ran. I ran like never before, leaving behind the sounds of the pack and the echo of Kian’s voice as he called my name. Tears burned in my eyes, but I didn’t allow myself to stop. Each step felt like a desperate attempt to escape the pain crushing my chest.

The clearing faded away as I dove into the forest, the air growing colder and heavier. I didn’t know where I was going—I just knew I had to go. There was no place for me there anymore. Kian had found his fated mate, Selene, and everything that happened between us the night before… it meant nothing now.

“You were a fool, Amara,” I muttered to myself, my voice trembling and bitter. “Did you really think he’d choose you?”

The words echoed in my thoughts, mixing with the memories of that night. His touch, his sweet words, the way his eyes made me feel special… it all felt like a lie now.

When I finally stopped, my body was exhausted. Leaning against a tree, I tried to catch my breath. I needed to think. I needed to decide what to do. I couldn’t go back to the pack; that much was certain. My presence would only create more complications, both for me and for Kian.

The sound of leaves rustling behind me made me freeze. I turned quickly, my heart racing. “Who’s there?”

For a moment, everything was silent. Then, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Talia, a young warrior from the pack. She always had a cold demeanor, but tonight, there was something else in her eyes: pity.

“Amara,” she began, taking a step toward me. “You shouldn’t be out here. Everyone’s worried. Kian..."

“Don’t say his name!” I interrupted, my voice louder than I intended. The last thing I needed was to hear how Kian was doing.

Talia stopped, seeming to measure her words before continuing. “He sent me to follow you. But honestly, I think you’re right to leave. This… all of this is unfair.”

My hands trembled as I crossed my arms. “Unfair? Talia, I was foolish enough to believe I could have a place here. That I could be more than the insignificant orphan.”

She sighed, lowering her gaze for a moment. “Maybe that’s exactly why you need to leave. Kian doesn’t know what he wants, but you… you deserve more.”

Her words caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect solidarity from Talia—or anyone, really. But it was too late for advice.

“I’m leaving,” I declared firmly. “And this time, for good.”

Years later

Leaving the pack was the hardest decision I ever made. It took me days to wander through the forest before I finally found a small human village where I could start over.

I was no longer Amara of the pack. I was just a woman trying to survive in a world that had no idea what I truly was. I found work, I studied, and eventually, I became a doctor. A respected doctor.

It wasn’t until I discovered I was pregnant that everything truly changed. Three lives growing inside me… Kian’s children. Even though he would never know, I knew I’d do anything to protect them.

But even as the years passed, even as I built a stable life, Kian never stopped being a shadow in my mind. I wanted to hate him, to forget him. But part of me still wondered: if fate had been different, would he have chosen me?

“Amara?” The soft voice of my receptionist pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked up from the monitor, forcing a small smile. “Yes, Dani?”

“You have a call. It’s… from the hospital in your hometown.”

My heart stopped. Hometown? It had been over six years since I left that place behind. No one knew where I was, except for a few trusted people.

“Transfer it here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

I picked up the phone, my heart pounding. “Hello?”

“Amara?” The voice on the other end was deep and unmistakable. My entire body tensed.

“Kian?”

“We need to talk.”

My grip on the phone tightened, my mind spinning. “We have nothing to talk about.”

“Amara, this isn’t about us. It’s about my father. He’s sick, and you’re the only one who can help him.”

The sound of his voice, even over the phone, brought back all the emotions I had tried to bury. I didn’t want to go back. I couldn’t go back.

“That’s not my problem,” I replied firmly.

“Please,” he begged, something I never thought I’d hear from Kian. “I don’t know who else to turn to.”

I hung up without responding. But even after placing the phone back on the desk, his words echoed in my mind.

Kian was desperate. And no matter how much I wanted to ignore him, part of me knew that sooner or later, the past would come back to haunt me.