With her pack destroyed and parents killed Everleigh Grey goes on the journey to escape and comes face to face with her mate.

Chapter 9 : Run, Everleigh, Run

The dagger weighed heavy in Everleigh’s hoodie pocket, its cold steel pressing against her ribs like a secret. Each night since she’d found it, she had whispered the same promise to herself: I will get out. I will not let him win.

Tonight, the chance came.

The rogues were drunk on blood and ale, their howls ringing across the courtyard. Isaac had left her locked in the room hours ago, summoned to deal with a border dispute. For the first time in days, the halls beyond her door were quiet.

Her pulse thundered as she pressed her ear against the wood. Silence.

With trembling fingers, she slipped the stolen pin into the lock. It clicked after two careful turns.

The door creaked open.

Everleigh froze, breath caught in her throat. No footsteps. No voices. Just the distant crackle of torches outside.

Now.

She padded down the corridor, her bare feet silent against the stone. The night air rushed over her as she slipped out a side door and into the trees.

Freedom.

Her lungs ached as she ran, weaving through the forest, the moonlight painting her path in silver. Branches clawed at her arms, roots snagged her feet, but still she pushed forward.

Every step screamed with desperation. Faster. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.

But her body betrayed her. A sharp cramp twisted in her belly, forcing her to stumble. She clutched her side, gasping, nausea clawing at her throat.

Not now. Please, not now.

She pushed on, but the ache deepened, dragging her down. She had missed her cycle. Her stomach had turned sour for days. And now, the truth she’d tried to bury rose like bile in her throat.

No…

The forest spun around her. The ground tilted. The memory of Isaac’s hand on her, his promise to breed strong heirs, slammed into her mind.

Pregnant.

Her breath hitched, panic clawing at her chest. She couldn’t think about it. Not now. She couldn’t afford to.

The sound of snapping twigs jolted her back. Voices. Snarls.

The rogues were on her trail.

Everleigh staggered forward, clutching the dagger, her vision blurring with tears she refused to shed. Not here. Not like this. I have to survive. I have to.

Behind her, Isaac’s voice rose in a furious roar.

“Find her!”

Everleigh pushed harder, legs burning, heart breaking.

The forest swallowed her cry as she ran into the night, carrying not just her life—but the secret she could never let anyone know.