THE CHASED MATE

Chapter Three

As dawn broke over the forest, Lyra sat perched on the edge of the packhouse roof, her legs dangling over the side. The Black Ridge pack was already stirring below, wolves moving about their daily tasks with a sense of purpose that made her feel like an outsider.

She didn’t belong here. Not with them. Not with him.

“Skipping breakfast again?” a voice drawled behind her.

Startled, Lyra turned to find Kael leaning against the doorway that led to the roof. He was shirtless, his tanned, muscular torso glistening with sweat from an early morning run. She hated how her eyes lingered on him, tracing the lines of his chest and the faint scars that hinted at battles won.

“I didn’t realize you were keeping tabs on me,” she said coolly, turning back to face the forest.

Kael chuckled, the sound deep and warm. “It’s hard not to notice when my mate insists on hiding from everyone. Especially me.”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “Maybe you should take the hint.”

But Kael wasn’t deterred. He walked over to her, his presence commanding yet oddly comforting. “You can keep running, Lyra,” he said, his tone softer now. “But at some point, you’ll have to stop and face the truth.”

“And what truth is that?” she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

“That you belong here. With me.”

The sincerity in his voice made her heart ache. She wanted to believe him, wanted to let herself fall into the safety of his arms. But the scars of her past—of the betrayal and loss she’d endured—held her back.

“I don’t belong anywhere,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kael crouched beside her, his golden eyes searching hers. “Then let me show you that you do.”

Lyra looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She hated how easily he broke through her walls, how his words made her want to hope again.

But hope was dangerous. And love...

Love was a luxury she couldn’t afford.