Chapter3
1365 Words
Chloe's POV
The motel room smelled like cigarettes and broken dreams. Perfect for my new life. I sat on the lumpy bed, counting the cash my best friend Emma had given me. Three thousand dollars. Enough to disappear, to start over somewhere Zack would never find me.
Not that he'd look. He'd made his choice clear in front of everyone.
My phone hadn't stopped buzzing with messages from pack members. Some offered support, others called me names I wouldn't repeat. I turned it off and removed the SIM card. Chloe Thornton was dead. I just had to figure out who I'd become next.
Emma knocked on the door in our agreed pattern. Three short, two long. I let her in, and she immediately pulled me into a hug.
"I hacked into the pack security system," she said. "There's no footage from the study. It's been wiped clean."
My blood ran cold. "Ryan planned this."
"Obviously. But without proof, no one will believe you over him." Emma sat beside me, her dark eyes serious. "You need to run, Chloe. Far away. Ryan's been asking pack members where you might go."
"I'm not running from him. I'm starting over. There's a difference."
Emma pulled out a manila envelope. "New identity. Chloe Matthews. Simple, common. I've got you a job interview tomorrow at a diner in Willowbrook. It's six hours away, completely human town. No pack territories nearby."
I stared at the driver's license with my photo and new name. Same first name, different last name. My mother's maiden name, actually. The one thing from my past I could keep.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"There's one more thing." Emma hesitated. "I overheard Veronica on the phone. She was talking to someone about how perfectly everything went. I think she was involved."
Of course she was. Veronica had wanted Zack from day one. And now she had her chance.
That night, I barely slept. Every noise made me jump. Every shadow could be Ryan. My wolf was restless, calling for our mate. But Zack wasn't our mate anymore. He'd broken that bond when he chose to believe lies over truth.
The next morning, I took a bus to Willowbrook. Six hours of watching the landscape change from city to countryside. With each mile, I felt the pack bonds weakening. It hurt, like pieces of my soul being torn away. But it was necessary.
Willowbrook was exactly what I needed. Small, quiet, and completely ordinary. The Moonlight Diner sat on Main Street between a hardware store and a flower shop. The owner, Betty, was a grandmother type with kind eyes and a no-nonsense attitude.
"You ever waitressed before, honey?" she asked during my interview.
"No, but I'm a fast learner."
She studied me, seeing more than I wanted to share. "Running from someone?"
"Starting over," I said firmly.
"Good enough for me. You start tomorrow. Six a.m. sharp."
I found a tiny apartment above the flower shop. One room, basic furniture, and a window that looked out on Main Street. It was a far cry from the penthouse, but it was mine. No one could take it from me.
That first week was harder than I expected. My feet hurt from standing all day. My back ached from carrying heavy trays. I'd burned myself on the coffee pot twice and mixed up orders more times than I could count. But Betty was patient, and the regular customers were friendly.
"You're doing great, honey," Betty said on Friday as I counted my tips. Forty-seven dollars. In my old life, I'd spent more than that on a single lunch.
"Thanks."
"That handsome fellow at table six has been watching you all week," she said with a wink.
I glanced over. A man sat alone in the corner booth, dark hair, blue eyes, wearing an expensive suit that looked out of place in the diner. He'd been coming in every day, always sitting in my section, always leaving generous tips.
"He's just a customer," I said.
"Honey, men don't come to small-town diners every day for the food."
I approached his table with the coffee pot. "More coffee?"
"Please." His voice was deep, smooth. "I'm Marcus, by the way. Marcus Blake."
"Chloe."
"You're new in town."
It wasn't a question. "Yes."
"Me too. Just moved here for business. Maybe we could explore together sometime?"
My wolf stirred, interested despite herself. But I wasn't ready. Might never be ready.
"I don't think so, but thank you."
He smiled, not offended. "The offer stands."
That night, I was closing up alone when the bell above the door chimed. I looked up from wiping tables, and my heart stopped.
Ryan stood in the doorway, his green eyes gleaming with triumph.
"Hello, sister. Miss me?"
I grabbed a knife from the counter, holding it between us. "Get out."
"Now, is that any way to greet family?" He stepped inside, locking the door behind him. "You've caused me a lot of trouble, Chloe. Zack's been different since you left. Distracted. His wolf is going crazy without you."
"That's not my problem."
"It is when it affects my plans." He moved closer, and I backed up until I hit the counter. "You were supposed to beg for forgiveness. Supposed to grovel. Instead, you just left. Now Zack's asking questions."
"Good."
His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist holding the knife. "I don't think you understand. I've worked too hard to let you ruin everything. Veronica promised me a position in the pack hierarchy once she becomes Luna. But that can't happen if Zack keeps pining for you."
"Veronica's in on this?" I already knew, but hearing confirmation made my stomach turn.
"From the beginning. She's the one who erased the security footage. Brilliant, really." His grip tightened, making me drop the knife. "Now, you're going to come with me. We're going to stage a little scene where you confess to everything. Then you're going to disappear for good."
"Never."
"I wasn't asking."
The door suddenly exploded inward, wood splintering everywhere. Marcus stood in the doorway, but he looked different. Dangerous. His eyes glowed with Alpha power.
"Let her go," he commanded, his voice carrying the weight of dominance.
Ryan released me, stumbling back. "Who are you?"
"Someone who doesn't appreciate trash in my territory." Marcus stepped forward, positioning himself between Ryan and me. "You have three seconds to leave before I tear you apart."
"Your territory? This is human land."
"Not anymore. I claimed it yesterday. Which makes her under my protection."
Ryan looked between us, calculating. Then he smirked. "This isn't over, Chloe. And when Zack finds out you're with another Alpha already, he'll know I was telling the truth."
He left, and I collapsed against the counter, shaking. Marcus turned to me, his eyes now soft with concern.
"Are you hurt?"
"You're an Alpha," I said numbly. "You've been lying."
"Not lying. Just omitting. I knew you were a Luna the moment you walked into the diner. Could sense the broken mate bond."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because you were running from something. And everyone deserves a chance to start over." He stepped closer, careful not to crowd me. "Let me help you, Chloe. No strings, no expectations. Just one wolf helping another."
I wanted to say no. I'd trusted an Alpha before and look where it got me. But something in Marcus's eyes was different. Sincere.
"Okay," I whispered.
He smiled. "Good. First things first, we need to get you somewhere safe. Ryan will be back, and next time he might not come alone."
As I gathered my things, my phone buzzed with a text from Emma's emergency number:
"Zack knows Ryan lied. He's looking for you. And he's furious."
My ex-husband was coming for me. But why? He'd thrown me away. He'd chosen Ryan over me.
"What is it?" Marcus asked, seeing my face.
"My ex-mate. He knows the truth."
Marcus's eyes darkened. "Then things are about to get complicated."
Through the broken door, I saw headlights approaching fast. Too fast. The car screeched to a halt, and my heart stopped.
Zack stepped out, his eyes wild, his wolf barely contained.
He'd found me.
- Writer
