Chapter 17
771 Words
The next morning feels deceptively ordinary.
Miles walks her to class like always, his hand resting at the small of her back.
“Full day?” he asks.
She nods. “Three lectures. I’ll survive.”
His mouth curves faintly, but his eyes remain serious.
“I’ve got meetings with my father. Patrol restructuring. But call me if anything feels off.”
“I will.”
He leans down, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. Not claiming like yesterday. Not dominant.
Protective.
“Be aware,” he murmurs against her mouth.
The bond hums softly as he steps away.
She watches him leave, unaware it’s the last calm moment she’ll have that day.
The first lecture passes without incident.
So does the beginning of the second.
Casey sits near the middle of the classroom, half listening, half distracted by the steady pulse of the bond in her chest.
It feels… restless today.
Like something circling.
She shifts in her seat.
And then—
A scream.
Sharp.
Piercing.
Close.
The entire classroom goes still.
Another scream follows. Louder. Closer.
Chaos erupts in the hallway outside.
The professor freezes, then snaps into action. “Everyone stay calm! Move to the back exit. Now!”
Desks scrape. Students panic.
Casey’s heart slams against her ribs.
Her wolf surges beneath her skin.
She knows.
Before she even smells them.
Rogues.
The scent hits seconds later — foul, feral, wrong.
Her stomach drops.
They’re here.
For her.
Students shove toward the back door. The professor ushers them through.
Casey fumbles for her phone—
But someone slams into her shoulder.
She drops it.
The screen cracks on impact.
More screams echo through the hall.
Glass shatters somewhere nearby.
Growls follow.
Not pack wolves.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
The back exit floods with students trying to escape.
Casey is pushed sideways into a storage alcove off the hallway.
Several students duck inside with her, crouching behind stacked equipment.
Her breathing turns shallow.
Her heart is pounding so loud she’s sure they can hear it.
Heavy footsteps pound down the hall.
Then silence.
Then sniffing.
Her blood runs cold.
They’re scenting.
Searching.
One of the students beside her starts crying softly.
Casey grips her own arms, trying to steady herself.
Please.
Please.
The footsteps stop outside the alcove.
A low growl rumbles.
The scent thickens.
Rotten.
Predatory.
They know.
The door to the alcove is ripped open.
Three rogues stand there.
Eyes wild.
Clothes torn.
Blood smeared along one of their jaws.
They scan the room—
Then all three heads snap toward her.
Recognition flashes.
She sees it.
They step forward in unison.
The other students scatter screaming.
Casey bolts.
Adrenaline explodes through her system.
She shoves past one rogue, elbowing him hard in the throat.
He staggers.
But another grabs her arm.
She twists, driving her knee up hard.
He snarls in pain.
She runs again.
The hallway is chaos — overturned tables, shattered glass, students fleeing.
Then she hears it.
Wolves.
Pack wolves.
Fast.
Powerful.
A deep, familiar roar echoes through the building.
Miles.
Relief surges through her—
Too soon.
A rogue slams into her from behind.
She hits the ground hard.
Air explodes from her lungs.
Hands grab her arms.
She fights.
Kicks.
Claws.
Bites.
“I’m not going with you!” she screams.
One rogue laughs darkly. “You don’t have a choice, Luna.”
The word chills her.
They drag her down the hall toward the side exit.
She digs her heels into the floor, catching the edge of a doorway—
But there are too many.
Outside, a dark SUV waits with its doors open.
She thrashes violently, managing to elbow one rogue hard enough that he stumbles.
For a split second—
She breaks free.
She runs toward the sound of snarling wolves.
And then she sees him.
Miles.
In wolf form.
Massive.
Furious.
Moving like a bullet.
He barrels across the courtyard, tearing through two rogues in his path.
Hope floods her.
“MILES!”
But three more rogues intercept him.
They slam into him mid-charge.
The impact shakes the ground.
He fights viciously — teeth flashing, bodies falling — but they slow him.
And that’s all it takes.
Arms wrap around her from behind.
A cloth presses over her mouth.
Sharp.
Chemical.
She jerks violently.
No.
No no no—
Her vision blurs.
The last thing she sees—
Is Miles breaking free.
Launching toward her.
Eyes locked on hers.
Rage.
Terror.
Promise.
He’s almost there.
Almost—
Darkness swallows her whole.
And somewhere in that darkness—
The bond doesn’t fade.
It stretches.
Burning.
Alive.
And furious.
- Writer
