Laila’s POVÂ
The driver ignored every word I threw at him, his boot heavy on the accelerator.Â
The city fell away behind us, swallowed whole by jagged silhouettes of factories and warehouses. Streetlights grew sparse, their glow replaced by long shadows that stretched like claws across cracked asphalt.Â
My head was spinning faster now, the drug Brittany had slipped into my champagne burning its way through my blood like acid. My skin buzzed, my limbs felt heavy, but panic cut through the haze like a knife.Â
You can’t die here. Ava needs you.Â
“Please,” I tried again, forcing strength into my trembling voice. “Whatever she’s paying you, I’ll match it. Double. Triple.”Â
The man laughed–low, sharp, cruel. “Lady, this isn’t about money.‘Â
My fingers fumbled for my phone. They felt clumsy, like they belonged to someone else. I squinted through the blur of the screen until Jason’s name came into focus. Instinct. Six years gone, and he was still the one my subconscious reached for in crisis.Â
I hit call.Â
The line rang once before collapsing into static. No service. Of course. We were already too far into the old industrial district.Â
Cold dread clawed up my throat. You’re on your own.Â
The car slowed to take a sharp corner, and clarity pierced the fog. This was my only chance. It was now or never.Â
I threw my body against the door as I pulled the handle. It gave with a violent jerk, and suddenly I was airborne, tumbling into the night.Â
The impact slammed fire through my shoulder and hip. Asphalt shredded my gown, tore my skin raw, but I rolled with the momentum, scraping across gravel until the world stopped spinning.Â
Pain roared through me, but adrenaline drowned it out. I forced myself to my feet. My ankle screamed, blood streaked my arms, but I didn’t care.Â
I could still run.Â
“Shit!” Tires screeched. The driver cursed, slamming his door open. He was after me now, pounding footsteps closing in,Â
But I knew these streets. I’d walked them years ago, heavy with Ava in my belly, chasing day jobs that paid cash and asked no questions. This wasteland had once been my map of survival. Tonight, it might be again.Â
I darted into an alley between two warehouses. Rusted metal, shattered windows, weeds pushing through broken pavement. A maze built for ghosts.Â
That’s when I heard it.Â
1/3Â
Chapter 26Â
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A howl.Â
It was answered by another. And another.Â
Rogues.Â
Every hair on my body stood on end.Â
The driver skidded to a stop behind me. I heard his breath hitch. Then retreat. His footsteps pounded back toward the car. Even he knew better than to tangle with rogues.Â
But I wasn’t just human anymore. My wolf stirred inside me, restless, agitated. For six years she’d grown stronger, a hidden ally I barely understood. Maybe strong enough to protect me. Maybe not.Â
Another howl ripped the night, closer this time. They had my scent.Â
I pushed deeper into the alley labyrinth, searching for cover, for escape. My ankle protested every step, but fear kept me moving.Â
Then shadows shifted ahead.Â
Three figures stepped into my path.Â
The rogues.Â
They barely looked like wolves anymore. Scarred, half–feral men with eyes that glowed predator–bright in the dark. Their movements were wrong–jerky, twitching, more beast than human.Â
“Well, well,” the biggest one rasped, voice gravel scraping across stone. “What have we here?”Â
“Lost little sheep,” another crooned, circling wide to block my retreat.Â
The third just bared his teeth in a grin too sharp to be human.Â
I backed against a brick wall, my pulse pounding so loud it drowned the world. My wolf pushed against me, but the drug dulled her strength. My body felt heavy, sluggish.Â
“Please,” I whispered, hating the weakness in my voice. “I’m not looking for trouble.”Â
“But trouble found you,” the leader chuckled, stepping closer. His eyes glittered with cruel delight.Â
This was sport to them. Fear was their feast.Â
He reached for me with clawed hands-Â
Headlights exploded across the alley, blinding us all.Â
An engine roared, tires screeched, and then a door slammed.Â
“Back. Off.”Â
Jason’s voice cracked the night like thunder, power woven into every syllable. The Alpha command hit the rogues like a shockwave. They stumbled back, snarling, whimpering, their bravado wilting under the sheer forceÂ
of his will.Â
2/3Â
Chapter 25Â
“This isn’t your territory,” the leader growled, though his voice shook.Â
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