Lexi

  The sky was a deep orange as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the trees. The late afternoon air carried a chill, biting against my skin as I sprinted away from the estate. My heart raced with every step, each breath more labored than the last. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I had to get as far away from Elijah as possible.

  Everything was too much and too fast. The talk of mates, the pull between us that I couldn’t understand, and the pressure I was feeling—like the walls were closing in on me. I needed space.

  I pushed through the forest, moving quickly, the weight of my thoughts slowing me down. The trees were a blur as I weaved in and out of them, my mind still reeling. The cold air stung, but it didn’t bring the clarity I was hoping for. I was more confused than ever.

  ' Just keep going, Lexi. You’ve done it before.'

  But then, the scent hit me—different, wrong. It made my blood run cold, and instinct took over before I could even think. Rogue wolves. And they were closing in.

  It didn’t take long before I saw them, six at least—maybe more, but I couldn’t focus on the numbers. They were circling me, blocking my escape. Low growls rumbled through the air, and I could feel their hunger. Their eyes glowed, predatory. My heart hammered in my chest.

  "Well, well, what do we have here?" A voice from the shadows taunted. "Looks like the little human’s wandered off to the wrong path. Maybe we should show her what happens to lost lambs."

  My fists clenched at my sides, but I knew I wasn’t strong enough to fight them all off. There was no way out, not now.

  "Think she’ll scream?" another rogue chuckled darkly. "It’ll make it more fun." I didn’t wait for them to make their move. I threw the first punch I could, catching the closest rogue in the side. But before I could even react, something—or someone—tore through the clearing. It was too fast for me to see, but I heard the impact, a heavy thud as one of the rogues went flying.

  Then, I saw him.

  Elijah. He was a blur of power and grace, his body moving like a weapon—his eyes gleaming gold as he took down one rogue after another. The sound of bones breaking and the growls of the wolves filled the air. But there was something else—something I hadn’t expected. Beneath his fierce exterior, there was a vulnerability in the way his breath came in sharp, heavy bursts, in the way his hands shook ever so slightly as he fought.

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  In a way he was also human.

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as he fought. Every punch, every kick was a display of strength, but it wasn’t just his physical prowess that stood out. It was the raw emotion I saw behind his movements—the anger, the desperation, the fear.

  “You should listen to me,” Elijah growled between heavy breaths as he slammed another rogue to the ground. “I told you to stay put.”

  I winced at the anger in his voice. “I’m fine,” I said, though I could barely catch my breath, my arm still throbbing from the previous strike.

  He finished off another rogue, his eyes briefly flicking to me before moving on to the next. He was getting through them—quickly, efficiently—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was doing this not just to protect me, but because he didn’t want to lose me.

  "You should have listened to me," he repeated, his voice sharp. He didn’t give me a chance to answer before he was fighting again, his movements fast and precise. The remaining rogues tried to circle us, but they didn’t stand a chance. Elijah moved like a storm, knocking them down one by one, the force of his blows sending them crashing into trees or the ground.

  Finally, the last rogue fell, and silence filled the air.

  I stood, trying to catch my breath, feeling the rush of adrenaline slowly fade. My body ached, and my mind was spinning. What had just happened? How did Elijah...?

  But before I could finish my thoughts, Elijah turned to face me, his golden eyes still glowing. There was no hint of pride in them, just a strange mix of worry and relief.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice much gentler now.

  I nodded, though the pain in my arm and legs was still sharp. “I’m fine. Just—just a few brusies.”

  He stepped closer, inspecting my arm where the rogue had scratched me, his expression unreadable. “You should’ve listened to me,” he said again, though this time his voice was softer, more concerned. “You could have died, Lexi.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. I didn’t know what to believe, or who to trust.

  He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I know you think you can handle it, but you don’t understand—these wolves, they’ll keep coming. They’ll keep coming after you. The elders—”

  Before he could finish, two figures appeared behind him. A few of Elijah’s pack members, their eyes scanned the area before landing on him. “Elijah,” one of them said, his tone urgent. “The elders are waiting for you.”

  Elijah straightened, his jaw tightening. “I know,” he said, his voice clipped. He turned to me, his gaze softening just for a moment.

  “We’ll deal with them. They said you should bring her with you."

  A chill ran down my spine. I could feel the weight of his words. The elders. They wanted to see me.

  What did that mean? Elijah looked back at his pack. “I’ll be there shortly,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension hanging in the air. “Make sure the area is cleared.”

  They nodded and moved off, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change. Something big. And I had no idea what I was walking into.