AMELIA’S P.O.V

Jackson and I left very early in the morning and we had been running for the entire day.


My paws hurt and I was sure that I was bleeding somewhere but I didn’t care. I was so close, so fucking close and I wasn’t going to give up now. We had stopped for water a while ago and Jackson told me we should be at the pack by nightfall if we kept running. He was the only one who shifted back mainly because what he rubbed on my fur only worked to hide my scent in wolf form and because I wasn’t sure if I would have the energy to shift back into my wolf if I shifted.

Jackson nudged my side, silently asking if I wanted to take a break but I shook my head. I needed a break and left to me, I would have collapsed on my face but we were so close. I recognized this place, it was the same road I travelled when I came to the pack for the first time. I remembered how terrified I was and how scared I felt when the rogues chased me. Home had never felt so close.

I pushed myself even harder while looking through the trees for the sight of any birds. The sky was dark and the moon shone in the sky lighting up my path for me.


We kept running for what felt like hours until we got to that last turn that would lead to the pack. I had barely taken it when I was knocked off my feet. I rolled into the grass hearing Jackson’s enraged growl as another wolf tacked into me.

I didn’t recognize this wolf, it was grey and albeit smaller than me, it kept me pinned as it snarled in my face. I was far weaker than normal and I knew I couldn’t take it in a fight. It snapped its jaws at my face before being knocked to the side by Jackson’s dark brown wolf.


They were a blur of teeth and claws as Jackson threw it into a tree where it fell silent. I wasn’t sure if it was dead and I didn’t care in that moment as I managed to drag myself to my feet. Jackson sniffed me slowly for any signs of injury but I shook my head. I didn’t feel hurt now, maybe it was the adrenaline- I didn’t know.

“That wolf wasn’t from our pack,” I told Jackson in his mind and I saw him nearly jump in shock. “I think it was from Blake.”

“How did you do that?” he asked. “We don’t have a mind link, we aren’t from the same pack.”

“It’s a special skill I have.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me this earlier?”

“I forgot about it then. We have to be careful, I think someone is-” I heard the snapping of twigs coming from my side and I knew danger was near. “Run!”

We took off towards the pack. I was slower than usual and I knew Jackson slowed down to keep pace with me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see at least four wolves making their way towards us. I felt my wolf- Tara- push herself even further as she tried to get us as close to our pack as we could get. We couldn’t fail now, not when we were so close.

“We’re almost there,” I told Jackson. “Just a few miles left.”

“I don’t know if we will make it a few miles, they’re almost on us.”

“We have to,” I tried to fight the tears that gathered in my eyes. “I’m not going back to Blake.”

“Amy-”

“It’s Amelia,” I cut him off. “If we don’t make it, kill me.”

“You’re kidding, your mate will-”

“I’d rather die than go back to him, Jackson, I mean it, kill me or Ill fucking do it myself.”

The wolves were getting closer and a part of me knew we weren’t going to make it. One of them snapped at my ankle and prepared to tackle me when another wolf burst out from the side and took it to the ground.

Wolves burst out from the trees in front of us and I watched as Blake’s wolves began to run. I saw a bird perched high on a tree in front of me and relief filled me as the tears I was holding back began to9 fall.

“It’s my pack,” I told Jackson as my legs gave out and I crashed to the ground. “Can you see my mate?”

“I don’t know any of these wolves, Amelia,” he walked over to me, standing protectively next to me as the battle unfolded in front of us. I knew realistically we should be heading for the pack but I couldn’t move.

“His wolf is black, almost like the night sky and-”

Before I could finish, a loud roar pierced the air and the hair at the back of my neck stood on end. I knew instantly who it was and I felt relief pour through my system as Kaden’s wolf burst out through the woods. He searched for me and our eyes met. For a split second, all was right with the world again. He came rushing to my side and growled low when he saw Jackson.

“It’s okay,” I said into his mind. “He’s a friend, he brought me here.”

Kaden nudged me with his snout, sniffing me as he did and whined. “I can’t smell you.”

“I had to hide my scent.”

“Can you stand?” I shook my head. “Caleb will bring some clothes for you so you can shift back.”

“I don’t want to,” he started to protest when I cut him off. “If I do, I’ll pass out. I’ve used up all my energy, I can’t- what if this is a dream?”

“I’m right here, Amelia,” he nuzzled me with his snout. Behind us, the battle had come to an end and I knew my pack had won.

I saw Caleb come out of the woods fully dressed and with a small smile on his face as he lay some clothes at Kaden’s feet.

“Shift back, Amelia, I’m not going to leave you.”

It was the soft coaxing in his voice that had me shifting back. In human form, everything hurt and for a second, my vision went black as the exhaustion hit me and I would have fallen if Kaden hadn’t shifted back as well and grabbed me.

I felt his rough hands on my skin and I nearly sobbed, it felt perfect. He cursed as he helped me into the clothes. I could see his mouth moving but I couldn’t hear the words. I reached out to stroke his face gently, wanting to make sure it was him before the darkness finally took me.