Luna burst through the cell door at the first light of dawn, not daring to look back. Whatever had been growling outside her cabin all night was gone now, but she couldn't stay here. It wasn't safe.
The glowing map from last night was burned into her mind. She needed to follow it, to find whatever her baby was trying to show her.
Luna hurried through the trees, following the way she remembered from the glowing map. Her stomach growled with hunger. She hadn't eaten since yesterday's breakfast at the diner, and she needed food—not just for herself but for her baby too.
She spotted some bushes filled with dark berries. Luna approached them carefully and sniffed. They smelled sweet and ripe. Not dangerous. Her new super-senses were already proving useful.
Luna was so busy picking berries and stuffing them into her mouth that she didn't hear the footsteps coming until they were very close. She whirled around, dropping the berries she'd collected in her shirt.
A man stood watching her. He was tall with broad shoulders and dark hair that fell across his face. His eyes were a strange amber color that seemed to see right through her.
"You shouldn't eat those," he said quietly. "Not the dark purple ones. They'll make you sick."
Luna backed away, her heart beating. How long had he been watching her? Was he from Kaelen's pack? Or just a regular person who happened to be in the woods?
"Who are you?" she demanded, trying to sound brave even though she was frightened.
"My name is Aric," he said. He didn't move closer, which Luna liked. "I live near here. I saw the smoke from your cabin this morning."
Luna winced. She'd lit a small fire in the woodstove to warm up before leaving. Stupid mistake.
"I'm just passing through," she said quickly. "I'll be gone by tonight."
Aric tilted his head slightly, studying her in a way that made Luna uncomfortable. Could he tell she was a wolf? Could he sense her baby?
"You look hungry," he said finally. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a wrapped sandwich. "Here. It's just peanut butter, but it's better than those berries."
Luna's stomach growled again, so loudly that Aric smiled slightly. He held out the sandwich, and when Luna didn't take it, he set it on a flat rock between them.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said softly. "I promise."
Something in his voice made Luna want to believe him. But after Kaelen's betrayal, how could she trust any man again?
Still, she was hungry. Luna snatched the sandwich and unwrapped it, sniffing carefully before taking a bite. It tasted amazing—or maybe she was just that hungry.
"Thank you," she said between bites.
Aric nodded. "There's a stream with clean water about fifty yards that way." He pointed. "And there are blackberry bushes further up the path. Those are safe to eat."
Luna finished the sandwich, watching Aric carefully. He hadn't moved closer, and he didn't seem dangerous, but there was something... different about him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Why are you helping me?" Luna asked.
Aric paused. "Let's just say I know what it's like to be alone in these woods."
Before Luna could reply, a twig snapped nearby. Both she and Aric turned toward the sound.
Three big wolves stepped out of the underbrush, their lips pulled back to show sharp teeth. These weren't werewolves like Luna—they were regular wolves, wild and dangerous.
Luna froze. Normal wolves usually avoided people, but something about these wolves seemed wrong. Their eyes were too intelligent, too fixed. And they were looking right at her.
"Don't move," Aric whispered, slowly stepping in front of Luna.
The biggest wolf—gray with black ears—growled low in its throat. The other two spread out, trying to circle around them.
"When I say run, head for the stream," Aric said quietly, not taking his eyes off the wolves. "Don't stop until you reach the water."
"But—" Luna began.
"Just trust me," Aric cut her off.
The wolves inched closer. Luna could smell their wild musk, see the saliva dripping from their mouths. They were hunting. And she was their game.
Suddenly, the gray wolf lunged. Aric yelled "RUN!" and pushed Luna toward the stream.
Luna ran, hearing growls and snarls behind her. She looked back to see Aric facing the three wolves alone. Was he crazy? They would tear him apart!
She should keep running. Get to safety. But she couldn't leave him to die because of her.
Luna turned back just in time to see Aric do something impossible. His body blurred, and where the man had stood a moment before, a huge wolf now crouched—a wolf with fur the color of dark honey and amber eyes that matched Aric's.
He was a monster! Like her!
Aric's wolf form was huge—at least twice the size of the wild wolves. He charged at them, teeth bared, a deep growl rumbling from his chest that made Luna's skin itch.
The wild wolves charged together, but Aric was faster. He caught the gray wolf by the throat and threw it against a tree. It yelped in pain but got back up, bleeding but still dangerous.
Luna wanted to help, but what could she do? She wasn't strong enough to shift into her wolf form while pregnant. Or at least, that's what she'd always been told.
But as she watched Aric fighting—one against three—something stirred inside her. That same warm energy began running through her veins. Her hands started to glow with silver light.
Without thinking, Luna raised her hands toward the fighting dogs. A burst of silver light shot from her fingers, hitting one of the wild wolves directly in the side. The wolf yelped and fell, its legs jerking.
Aric took advantage of the confusion to attack the other two wolves. His teeth tore into the gray wolf's shoulder. The wolf howled in pain, then turned and ran, its two friends following quickly.
For a moment, the forest was silent except for Luna's heavy breathing. The silver light faded from her hands, leaving her feeling drained and shaky.
Aric changed back to his human form. His shirt was torn and there was a scratch on his arm, but otherwise he seemed unhurt. He stared at Luna with wide eyes.
"What was that?" he asked. "What did you do to that wolf?"
Luna shook her head, sinking to her knees. "I don't know. It just... happened."
Aric approached slowly and knelt beside her. "You're not just a regular werewolf, are you?"
Luna looked up at him, too tired to lie. "I don't know what I am anymore."
"You're pregnant," Aric said softly. It wasn't a question.
Luna nodded, wrapping her arms protectively around her stomach. "How did you know?"
"I can sense it," Aric said. "The baby... it has a strong aura. Like nothing I've ever felt before."
Luna didn't know what to say to that. She was still trying to understand the fact that Aric was a werewolf. Not from her pack—she would have known his scent—but definitely a werewolf.
"Those wolves," she said. "They weren't normal, were they?"
Aric shook his head sadly. "No. Someone sent them. They were hunting you specifically."
Luna's blood ran cold. "Kaelen," she whispered.
"Who's Kaelen?" Aric asked.
Luna paused. Could she trust Aric with her story? He had just saved her life, but that didn't mean he wouldn't turn her over to Kaelen if he found out who she was running from.
Before she could decide, a wave of dizziness hit her. Luna swayed and would have fallen if Aric hadn't caught her arm.
"You need food and rest," he said. "My sister's place isn't far from here. She can help you."
"No," Luna pulled away. "I can't go with you. I don't know you."
"You can't stay in that falling-down cabin either," Aric protested. "Not with those wolves hunting you. They'll be back, and with more friends next time."
Luna knew he was right, but years of caution made her pause. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't," Aric said bluntly. "But I just fought off three wolves for you, and you used some kind of magic silver light to help me. I think we're past the point of being strangers, don't you?"
Despite everything, Luna found herself smiling slightly. There was something about Aric that felt... right. Safe.
"Okay," she said finally. "I'll go with you. But just for some food and rest. Then I'm leaving."
Aric nodded, but there was a look in his eyes that Luna couldn't quite read. "My sister's name is Vera. She's good with... unusual situations."
As they walked through the trees, Luna felt her strength returning. The baby fluttered inside her again, a comforting feeling that made her smile.
"I'm Luna, by the way," she said quietly.
Aric gave her a sidelong look. "Luna," he repeated, as if testing the name. "It suits you."
They had walked for about twenty minutes when Aric suddenly stopped, his head tilted as if listening. His body tensed.
"What is it?" Luna whispered.
"We're being watched," Aric growled, his eyes searching the trees around them.
Luna followed his gaze but saw nothing. Then a scent hit her—a familiar smell that made her heart stop.
A deep voice called from the shadows: "Hello, little omega. Did you really think you could run from me forever?"
Luna grabbed Aric's arm, he
r fingers digging into his skin. "It's him," she whispered. "It's Kaelen."