“They’re following us,” I whispered, glancing at the rear window.
“They won’t for long,” the stranger said flatly. His tone was calm, almost emotionless.
The driver swerved sharply, taking a narrow road that cut through the forest. I held onto the seat, my heart hammering. I didn’t know who this man was, but I could sense power radiating from him. His presence was cold yet strangely reassuring.
When the sound of the chasing cars finally faded, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My knees trembled, my palms were sweaty.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly.
He didn’t look at me. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead. “A friend of your brother,” he said simply. “He asked me to bring you home.”
“Home…” I repeated the word quietly, as if I’d forgotten what it meant.
The word tasted unfamiliar on my tongue. I’d called Stormvale Pack my home for years, but it was nothing more than a gilded cage. And now, here I was, leaving everything behind, my heart shattered and my pride crushed.
“Can I know your name?” I asked again, though I didn’t expect much.
He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. “Names don’t matter right now,” he said. “Rest. You’ve had enough pain for one night.”
His voice wasn’t harsh, it was deep and steady, almost commanding. I nodded weakly. My body was exhausted from the humiliation, from kneeling on salt, from all the tears that refused to stop falling.
I leaned against the seat and let my eyes close. The gentle hum of the engine became a lullaby, pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I woke up, morning light was spilling through the car windows. The faint scent of fresh blossoms filled the air. My eyes widened when I saw the golden gates ahead, carved with symbols I knew by heart.
Moonveil Pack. My home.
The guards recognized the family crest on the car and immediately opened the gates. I felt a wave of emotion rush over me, relief, sorrow, fear. I was home, but not the same person who had left.
When the car stopped, I stepped out slowly. The moment my feet touched the ground, I was surrounded by familiar faces. Warriors, omegas, pack members, people I’d known since I was a child.
“Lady Brielle!” one of them cried.
And then, they all came rushing forward.
Tears filled my eyes as they hugged me, welcomed me back, and whispered blessings.