“Daphne!” he growled, baring his fangs like he wanted to rip me apart.
I scoffed, pacing the room, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to rein in my rage. This month had been one long, agonizing wake-up call. I knew I didn’t matter to him. He made that crystal clear when he left me standing alone at the altar. But to have him rub it in my face like this? It was too much. I could feel it—he’d snap my neck if it meant saving Briana. And I was so furious, I couldn’t even cry.
“Get out!” I screamed, the words tearing out of me. “I don’t care if you’re the next Alpha or the moon goddess herself—get out before I maul you!”
“No.” His voice was cold, and he stood his ground, his Alpha arrogance seeping through. “We’re not done here.”
“Oh, we’re done.” I grabbed him by the arm and threw him out with a strength I didn’t know I had. He looked stunned, his pride wounded. He moved to retaliate, but I slammed the door in his face before he could react.
I stood there, trembling, my back against the door. I waited for him to break it down, but thankfully, he left before things could get even uglier.
Left alone, I couldn’t calm down. The walls of the house seemed to close in, suffocating me. Without thinking, I bolted for the backyard, shifting into my wolf mid-stride, and tore into the woods. I ran blindly, my heart pounding, and lungs burning, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop.
What had I done to deserve this fate? Was it so wrong to dream of marrying my destined mate? How could the moon goddess be so cruel?
When I finally came to my senses, the sun was already high in the sky, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold ache in my chest. I looked around, realizing I was lying in the middle of a meadow, surrounded by pansy flowers. I shot up in panic. This wasn’t anywhere near our territory, and I was rolling around, snoring my ass off without a care.
“I’m losing my mind,” I muttered, warily scanning the area. Something felt off in the air, but I couldn’t pinpoint it.
Then I saw him.
A black wolf stepped out from behind a tree, his blue eyes glinting like polished gems in the sunlight. For a moment, I was stunned—captivated, even. But the realization hit me hard. We were strangers in an unfamiliar land.
I growled low, a warning, though my instincts told me he wasn’t a rogue. His movements were too measured, too calm. Still, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.