Page 7 of Moon Fated

“You’re not from BC?”

He shook his head. “Chicago.”

I nodded, shifting slightly so he couldn’t see my face in the rearview. His words struck a chord within me, echoing the very mission of the shifters. We were the guardians of this land, the protectors of the delicate balance between man and nature. It was a heavy burden, one I had once been proud to bear.

But that was before. Before the threats, the violence, the fear that had driven me from my home and my pack. I closed my eyes, memories flooding back unbidden.

The cruel smile of my alpha as he towered over me, his claws digging into my skin. The whispers within the pack when I dared assert that Nathan hid something dark behind his hero facade. And then, the moment I knew I had to run, had to leave everything I loved behind?—

"You alright, miss?" the driver asked, his voice laced with concern. "You look a bit pale."

"I'm fine," I lied. "Just tired. Thanks."

He nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Well, you just sit back and relax. I'll get you where you need to go."

As the car wound its way deeper into the wilderness, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was heading toward something I wasn't prepared for. The shifters needed my help, that much was clear. But at what cost? And would I be strong enough to face the demons of my past in order to protect the future of my kind?

Only time would tell. For now, all I could do was watch the trees blur past the window and pray that I could find Callie before Nathan returned home.

I watched the kilometer markers whizz past until the car slowed to a stop. My brow furrowed in confusion. This wasn't the meeting point I'd agreed upon with Blake. In fact, this wasn't even Kitimat territory.

"I think there's been a mistake.” I leaned forward. "This isn't where I'm supposed to be."

He inspected the app on his phone. "So sorry, but this is the address you gave me."

I groaned, realization dawning. In my haste to input the destination, I must have accidentally selected the Tim Horton's at the north end of Black Lake. Easy to do when there was one on every corner. Now, instead of being on the cusp of Kitimat land, I was still a ways out, with a long walk ahead of me.

“Any chance you can head up to Kitimat?”

He shook his head apologetically. “Sorry, I’ve got another ride pinging me. I’m so far out, I’ve got to take it, or I won’t get a fare on the way back into Vancouver.”

I nodded and grabbed my bag, then pushed out of the car. "My fault. Thanks for the ride."

The driver smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No worries. Have a great night."

I nodded, shouldering my bag and heading toward the Tims. If I was going to make this trek on foot, I needed caffeine.

As I reached for the door, it swung open, and I stumbled back. I looked up to find myself face-to-face with a man I hadn't seen in years. "Rowan," I breathed, recognizing him instantly despite the years that had stretched between us.

His towering frame commanded the space around him. Our eyes met, and time seemed to slow. He was older, broader, but those piercing blue eyes were unmistakable—even after all these years.

A tentative smile teased at my lips, but it faltered as his expression twisted into something unreadable. Flustered, almost angry.

"Evelyn?" His voice was brusque, the undercurrents of authority clear as crystal. Memories swirled in my head, of us as kids, scampering through the forest before the schism that tore our packs apart.

But now, his scent told me exactly who he was.

He was an alpha. His stance, the set of his jaw, the barely contained power rippling beneath his skin, all screaming his rank. And I, despite everything, still recognized the invisible threads of hierarchy that bound us.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words died on my lips. There was something in his expression, a flicker of emotion that I couldn't quite place. Anger? Fear? Disgust?

Before I could contemplate it further, he pushed past me, his shoulder brushing mine as he stalked toward the parking lot. Rude, much?

I shook my head, trying to dispel the uneasy feeling that had settled in my gut. I didn’t care what he thought of me, but he’d certainly recognized me. He and Nathan were the antithesis of bosom buddies, but I didn’t need anyone spreading rumors about me showing up in town.

I stepped into the warmth of the Tim Hortons, the scent of coffee and baked goods enveloping me like a comforting hug. My thoughts clouded as I stared at the line of maple donuts.

Rowan. An alpha now. In our world, alphas were born leaders, strong and dominant, while betas and omegas fell into line behind them. But there was something else about Rowan, something that set him apart from other alphas I'd known. A darkness in his eyes, a tension in his jaw. It was as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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