Page 7 of Wanted By the Cartel

It was unfortunate, but not unexpected. I had always been ready for this moment.

"Should you?" Mae's weathered hand covered mine. "Sometimes, running isn't the answer, child."

But before I could respond, that now-familiar warmth bloomed in my chest—the one that had been appearingrandomly since Zoren's visit. It felt like sunlight breaking through clouds, like the moon's pull during a full night, like... like something I was afraid to name. I didn't even want to think about it.

The sensation was strongest when I thought about him. About Zoren. Even now, remembering those amber eyes sent shivers down my spine that weren't entirely fear. What was happening to me? I had no idea.

Later that night, as I locked up, I caught another sign of surveillance—a faint magical signature on the back door's lock. Someone had placed a tracking spell, expertly crafted but still detectable to my enhanced senses. They were getting bolder.

In my small apartment, I paced the worn floorboards, my mind racing. The Nightshade Wolves were closing in, that much was certain. Their reputation preceded them—the most powerful shifter cartel in North America, known for collecting magical artifacts and individuals of special ability. The way Zoren had looked at me... he knew what I was. He had to, and he wanted me.

Not only that, but he was also the kind of person who wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted.

But instead of the pure terror that thought should inspire, I felt something else. Something that made my omega nature stir with recognition. Every time I thought of running, my chest ached with a loss I hadn't even experienced yet.

Why was I feeling that way about him? It didn't make sense.

"What is wrong with me?" I muttered, pressing my forehead against the cool glass of my window. The moon was waxing, nearly full, and its light seemed to mock my indecision. Few people outside too, increasing my sense of loneliness.

I pulled out my emergency go-bag—fake IDs, cash, everything I needed to disappear. I'd done it before. I could do itagain. But for the first time, the thought of running felt wrong, like trying to go north while my internal compass pointed south.

Was my body fighting against me? Was this what a mate bond felt like? The stories I'd heard as a child spoke of an unbreakable connection, a pull that defied logic and self-preservation. It was something we would recognize when it happened, and I was starting to believe that was the case this time.

But those same stories warned that moon-blessed omegas had to be especially careful—our powers could create false bonds, could be manipulated by those who sought to control us.

And yet...

The way Zoren had looked at me, like he saw past every defense to who I really was. The jolt of energy when he touched me wasn't just magic recognizing magic—it was something deeper, beyond what made me the person I was. My barriers had wavered not because they were weak, but because part of me wanted him to see through them.

I had always wondered what it would be like if someone could finally break me out of my shell. Was Zoren really that person? I was hoping he was, even though it would change my life completely.

"This is insane," I told my reflection in the window. "He's dangerous. His whole organization is dangerous. Why are you doing this to me?" But even as I said it, another part of me whispered:Maybe that's exactly what you need. Someone strong enough to stand beside you instead of trying to cage you. It's different, isn't it?

I touched the crescent mark behind my ear, feeling its steady warmth. The moon's blessing had always been both a gift and a burden, forcing me to run, to hide, to deny who I was. But what if there was another way? What if there was something I could do that was different from everything I had already done?

A memory surfaced—my grandmother's soothing voice, telling me stories of our ancestors. "Moon-blessed omegas were once revered," she'd said. "They stood as equals beside their alphas, their combined power protecting entire packs." Before the wars, before we became prizes to be hunted and claimed.

Could that be possible again? But then, I thought that it couldn't be. Why would it be so different with me this time? What changed? And then, I answered myself: nothing changed. Everything was still the same.

My pocket buzzed. A message from Mae came through, as if she could read my mind. It felt like she was right there with me, able to see my struggle. That was one of the reasons she was my friend.

Look, I don't know what's going on, but there is something important I have to tell you. It may sound cheesy, but here goes.

Whatever you're thinking of doing, remember—strength isn't always about who can fight hardest. Sometimes it's about who can stand their ground longest.

I sank onto my bed, the go-bag still untouched beside me. Running had kept me alive, but it hadn't let me live. Every new town, every fake name, every lie to build new relationships—they were stones around my neck, drowning who I really was, and I wanted to get rid of them.

And now there was this pull toward Zoren, this maddening attraction that felt like destiny and danger wrapped into one. If he was my true mate, running wouldn't end the connection. It would just prolong the inevitable.

Plus, I knew I'd still be thinking about him even after running away from here.

The smart thing would be to disappear tonight, use the new moon's dark sky as cover. But for the first time in years, I wanted to be reckless. I wanted to stop running from who I was, fromwhat I could be. I wanted to see what was the worst that could happen.

I thought about how it felt when Zoren's power had met mine—not dominating, but complementing. Like two pieces of a long-forgotten puzzle finally finding their match. The Nightshade Wolves might want to own me, but Zoren... what did he want?

Could it be that he genuinely wanted what was best for me? A part of me believed that it was possible, but my mind wasn't convinced.

Standing, I moved to my small altar—crystals, herbs, and a silver bowl of water for scrying. I hadn't dared use my full powers in so long, always careful to dampen them, to hide their true extent. But now... My mind had just changed about that.

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