Page 37 of Beckett's Fate

“They’re headed west from the south ridge,” Beck said when Knox answered. “Irene’s their target. They think she knows how to find the treasure.”

Knox cursed under his breath. “You want us to intercept?”

“Not yet,” Beck said. “Just keep tracking them. I’m going after Irene.”

“Got it,” Knox replied. “Be careful, Beck. These guys mean business.”

Beck hung up and quickened his pace, his senses on high alert as he followed Irene’s scent. The trail grew steeper, the trees denser, but he didn’t falter. His wolf growled low, driving him forward with a single, unrelenting focus.

Find her. Protect her. Whatever it takes.

The thought of the hunters getting to her first, of them harming her, was enough to ignite a fire in his veins. He wouldn’t let it happen. Not to her. Not to his mate.

Beck’s heart pounded as he slipped deeper into the forest, his steps silent against the dense underbrush. The hunters’ voiceshad faded, their presence now a distant hum behind him. His sharp gaze scanned the terrain, searching for any sign of Irene.

Her scent was faint but present, guiding him like a thread through the wilderness. He followed it with an urgency that had his wolf pacing within him, its protective instincts clawing at his control. She was out here, alone, with the hunters closing in—and the thought made his heart feel as if it were in a tightening vise.

As he rounded a bend in the trail, the scent grew stronger. He pushed through a thicket of low-hanging branches and emerged into a clearing. There she was, kneeling near a cluster of rocks, her fingers brushing the worn parchment of her map. The sight of her filled him with equal parts relief and frustration.

“Irene,” he called, his voice low but firm.

She startled, spinning around with enough speed that she fell back on her butt. Her hand moved reflexively toward the knife at her belt. When she saw him, her shoulders relaxed slightly, though the wariness in her eyes didn’t fade.

“Beck,” she said, rising to her feet. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” he replied, his gaze sweeping over her to ensure she was unharmed. “The hunters are moving as a unit. They’re armed, and they’re looking for you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I can handle…”

“Don’t finish that statement,” Beck challenged, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve been avoiding me much better than you’ve been avoiding them.”

Her lips parted, a flash of something—guilt? anger?—crossing her face. “I have,” she admitted, surprising him with her honesty. “But not because I don’t want to see you. I just needed space to think.”

“About what?” he asked, his voice softer now, though his frustration still simmered beneath the surface.

Irene hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter. “About you. About us. About... all of it.”

He took another step closer, scanning her face. “And?”

“And I’ve decided,” she said, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. “Avoiding you isn’t what I want. Not anymore.”

The admission could have knocked him over. But before he could speak, she continued.

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop what I’m doing,” she said firmly, her voice steady. “I’m still committed to finding the treasure, Beck. I have to. It’s not just about me—it’s about my pack.”

Beck’s brows furrowed. “I know.”

Irene nodded, her expression earnest. “We’ve built a life together... this treasure could change everything for us. It could ensure our future, give us the resources to stay hidden, to stay safe.”

Her words were laced with conviction, but also something deeper—desperation. Beck’s wolf bristled at the thought of her carrying that burden alone, of her risking everything for the sake of others.

“I get that,” Beck said, nodding, “but you do know that your she-wolves would be welcome as part of the pack here. They would be safe.”

“That’s a generous offer, and I will let them know, but I’m not sure they’ll take you up on it. For all of us, pack life was… horrible.”

He figured that. “Speeding up your search only puts you in more danger. The hunters are closing in, Irene. They think you’re the key to finding it.”

Her jaw tightened, and she looked away, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “That’s why I need to move faster,” she said. “I can’t let them find it first. And I can’t let them stop me.”

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