Zara's POV.

I dragged my legs heavily down the street, I had successfully found my way out of the woods.

My eyes were heavy and my head throbbed painfully but then I had no choice but to keep moving, straining my eyes to see through the dark alley.

I was extremely tired following the miles I've covered but I couldn't stop for a second as I was making sure to go as far away from the Blue Moon pack as possible.

Though I had no destination in mind, I felt a lot better than where I ran off from, the ugly ordeal that no one deserved. It's behind me now, and I'm glad to call it my past.

Suddenly, I halted on my spot as my ears instinctively caught a roaring noise.

I couldn't help the deep smirk that washed through my face as I realized where my legs had dragged me to, I was standing right in front of a buzzing bar.

It suddenly hit me, this was exactly what I needed right now. I needed something to vent my pain on and alcohol isn't far from being the great solution.

I suckled in a deep breath and staggered in.

***

Dragging my feet frustratedly into the club, I went straight to the bar section

"A shot please," I said to the waiter.

I grabbed the tiny glass like a desperate predator clutching onto it's prey and gulped down the shot of liquor down my throat in a flash, dropping the empty glass with a loud thud on the counter. "More!" I howled.

He filled it up and I gobbled it all the way in again.

The burning sensation right from my tongue, then throat and right down to my stomach was all I needed to keep me as miserable as I needed to be at that moment.

"Are you okay miss?" I heard the waiter ask.

"Just continue refilling the glass and I'll be okay," I mumbled passing the empty glass towards him.

Suddenly, I sighted someone walk into the club quietly, I definitely wouldn't have noticed if he had managed to look a bit less hotter than he is.

I was strongly resisting the urge to wipe my eyes with my hands to be sure it was a human walking right in, clad mysteriously in an all black outfit, his hair deep black and slightly ruffled, amazing hazel eyes and perfectly structured jawline, his height and muscular arms were second to none.

He had the looks of a complete Greek God. I was lost staring for several seconds,

I seemed not to be the only one caught up with his sudden appearance into the club.

Surprisingly, he walked towards the space beside me and leaned on the counter. His head snapped towards me almost immediately and I looked away quickly.

Snapping back to my business, I grabbed my filled cup, pouring it down my throat in a flash.

I could also hear the mysterious stranger demanding for bottles after bottles of liquor as well.

With each gulp of the drink, their faces flashed before my eyes. Father, Mother, Merlin, Haylee, and everyone who contributed immensely to my misery.

My breath was becoming heavy with each passing second and the walls of the club spun in different directions setting my head in a hassle, I felt my stomach contrast, and next thing, I was throwing up heavily.

Staggering to climb down the seat, I lost balance of my foot on the floor, which had me spiraling towards the ground.

I was almost reaching the floor when I felt a pair of strong hands grab my wrist pulling me back up, surprisingly, I never landed on my feet instead I crashed into a warm body.

I suckled in a deep breath, grateful that I hadn't fallen and broken my bones but suddenly a strange but adorable fragrance hit my nostrils hard. It was nothing like I've ever scented before.

It meant only one thing.

"Mate!" Narla, my wolf rumbled in excitement.

Slowly, I raised my face to get a glimpse of who or whatever I had crashed into, and surprisingly, it was him. The handsome stranger that had walked into the bar few minutes ago.

I felt the breath in my lungs dry up as his gaze lingered on me.

Then he did the unexpected.

He grabbed my waist, lifting me off the floor and headed out of the club.

I couldn't make out where he was taking me following how drunk I was, not until I felt a door shut behind. He dropped me to the floor and slammed me gently against the door.

In a swift movement, he raised his hands to rest on the door beside the both sides of my head, pinning me in-between, as his hot gaze peered into my face.

"Look at me," his cold voice sounded through my head.

I slowly raised my face to meet his heated gaze.

I felt my wolf squeal in excitement as our gazes met, all I felt at that moment was a strong force pushing me towards him. The fright coupled with excitement was unlike nothing I had felt before, a feeling I knew I would never feel for someone else.

"It's you," he muttered.

"Your scent is different," his voice sent cold shivers down my spine.

"So strong, so delicious, it can never be mistaken," he breathed out, his gaze fixed intently on me.

I mopped at him, my lips too heavy to utter a word.

Surprisingly, all I could see in his eyes was admiration and yearning.

I parted my mouth to mutter a word but it was hooked up in my throat as he claimed my lips in a sloppy heart melting kiss, our tongues battling for dominance, his hands roamed my body igniting fire underneath my skin as I burn and craved more of his touch.

After a short while, he pulled away, trailing soft kissed down my neck, he was extremely gentle as he claimed my body, my wolf howled in pleasure and excitement as our body became one.

"You are mine, those were his next words as he scooped me into his arms, heading towards the bed.

Zara's POV.

A sharp, pounding ache creaked at the back of my head as I stirred awake. My body felt strangely heavy, my limbs tangled in soft, luxurious sheets that were far too comfortable to be mine. The scent surrounding me was intoxicating... musky, and laced with something dark and deeply masculine. It sent a shiver down my spine before my eyes even fluttered open.

As soon as they did, I froze.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, smooth and painted a deep shade of gray. the kind of decor that screamed wealth and power. The dim morning light streamed through thick curtains. Everything was wrong. This wasn’t my bed. This wasn’t my home.

Panic shot through my veins like lightning, my heartbeat accelerated as flashes of last night slammed into me all at once. The bar. The alcohol. The strong arms catching me before I fell. The molten gold eyes that had burned through me, igniting something I had never felt before.

And then...

My heart dropped to my stomach.

I turned my head slowly, dreading what I would see.

there laid his muscular body, still deep asleep.

A scream clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down as horror and disbelief stirred within me. My body was bare beneath the sheets, and the soreness between my thighs confirmed what my heart refused to accept.

I had slept with a stranger.

No. Not just a stranger.

My mate.

The word sent another wave of panic surging through me, making my breathing shallow. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. I hadn’t planned for this. I hadn’t wanted this. I wasn’t supposed to find my mate.. not when I was running away, not when I had nothing to offer.

I clenched the sheets around me, squeezing my eyes shut. Think, Zara. Think.

The events of last night replayed themselves mercilessly. The moment our eyes had locked, the pull had been undeniable. Even through the haze of alcohol and heartbreak, my wolf had screamed at me... Mate!

Could he have known too?

I had felt it in the way his fingers had tightened around my wrist when I stumbled into his arms, in the way his golden eyes darkened with something deep and possessive.

I hadn’t fought it.

My body had responded before my mind could, and the moment his lips crashed against mine, I knew there was no turning back. One moment we had been in the club, the next, I had found myself pressed against soft mattress, pinned beneath his weight as his mouth claimed me.

I felt heat crawl up my neck. I couldn’t remember every detail, but I remembered enough. His hands, his lips, the way he had growled in my ears as he thrusted into me.

And now, I was waking up in his bed.

Shame burned through me like fire.

"This can’t be happening," I whispered to myself, my fingers digging into my scalp.

I couldn’t stay.

My mate.. whoever this man is. Isn't someone I could afford to be around. I didn’t know his name, didn’t know anything about him except that he was powerful. Too powerful. The way he had commanded attention... he wasn’t an ordinary wolf.

I needed to get out before he woke up.

Heart hammering, I forced myself to move, ignoring the soreness in my legs as I slipped out of bed. My dress lay discarded on the floor, wrinkled and twisted. My shoes were nearby, one lying near the foot of the bed, the other tossed halfway across the room. I cringed at the sight before gathering them quickly.

As I reached for my dress, my gaze landed on the bedside table... and on the black leather wallet sitting there.

My movements stilled, and I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

I was about to flee with nothing but the clothes on my body. No money. No food. No plan. I had only managed to escape last night with the clothes I wore. I needed something to hold onto, just in case I need a change of cloth or food, even.

A dangerous idea suddenly crept into my mind, and my pulse quickened.

It was wrong. But was it? This was survival. I was on the run, with nowhere to go. If I took just a little.. enough to get me far from here... would it really be that bad?

I hesitated for only a second before my fingers closed around the wallet. My breath hitched as I flipped it open.

Thick stacks of crisp bills greeted me. Large, significant amount.

I didn’t think twice before snatching a handful of cash, I shoved it into my dress pocket before placing the wallet back down.

Guilt clawed at my stomach, but I pushed it away. I had no choice. I would disappear after this. He would never see me again.

I tiptoed toward the door, my bare feet moving as quickly and silently as possible.

My hand was on the doorknob when a low, sleepy growl rumbled from the bed.

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat as I turned my head slightly, just enough to see him shifting in his sleep. The sheets had fallen low on his waist, revealing his sculpted torso. My heart clenched painfully.

He’s beautiful.

I sucked in a sharp breath, shaking my head. No. Don’t be weak now.

I twisted the knob and slipped out, shutting the door behind me without a sound.

The hallway was just as lavish as the bedroom, lined with expensive paintings and gleaming marble floors. I moved swiftly, searching for an exit.

A maid spotted me from the end of the corridor, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Miss? Are you..

I bolted.

I didn’t give her a chance to finish. My feet carried me down the stairs, my heart slamming against my ribs as I burst through the front doors and into the morning light.

The cold air hit me like a slap, but I didn’t stop running.

I had no idea where I was, but one thing was certain.

I had to disappear before he found out I was gone.

And before he realized I had stolen from him.

Zeke's POV.

The moment I woke up, I knew something was wrong. The bed beside me was cold.

My arm instinctively reached out, searching for the warm, soft body that had been pressed against mine all night. But all I felt was empty sheets. She was gone.

I sat up abruptly, my eyes darting around the room, scanning for any sign of her. The morning sunrays filtering through the curtains revealed the chaos she had left behind... discarded clothes, the lingering scent of her arousal mixed with mine, the faint indentation of her delicate frame on the mattress. But she was nowhere in sight.

A low growl rumbled in my chest as my wolf stirred restlessly. She left us.

Clenching my jaw, I ran a hand through my hair, my mind replaying the events of last night. She had been drunk, yes, but not out of her mind. And she had responded to me... every single touch, every kiss, every thrust. She had wanted me just as much as I had wanted her.

So why the hell did she leave?

A sudden thought hit me like a punch to the gut. I turned to the nightstand where I had left my wallet the night before. My eyes locked onto the space it should have been.

Empty.

"What the hell?..” I snarled, shoving the blanket off and storming out of bed.

She had taken my money.

I threw open the closet, yanked on a pair of black sweatpants, and stormed toward the door. My footsteps were heavy, my muscles coiled with frustration. I had been searching for my mate for years. Years. And the moment I found her, she vanished like a damn thief in the night... after stealing from me.

Did she have any idea who I was?

I stepped into the hallway, my voice thundering through the mansion. “Everyone, get in here. Now!”

The commotion that followed was immediate. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as the housekeepers, security guards, rushed toward me, their expressions laced with fear and confusion.

Beta Caleb was the first to arrive. His eyes swept over my disheveled appearance before he gave a short nod.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice sharp and alert.

“My mate,” I growled, my fists clenched at my sides. “She’s gone.”

A murmur spread through the gathered staff.

Caleb’s eyes darkened with immediate understanding. “She left willingly?”

“She ran, Caleb. And she took my damn wallet.”

His brows shot up. “She stole from you?”

I could hear the barely restrained amusement in his voice, but he was smart enough not to let it show.

“Yes,” I blurted out. “And I want her found. Now.”

Caleb nodded swiftly, already pulling out his phone to issue orders to our tracking team. “She couldn’t have gone far. If she left on foot...

“She didn’t,” a small voice interrupted.

I turned sharply, my eyes locking onto a young maid who stood trembling near the back of the crowd. Her hands were clasped together, her brown eyes wide with fear as she hesitated under my glare.

“What did you say?” My voice was low, dangerous.

She swallowed hard, then quickly lowered her head in submission. “I...I saw her, Your Majesty. She ran out of the house just before dawn.”

My wolf bristled at her words. “You saw her? Why the hell didn’t you stop her?”

The maid flinched. “I... she was moving so fast. I didn’t think…” She trailed off, clearly terrified of my anger.

I took a step forward, towering over her. “Which way did she go?”

The girl gulped and pointed toward the main road. “T-That way. But she was wearing different clothes. She must have changed before leaving.”

Smart. Very smart.

I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Did she get into a car? A cab?”

The maid nodded hesitantly. “Yes. A black taxi. I couldn’t see the license plate, but it had a red bumper sticker.”

Caleb was already making calls, his voice crisp as he relayed the information. “Check the city’s traffic cams. Find every black taxi with a red bumper sticker that passed this area within the last two hours.”

I clenched my jaw, my blood boiling.

She thought she could just run away? After what we shared?

I had waited six years for my mate, and the moment I found her, she stole from me and disappeared?

Did she really think I wouldn’t hunt her down?

She was mine.

I took a slow breath, reigning in my rage. Losing control wouldn’t help me find her. And I would find her.

Caleb turned back to me after ending the call. “We’ll have footage in a few minutes. If she’s still in the city, we’ll find her.”

“She won’t be,” I muttered. “She’s running from more than just me.”

Caleb tilted his head. “You think she’s been on the run before?”

I thought back to last night, to the pain I had seen in her black eyes, the way she drank like she was trying to drown something inside of her.

“She has secrets,” I admitted, my voice lower now. “And I intend to find out every single one of them.”

Caleb smirked slightly. “She’ll be one hell of a Luna.”

I met his gaze, my own filled with steel determination.

“She’ll be my Luna,” I corrected. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

I turned back toward the house, my mind already working through every possible way to track her down.

Zara might have run from me. But she had made one fatal mistake.

She had left a part of her scent in my bed.

And a wolf never loses the scent of his mate.

I let a slow, knowing smirk spread across my lips.

“Run, little mate,” I murmured. “Let’s see how far you get.”