I slowly eased away from Dane’s heavy arm and navigated around Kade’s sprawled legs. I paused, crouched beside him in the dark, barely breathing. His face was peaceful in sleep—no manic grin, no chaotic energy. Just a man who’d let me into his safe space.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear me. Knowing that made it easier to say.
Don’t run when the blanket comes down.
But I was. I was running before the sun could rise and burn away the safety of the fort. Before they could wake up and see the truth all over my face—that I wanted this too much, and I didn’t know how to carry the weight of it.
When I finally stood outside Fort Ghost, the heat of them—of both of them—still followed me.
I looked back one last time, my chest tight. On impulse, I stole one of Dane’s hoodies from the chair, pulled it over my head, and tiptoed toward the door.
Kade’s scent clung to Dane’s like they were inseparable. Because they were. And I greedily wanted them both.
The further I got from them, the heavier my heart felt. My Omega instincts screamed at me to wait until they woke—to let them know, or at least say goodbye—but I didn’t trust myself to leave if those grey eyes were on me. Or if Kade’s trusting gaze locked on me. I had to go now. I needed the distance to clear the fog in my head.
My chin trembled as I rushed out before I could change my mind.
The guards didn’t stop me, though they dipped their chins in a silent, knowing respect as I passed. I didn’t miss the look they shared. They knew exactly whose scent was clinging to the oversized hoodie I was drowning in.
I gripped the hem of the fabric as I hopped into the Wuber.
I’m not running away… I just need some time.
At least that’s what I told myself. I refused to look back as the Wuber driver sped away, leaving the Alpha and his ghost behind.
Gone
Dane
Falling asleep with the woman I love in my arms brought me a peace I’d never known. Vera was running, and I knew it was due to her shitty ex. When she cried out her safe word, I saw red. She’d been through enough for me to know he was running on borrowed time. Luckily for him, I didn’t need his info, but I’d get it.
One problem at a time, and we still had the drunk from the party to deal with.
I’d obsessed over her from a distance, but I hadn’t expected this. When I sent Kade to follow her to that party, I didn’t expect him to claim her. But seeing her in person—scenting, tasting?Fuck. I knew right away why I’d been haunted. All that time I’d Snarled her, I had no idea she was my other half.I should have known when I sent Kade after her.
After Ava, I didn’t think I deserved Vera. When my ex had come to me holding her belly, one sniff and I knew Dahlia was mine. I did right byher. I’d convinced myself my daughter was enough—that her happiness was the only thing I needed.
I’d spent years denying my instincts, refusing to search for the one thing meant for me. But when Vera called me drunk, I lost it. I couldn’t leave her weak and alone. As soon as I’d walked through that door, her sweet scent hit me like a train at full speed. Kade’s gaze hadn’t been teasing then; it promised pain.When I found that drunk with his filthy hands on her, I knew he’d die a slow death.
Instincts demanded I breed and mark her right there, but I couldn’t. Something was wrong. My mate didn’t recognize my scent or Kade’s. That realization broke a part of us I didn’t know we still had.
She was warmth and sunlight. She brightened up my dark world, and the last few days had been heaven on earth. A shell of a woman had come alive as I breathed into her. I didn’t want to fix her; I wanted to gather the shattered pieces of her soul and squeeze them until they cut flesh. Her pain was mine. I’d destroy every bad memory she had and replace it with a new one.
And then I’d kill the man who broke her.
With me, she had nothing and no one to fear.No one.
She didn’t flinch when I touched her, but I saw the way her eyes dilated—transported to a darker time. And fuck if that didn’t make my heart shrivel. But she wasn’t afraid ofme. That knowledge had me ready to bring the world to their knees for her.
I’ll make her happy. I’ll love her the way she deserves.
After my separation, Ava made seeing Dahlia almost impossible. She’d uprooted our daughter for the man she’d been unfaithful with, taking everything from me while I slept.
Sharing the truth with Vera was a weight off my shoulders. I’d feared the truth would make her reject me, but seeing her fury dissolve at the mention of my daughter gave me a strand of hope I hadn’t felt in years.
Then I woke up.
At the foot of my bed, sunlight filtered through the crack in the fort. I rolled over, my hand searching for Vera, but the spot beside me was cold. My spine stiffened. My eyes flew open.
