I snatched the gun from the dead man right next to me. We didn’t use such weaponry a lot in the Firewolf Pack, but we knew how to shoot. It was as easy as pie to aim, press the trigger, and blow their brains out.
The whole thing took a minute, if that, but by the time I was done, I was already feeling antsy and desperate, needing to go back to my mate’s side as soon as possible. We’d already waited for one another long enough.
She must have felt the same, because she emerged from her hiding spot, gazing at me with heated eyes. “Take me away from here, Rowan. Let’s go.”
Behind us, the other shifters were still fighting. The ground was stained with the blood of countless of my fellow werewolves. The power of the chaos was threatening to crush everything and everyone. But I didn’t care.
I took Luna in my arms once again and fled. I didn’t look back.
Four
Chapter 4
Luna
Everything was on fire. My body was burning, my skin tingling and my blood boiling in my veins. I held onto my mate’s neck, doing my best to suppress the increasingly overwhelming sensations that pulsed through me.
I didn’t know how much time had passed since we’d left the Firewolf Pack. Rowan kept running, faster and faster, putting distance between us and our former families. The scent of his blood still filled my nostrils, and I was worried about the wounds he’d taken before we’d fled. But he ignored his pain and cradled me close, whispering words of comfort in my ear.
“Just hang in there, Luna. I’ll keep you safe. Don’t be afraid. I’m here for you.”
I wanted to reply, to give him the same reassurance and tell him I was there for him too. The words didn’t come out. I felt like I was suffocating. I desperately clung to Rowan’s voice and his presence, but the chaos seemed to be tearing me apart.
He was everything I’d hoped my mate would be. Every atom of his body vibrated with the dangerous strength of the Firewolves. The memory of him killing my former pack members flashed through my head, and I felt myself getting even wetter. He was such a powerful male, someone who could give me strong litters, who could protect me and our pups. And I desperately wanted that, with a thirst that threatened to kill me if it wasn’t quenched.
My claws emerged, and I dug the sharp tips into his shoulder. His muscles tensed, but he didn’t protest. The air thickened with the scent of his arousal. I shuddered, my body responding to his need, my desire echoing his.
I’d heard about werewolves going into heat before they mated, but I’d never seen it happen per se. In the Wolfsbane Pack, it was something people liked to keep private. Between that, and the trouble we’d all had in finding mates in the chaos’s absence, our heats hadn’t been an issue for me.
But it was happening now, and I knew the fire wouldn’t go away until Rowan claimed me, until he bit me and truly made me his. And he’d have undoubtedly done it already, but we still weren’t safe from potential pursuers.
Before long, the lake disappeared in the distance. We entered the canyon, the Badlands looming in front of us, darker and more threatening than ever. It was an extremely dangerous place, teeming with rogues and deadly packs. Even if the Wolfsbane Pack lands were so close to it, I’d never thought I’d come here, least of all like this. And yet, the canyon brought me comfort.
“This isn’t the safest place to be, I know,” Rowan said, as if echoing my thoughts, “but if we can just cross it without being spotted, we’ll be home free.”
The shakiness in his voice finally gave me the strength to answer. “I know. I trust you.”
Rowan’s breath caught. “You shouldn’t. The things I want to do to you…”
He trailed off and stole a look at my face. In the darkness, his eyes seemed to glow red. It reminded me of things I’d have very much preferred to forget. But at the same time, it didn’t intimidate me. “I know exactly what you’re thinking and I’m not afraid. I want the same things you do.”
“I just don’t want to hurt you,” Rowan croaked out.
“You won’t,” I assured him. “I might be an Omega, but I’m not that breakable.”
I tried not to feel hurt by my mate’s belief that I was inferior, but I must have failed, because Rowan’s hold on me tightened. In response, I buried my claws a little deeper in his flesh. Rowan’s gaze grew softer and he smiled. “No. I suppose you’re not.”
This time, his voice was steady, and it also held a decision that hadn’t been there before. And at that moment, I knew that neither of us could wait any longer.
Shelter was easy to find. The canyon lacked dense vegetation, but there were caves aplenty. It only took Rowan a few minutes to track down a place for us to rest.
He carried me into a small grotto that looked like it had once belonged to some kind of animal. There were bones left behind from the creature’s meal, but whatever had been there was long gone. Even with my werewolf senses—sharper than ever due to the chaos—I couldn’t detect any trace of any nearby beast. For the moment, we’d be safe here.
Rowan set me down and shot me a quick, sheepish smile. “I’m sorry about this. I wish I could give you more.”
“What else could I possibly want?” I asked, completely serious. “My mate is here with me. There’s nothing more important than that.”
“No, there isn’t.” Rowan cupped my cheek and gently rubbed his thumb over my lips. “This is so surreal. Like a dream. I can’t believe I found you.”
