Chapter Eighteen

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I spent the rest of the day with Daniel. Practically hanging onto him. I was like a leech. I didn't let go. Held his hand, hugged him every two seconds. He couldn't figure out what had gotten into me. Zarah found humor in the situation. It was bittersweet really, but it's important to find humor in situations such as these. I knew she knew how difficult this was for me- what Daniel had come to mean to me in all these years. But it was still amusing to her to watch me hang onto him like my life depended on it.

We had a great dinner with Daniel's family. I tried not to think about what was to come after dinner. Zarah thought I should break up with him. But I couldn't. I'm too much of a coward. I couldn't let him go. It's selfish, I know. But I couldn't. After dinner, while everyone was stuffing their faces with ice-cream, I went upstairs to our bedroom and wrote a note.

Daniel. I need to leave. It's not safe for you. I know it's frustrating that I haven't been able to explain anything to you. My disappearance, why I dragged you away from our home, why I've been hanging on to you like a leech today. I'm sorry that I have not been able to explain.

I'm leaving Daniel. Please understand that I'm doing this to keep you safe. Our apartment has been torn apart. Do not go back home. Try to find a home near your brothers, or here near your parents. But do not return home. There are things you do not know Daniel. Reasons why I took so long to open up to you and your family. My past has in a way caught up with me and I need to face it. But I can't drag you into it.

You have been everything to me these past five years. You have been my light, my safe haven. I am grateful to you for so much. It's why I have to leave you behind today. I don't know if I will ever return. I'm sorry. You have always deserved better.

With love always,

Katherine.

I cried, the entire time while writing this. I left the note on the dresser, quickly grabbed a back pack. I opened Daniel's wallet. Goddess, I felt so guilty, I was stealing from him and leaving him. Too scared to tell him to his face that I was leaving. I had no money and I needed it, if I was going to stay on the run. I put some essentials into the bag. I went downstairs and through the crack in the door motioned to Zarah. I heard her tell the family she'd be right back. She came out of the room. I already had her cabin bag with me. I motioned with my head to the side entrance, and we walked out the door. I looked back once at the end of the driveway. I felt heartbroken, guilty and disgusted with myself. But I know I was doing this to keep him safe.

Zarah and I walked onto the main road. She kept holding onto my hand to reassure me. We got into a cab and drove away from the house, heading towards the nearest inn. That's the only thing we could do at the moment, before we figured something else out.

"Zarah, I'm dragging you into this as well. You are not obligated to come with me. I hope you know that. It's unfair of me to ask you to stay on the run with me."

"Kat, you know I would never leave you." Its true. I know she would never. We've been best friends since we were twelve and our loyalty towards each other has always been unconditional. My love for her was unconditional. I would be at a loss in life if I didn't have her to guide and support me.

We walk into our shared room, after checking in at the Inn. Zarah's phone rings and Alpha Amor's name pops up on the screen. She motions for me to be quiet and picks up, putting the phone on speaker.

"Alpha Amor. What can I do for you?"

"Zarah. I know you're with Kat. Put her on."

"Kat? What? I'm not with her." But I can see that she's visibly nervous lying to her Alpha.

"Put her on." He says, in his Alpha tone, and Zarah has no choice but to hand the phone over to me.

"Alpha." I say.

"Katherine. What do you even think you are doing? You have almost caused a war between two packs. And you know what? It's not even the packs I'm concerned about. We are friends. We've been friends for years and you never confided in me. Not once. Did you actually think I would have turned you out?"

"Amor, I'm sorry. I couldn't tell anyone. Zarah is the only one who knew, and Yasmeen found out very recently. I'm sorry I've put you in this position. I cant go back to him."

"Kat. He's livid. He knows about Daniel. I've concealed as much information as I can from him about Dan but I had to help with his search. War would have broken out if I didn't. How long do you plan to live like this Katherine? Surely a man whose gone so mad trying to find his mate, wouldn't treat you badly. Why are you running from him?"

"Amor. It's a long story and there is no way I can get into it right now. Is there anything you can tell me that would be of help to keep myself concealed from him?"

"I'm sorry Katherine. There's not much I can do. He's the Alpha of the North. He's using his own resources to find you. He has all the information he needs on you though now. Your friends, your job at the company, some basic information about Daniel. If you really don't want to be found, I suggest you stay smart about this. For example, using Zarah's phone really isn't very smart. He knows your friends, he could easily track her phone. Get rid of it."

"Yes Alpha. We didn't think of that. We should go now. Thankyou for the call. I'm sorry for putting you in this position, as my Alpha and as my friend."

"Katherine. You do understand, if he finds you, I'm not going to be able to do much for you, even though I would want too. I hope you understand my duties as an Alpha and as your friend."

"I do Amor. I always will. Thankyou."

"Goodbye Kat. Stay safe." With that he hangs up the phone.

"Zarah, we have to get rid of the phone."

"I cant belive we didn't think of this before. He could have been tracking us Kat. He knows your friends. He could have been tracking us this whole time."

"Let's go. We need to throw away the phone and find another inn. We cant stay here."

Both of us grab our bags and move towards the exit. Just as we exit the inn, the scent of pine cones and rain fills my nose. I grab Zarah's arm. The street in front of us is crowded.

"Zarah. He's here. Zarah." I yell, but she's a little zoned out. Smelling the air.

She looks at me. "Apparently, so is my mate."

Just as she says that, I spot Zyon across the street, surrounded by a bunch of wolves. His eyes are focused purely on me. His eyes are full of anger. I'm his prey and he's out to get me. My breath quickens.

"Zarah, I have to go. Stay, find your mate."

"I found him. He's the Gamma."

"Stay. I have to go."

"I'm coming with you. I will always come with you." She looks across the street. At the Gamma and then back at me. Zyon, his gamma and the other wolves are pushing people out of the street to get to us. She mouths I'm sorry at him. And then we take off running.

We hear thunderous growls and snarls behind us. We just run, pushing people out of the way, into lanes and alleyways. I can hear the thudding footsteps behind us- footsteps that match the thumping of my heart. If he caught me this time, I would never get away.

Zarah and I run into a lane, but just as we reach the end, we realize there's no way out. Just a gate. A grilled gate. At the other end of the lane, Zyon and the Gamma walk in, followed by a group of large wolves. They walk closer and closer. There's no way out.

Zyon takes slow, calculated steps towards me. He knows he's caught me. My breathing slows. I know I'm done for. His fingers reach out and wrap around the belt loops of my jeans. Then he yanks me forward harshly.

"Found you." He snarls into my face. 

A/N- I did a lot of writing today. If you're enjoying the book, please vote and leave a comment. It's super encouraging:) 

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