Shattered

Chapter 1: Running

CONTENT WARNING: This book is DARK. VERY dark. Please take that seriously because I am not kidding when I say it's dark. Some of the difficult topics we'll encounter will include: suicidal tendencies, PTSD, abuse, violence, SA, depression and self-medication and harm (BUT TO BE CLEAR none of those occur within the main couple). I will put trigger warnings on chapters I feel might hit a little deeper, I just want you to keep in mind that not every chapter will have a warning but the topics will come up.

Also, this is book 4 in a series. You will miss a lot of things and might get confused if you don't read the other books first. They're on my profile. The order is 1. Fated, 2. Hunted, 3. Marked, 4. Shattered

On a lighter note, we finally get into the mind of our sweetheart Kaden ❤ POV's will alternate. And because I'm a nerd, I'm going to have quotes that don't belong to me (but are credited) at the beginning of every chapter. ENJOY!!

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Kaden's POV:

"Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic." – Oscar Wilde

The muscles in my legs burned as the wind whipped around me. My paws pounded against the dirt, helping me push forward harder, faster. My body screamed in hot protest for me to take a break, but I needed it. I needed the burn in my muscles, the ache that told me they were getting stronger. I needed the distraction. I skidded as I came to a sharp turn, kicking up dirt and running hard again once I regained my footing.

I was surrounded by mates. Not mine, other peoples. The fact I knew so many shifters who found their mate was strange, above average compared to others. It must've been because our pack had so many allies, knew so many supernaturals, that the people in our pack seemed to find their mate at a higher rate than others. My now ex had just found her mate, too. She wasn't in our pack but still, it was another person to add to the ever-growing list.

It really wasn't even that I was upset about Victoria and I breaking up. I was happy for her. If I was being honest, I never felt that attached to her. I was just lonely. I wasn't avoiding her mating ceremony at that moment because of her specifically, but because it was becoming painfully apparent to me I might never find my own. My mate. My other half. That's what messed with me the most.

I truly was happy for the ones around me who had found their mate. But I couldn't go anywhere in the pack or hang out with practically anyone without mates being present, hands all over each other. I was happy for them, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a void somewhere in me. Their constant love for each other never bothered me before, but recently it felt like a reminder that I didn't have anyone like that.

That's why I was running. To distract myself so I'd get out of this ridiculous funk of self-pity. I'd been running all day long, all night long, and I wasn't even in Washington anymore. I'd ran so far I passed into California. I'd never run that far before but there was a strange pull somewhere deep inside that magnetized me south.

My Alpha, Xander, and my Luna, Addie, were giving me my space but I was also aware if I didn't go back or contact them soon, they would get worried. We had enough going on without me taking off like I did.

I normally wouldn't do that to them. I took my title as Beta seriously, even with the goofing off, I always took it seriously. It was an honored title with serious responsibilities that Xander trusted me with probably way before I deserved that trust. Because of that, I'd always put forth every effort I could to deserve it. I'd never felt like I needed a break from it or my pack until that day. It wasn't like me. I just felt an indescribable need to get the hell away from everything for a little while.