Adeline's POV
Adeline barely remembered the drive back to the pack house. The moment Titus had stepped in front of Aspen, she had felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it had been short-lived. Aspen's presence had stirred up something deep within her, a fear she hadn't felt since the night her coven had been destroyed. And even though she was physically safe now, she knew that as long as Aspen was out there, she would never be free.
Titus had taken her straight to his office, not leaving her side for a second. As soon as they arrived, he sat her on his lap, pulling her close as if he was afraid she might vanish. The possessiveness in his touch was comforting in some ways, but the tension coiling in her chest made it hard to breathe. She could feel Blaze's constant presence just beneath the surface, his protectiveness wrapping around her like a cage.
It wasn't long before Zander, Gray, and a few of the pack's head warriors filed into the office, their faces grim as they noticed her sitting on Titus's lap. Adeline shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of their stares. She wasn't used to this—being in the middle of pack business, being treated like she was delicate, fragile. She had survived on her own for years, and now she was being coddled as if she couldn't take care of herself. Still, she understood why Titus wouldn't let her go, why Blaze was practically vibrating with the need to keep her close.
But understanding didn't make it easier.
Titus's hand rested firmly on her thigh, grounding her in place. She could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface, his protective instincts in overdrive. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her, not while Aspen was still out there. His deep voice cut through the tension in the room as he issued orders, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Patrols are being doubled," Titus growled. "I want every inch of this territory covered. Aspen cannot be allowed to slip through again. We don't stop until he's caught."
The warriors nodded, their expressions hard and determined, but Adeline couldn't focus on their words. All she could think about was Aspen's face—his cold, calculating eyes, the twisted smirk that had haunted her dreams for years. He had found her. He wasn't going to stop.
Her heart raced as her mind spun with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. The pack could protect her, but for how long? Aspen wouldn't give up, and eventually, he'd find a way to get to her. Titus had saved her this time, but what about the next?
She needed to run. It was the only option.
Titus's voice broke through her thoughts. "You're not leaving the pack house," he said firmly, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach flip. "Not until Aspen is caught. You're staying where I can keep you safe."
Adeline bit her lip, nodding mechanically, but her mind was already working through the logistics. She couldn't stay here. As much as she loved Titus—and she did, more than anything—being here made her feel trapped. Not by him, but by Aspen, by the past that kept creeping up on her no matter how far she ran.
Titus might think he could protect her, but she knew better. Aspen was relentless. He had burned her coven to the ground, destroyed everything she had ever known, and now he was coming for her.
Adeline took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She understood why Titus was being overprotective, and part of her appreciated it. She didn't feel trapped by him. She felt loved, protected. But that wasn't enough. The feeling of being hunted was crawling up her spine, making her skin itch with the need to move, to run, to escape.
She had spent years on the road, learning how to survive, how to stay one step ahead of danger. She had been alone, without a pack, without a home. And now, even with Titus by her side, that same survival instinct was screaming at her to leave. To get out before it was too late.
The idea of running again made her heart ache, but she couldn't let herself be a burden to Titus or his pack. She couldn't risk them getting hurt because of her past. Aspen wouldn't stop until she was dead, and she couldn't let anyone else die because of her.
Her mind raced, forming a plan. She would leave without telling anyone. Titus, Blaze, Zander, none of them could know. If they did, they would try to stop her, and she couldn't afford that. She needed to be smart about this, to slip away in the middle of the night, far enough from the pack that they couldn't track her down before she was gone.
The thought of leaving Titus was unbearable, but she had no other choice. She couldn't stay here, waiting for Aspen to find her. Not when she knew she could disappear again, back on the road, living in the shadows like she had before.
"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe," Titus said softly, breaking into her thoughts. His hand tightened on her thigh, his voice gentler now, but the determination in his eyes hadn't faded. "I won't let him near you again."
Adeline forced a small smile, her heart aching with the weight of what she was about to do. "I know," she whispered, leaning into him, hoping he couldn't sense the turmoil inside her. "I trust you."
And she did. She trusted Titus more than anyone she had ever known. But she also knew that the only way to protect him and the pack was to leave.
As the meeting wrapped up and the warriors filed out, Adeline sat in silence, her mind still racing. Titus didn't let her leave his lap, his arms wrapped around her protectively, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were consumed by the plan she was forming.
Tonight, she would run. Far away from Aspen, far away from the pack. Far away from Titus.
And she would never look back.
YOU ARE READING
Little witch
Hombres LoboIn a world where humans, witches, and shifters coexist, Adeline has always felt out of place. Raised in a coven that fell victim to tragedy, she escapes to live a quiet life until her fate intertwines with Titus, the brooding alpha of a powerful wer...