Stray.

Lana North wanted one thing.

Out.

She had always wanted that and that alone for as long as she could remember, after witnessing the uncertainty life amongst her kind had to offer.

She had planned it. She had daydreamed about it. She had waited for it.

The yearning never left.

Even as she reached full maturity and finally found her other half. Even with the longing of her primal nature to bond with him, to tie her soul to his and submit to him.

To her humans had it easy. They never had to lose each other to the violence of claws and teeth, prisoners to the madness of some innate, bestial, uncontrollable part of them.

No.

They were simple. She could be one of them. She always wanted to be.

She told herself she would flee when the time was right. And when the opportunity presented itself, flee she did, leaving behind everything and everyone. Consequences be damned.

But there was a problem, one she hadn't considered, that he would look for her, that he would search to bring back what was his.

His very primal nature meant he wouldn't let what was his go without a fight, especially when she took something that was more valuable than life to him.