Chapter 14

14

Liza burst out of the assembly room. The cool night air hit her like a slap to the face. She barely registered the bite of the wind against her skin as she raced down the steps and into the woods. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the trees, the crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot mingling with the pounding of her heart.

She knew she hadn't made the best impression on the pack council with her outburst, but she didn't care. Or at least, she told herself she didn't. Her mind raced with a swirl of emotions—anger, hurt, embarrassment—but the strongest of all was doubt.

Doubt that she was truly Rylan's fated mate. Doubt that she belonged in this world of shifters where everything seemed to revolve around the pack, where she always seemed to come second. But as she ran deeper into the woods, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps, the doubt began to waver.

She replayed the scene in her mind. There was the look on Rylan's face as he'd tried to explain himself. There was also the weariness in his eyes. He'd looked so tired, so worn down by the weight of his responsibilities. She knew he'd already broken one deal by calling off the engagement with Celine. Not that he could have married another woman when Liza was his mate.

But if that were true, why hadn't he followed her out? Why hadn't he stood up for her in front of the council? The anger rekindled in her chest, pushing her to run faster, her feet pounding against the earth as she tried to escape the conflicting emotions swirling inside her.

The woods grew denser as she ran. The trees closed in around her, their branches whispering in the wind. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting long, eerie shadows on the forest floor. Liza's breath hitched as she realized the area no longer looked familiar. She slowed, glancing around, her pulse quickening with a different kind of fear.

She was lost.

She came to a stop, her chest heaving, her breath misting in the cool night air. She should head back. She knew that, but the thought of facing the council, of facing Rylan after everything, filled her with a deep sense of embarrassment. She was supposed to be strong and independent, but all she wanted right now was someone to protect her, someone to make everything okay.

Rylan hadn't followed her. He hadn't come after her to make things right. The sting of rejection burned behind her eyes.

But had that been a rejection? He'd called out her name as she'd run away. Maybe he was even now trying to find her. Then what was taking him so long? She knew he could scent her. Knew that mates could always sense each other.

Even now, she felt him in her heart. He was still upset. But there was also worry coming down the bond.

He didn't deserve that from her. He did have a lot on his plate. And she'd just added more by acting like… well, a brat.

God, she was so stupid. If she wanted those people in that room to respect her, if she wanted to prove that she could not only do the job of interior designer but also the job of Alpha's mate, she had to do better, be better.

With a long sigh, she mentally pulled on her big girl panties. She turned on her heel, and her toe caught on a root. Liza stumbled and fell. Hard.

Pain shot through her ankle as she went down. The ground rushed up to meet her with a thud that knocked the breath out of her. She gasped, clutching her ankle, the sharp pain radiating up her leg. She tried to stand, but the moment she put weight on it, the pain intensified, forcing her back down.

She lay there on the forest floor, staring up at the moon. Its pale light dimmed as clouds moved in front of it. Her ankle throbbed, the pain a dull, pulsing reminder of her predicament. She was stuck out here, unable to move, unable to get back to safety.

As she lay there, the bond between her and Rylan pulsed, faint but steady, like a distant heartbeat. She could feel his exhaustion, the weight of the burdens he carried, and a pang of guilt twisted in her chest.

Tears welled up in her eyes. As each drop fell down her cheek, they cut through any lingering anger like a knife. She wished she could apologize, could tell him she understood, but she was trapped here, alone in the dark woods, with no way to get back.

The night was still, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Then she heard it—a rustling in the underbrush, the sound of something moving closer. Fear clawed at her throat as she strained to see through the darkness. The sound grew louder, the rustling turning into the soft pad of footsteps. Something—or someone—was coming closer.

Liza's breath caught in her chest as the fear surged. Her pulse raced with the instinct to flee. She tried to move, only to have another hot burst of pain shock her. It radiated from her foot on upward, causing pinpricks of blackness to color her eyes. She felt like she was going to pass out.

She was stuck, helpless and vulnerable, her ankle throbbing with pain. She clenched her fists, trying to brace herself for whatever was coming, her mind racing with thoughts of Rylan.

Please, Rylan , she thought. I'm sorry. I love you. Please find me .

And just as the darkness closed in, she saw a shadow emerge from the trees, a familiar form moving toward her with a speed and grace that could only belong to one person. She wasn't sure if he was real or a dream. She wouldn't get the chance to find out. Before she could call out to him, before she could reach for him, the pain in her leg overtook her. The world faded to black, and she slipped into unconsciousness.