Chapter 13: The Last Time He Touched Her

Back in her cabin, Julia stood in the center of the small room and looked around slowly. The wooden chair. The narrow bed. The single shelf. The small cracked mirror above the wash basin. This had been her world for years. And by nightfall, it would no longer be. She had considered packing something—clothes, coins, herbs, even just a blanket. But in the end, she decided against it. Every extra weight would slow her down. And she did not know how much strength she truly had left. She placed both hands gently over her stomach and closed her eyes. You must give everything you have to protect our pup, she told her wolf. Her wolf stirred weakly but obediently. I will gather my strength around the pup. Shield it as much as I can. Julia swallowed. And I will use everything else to get us out. That was the plan. Her wolf would focus on the tiny life growing inside them. Julia would focus on running. If she carried even a small bag, she might not be able to move fast enough. Her body was already strained. Her legs felt heavy most mornings. Her breath shortened easily. Speed would be her only chance. She lay down on her bed, not to sleep—but to conserve energy. Every ounce mattered. She had just begun to drift into a shallow rest when the cabin door opened without a knock. She did not need to look. Only one wolf in this territory had the authority to enter any cabin unannounced. Jason. The door closed quietly behind him. She felt his presence before she felt the mattress dip beside her. Warmth radiated from him. Familiar. Dangerous. His hand brushed gently against her cheek. “I am leaving in a few minutes, my mate,” he said softly. “Kirk will come later to bring you to the healer. For now, just rest.” His thumb stroked her skin tenderly. Julia kept her eyes closed. If she died during the rejection— If her body failed— She did not want his face to be the last thing she remembered. Jason leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. She did not respond. “Please look at me, Julia,” he murmured. “I will not see you until tomorrow. I will miss you.” Silence. Her breathing remained steady, slow. “Julia,” his tone hardened slightly, “open your eyes and look at me.” A thread of alpha power laced the command. Her body reacted instantly. Her eyelids lifted against her will. It seemed that even this final choice had been taken away from them Her wolf growled faintly inside her mind, but they were too weak to resist the compulsion. “There you are,” Jason said, smiling softly. He searched her face. “The only thing missing,” he continued, brushing her hair back gently, “is the way you used to look at me.” His smile faded slightly. “But the healer will fix that. I instructed Kirk to request calming herbs for you. Something to help when I am with Willow.” He sighed. “I am truly sorry, my mate.” He cupped her face with both hands. “I never wanted to hurt you. I am doing what I must for the pack.” Julia stared at him. Her eyes were open. But empty. She did not blink. Did not react. Did not flinch at his touch. Her silence unsettled him more than tears ever could. “You will feel better soon,” he said quietly, almost convincing himself. “Once your body adjusts.” Adjust. That word again. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Take your rest, my mate. I need to leave now.” He lingered, waiting. Waiting for her to say something. To call him mate. To show him even a fragment of the love she once offered so freely. But she gave him nothing. No words. No expression. Only stillness. Jason inhaled deeply, frustration flickering behind his eyes. Then he stood. The mattress lifted slightly as his weight left it. He walked to the door, paused for a moment as if reconsidering something— And then he left. The cabin fell silent. Julia remained still long after his footsteps faded from the path outside. Only when she was certain he was gone did she close her eyes again. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest. He is leaving the territory, her wolf whispered. Julia nodded faintly. This is our only chance. Her hand slid down to her stomach. “Hold on,” she whispered to the tiny life inside her. She waited. Counting heartbeats. Waiting for the moment when the bond would stretch thinner—when the physical distance between her and Jason would give her the small advantage she needed. Because tonight— She would not be here when Kirk came for her. And by the time Jason returned— Either she would be free. Or she would be gone forever. ____________ The moment Julia felt it— The exact second the bond shifted and stretched— She knew. Jason had crossed the border. He was out of Silver Fang territory. The mate bond did not disappear, but it felt thinner. Distant. Like a rope pulled tight across miles instead of wrapped around her throat. This was it. Julia pushed herself upright. Her legs trembled, but she ignored it. She stepped out of her cabin and into the afternoon light. The pack house buzzed faintly in the distance, unaware of what she was about to do. She moved toward the edge of the territory nearest her cabin—the forest line where the Silver Fang scent markers grew faint. Each step felt heavier than the last. Her wolf stayed curled tightly around their pup in their shared mind, body wrapped protectively around the small spark of life. I am shielding it, her wolf whispered. But once you say the words… I do not know how much I can block. Julia swallowed. Just protect our pup. I will handle the rest. She paused a few feet from the invisible border. She closed her eyes briefly and extended her senses. The forest. The wind. The scent of pine and damp earth. No warriors nearby. No patrol scent fresh in this section. No wolves within immediate range. She was alone. Standing at the edge of everything she had ever known. One more step and she would cross beyond Silver Fang’s protection. The moment she did— Kirk would feel it. Without the alpha present, the beta held territorial awareness. The second a pack member severed ties or stepped out with intent to leave, the shift would ripple through him. He would come. She had minutes at most. “Are you ready?” she asked her wolf softly. In their shared mind, she saw her wolf lift her head slightly. The red fur looked dull, thinner than before. But her body was coiled tightly around their pup. We are as ready as we will ever be. Julia inhaled deeply. There was nothing left here for her. Only pain. Only humiliation. Only a slow death. If she stayed, Jason would discover the pregnancy soon enough. He would not allow her to leave. He would protect the alliance. He would protect Willow. And if forced to choose— She already knew the answer. Her pup would be the sacrifice. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. No. She would not give him that choice. Julia took one final breath. Then she stepped over the border.