Chapter 7
757words
I stuffed essential supplies into a small pack, planning to reach the human settlement before dawn. As I prepared to slip away, a soft knock came at my window—Damian.
"You're planning to run," he whispered, slipping inside. "Smart move, but Ryan's already posted guards at every trail leading to the human lands."
My heart sank. "Is there no way out?"
"There's an old hunting tunnel beneath the eastern ridge," Damian said, his eyes determined. "Few know about it. I can get you there."
I gripped his arm. "Damian, no. It's too dangerous. If Ryan discovers you helped me escape, he'll kill you without hesitation."
"Let him try," Damian growled, his eyes flashing amber in the darkness. "I'm done standing by while he abuses his power. Let me help you, Gracie."
Moving like shadows through the forest, we evaded Ryan's patrols and reached a narrow crevice hidden behind a waterfall.
"This tunnel runs beneath the mountain," Damian explained, lighting a small torch. "It will bring you out just beyond our territory border. You'll be safe there."
I turned to him, suddenly reluctant to leave. "Damian, I can never repay what you've done for me."
"Your safety is all the payment I need," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Just promise me you'll find happiness, wherever you go."
Just as his fingers touched my cheek, a cold voice echoed through the cave: "What a touching farewell. My treacherous cousin and my runaway bride."
Ryan emerged from the shadows, flanked by his most loyal warriors. His eyes gleamed with predatory malice in the torchlight.
"Ryan!" I gasped, genuine fear flooding through me.
"Did you really think I wouldn't know about this tunnel?" Ryan laughed, the sound echoing eerily. "I've known about every escape route since I became Alpha. Nothing happens in my territory without my knowledge."
Damian pushed me behind him, squaring his shoulders. "You've already killed once tonight, cousin. Is your thirst for blood still not satisfied?"
"Rosie was a necessary sacrifice," Ryan said dismissively. "As for Gracie—I have no intention of killing her. I want her alive to watch you die, then take her rightful place as my mate."
With a guttural roar, Damian's body contorted, bones cracking as he shifted into his wolf form—a massive gray beast with gleaming fangs. Ryan responded in kind, his black fur absorbing the torchlight as the two wolves collided in savage combat.
I pressed against the cave wall, helpless to intervene as the wolves tore at each other with tooth and claw. Despite Damian's courage, Ryan's superior strength soon told—the black wolf pinned the gray beneath him, jaws poised to deliver the killing bite.
"NO!" I screamed, desperation giving me courage.
As Ryan's jaws tensed to crush Damian's throat, I lunged forward with the silver dagger I'd kept hidden in my boot, driving it deep between Ryan's shoulder blades.
Ryan's howl of agony echoed through the cave as he released Damian, whirling to face me. I stood my ground, dagger raised, prepared to die fighting rather than submit.
But something was wrong. Ryan's attack faltered, his massive body convulsing violently. Silver was toxic to werewolves—and my blade had struck dangerously close to his heart.
Ryan shifted back to human form, blood pouring from the wound in his back. "You... you actually..." he gasped, disbelief warring with rage in his eyes.
"You deserve this and more," I said coldly, standing over him. "In my past life, you murdered me and our unborn child. In this life, I'm returning the favor."
Ryan's eyes widened in shock. "Past life? What the hell are you talking about?"
"I've been reborn, Ryan," I said, watching comprehension dawn in his dying eyes. "I remember everything—your lies, your betrayal, the feeling of falling through darkness as you pushed me from that cliff. This time, I rewrote our story."
Horror replaced confusion on Ryan's face. "No... that's impossible..." he whispered, blood bubbling from his lips.
"Goodbye, Ryan," I said, watching the light fade from his eyes. "May your next life teach you what this one couldn't."
With a final, rattling breath, Ryan—the mighty Alpha, my murderer from another life—collapsed at my feet, dead at last.
I stared at his body, feeling the weight of two lifetimes of hatred finally lifting from my shoulders. The nightmare that had haunted me across death itself was finally over.
