Chapter 1

Gabrielle's hands clenched tight around the armrests, her knuckles pale. The ascending jostled the plane gently, but her nerves were nothing but calm.

She leaned back and let out a sigh after the plane took off. Her mother, Audrey Christensen reached over and squeezed her hands.

“How are you feeling?” She asked softly.

Gabrielle nodded, though her stomach had been in tight knots since they boarded the flight.

“I just want this nightmare to end.” She whispered.

Audrey gave her a sad smile and tucked a strand of hair behind Gabrielle’s ear.

“It will, sweetheart. We’re going to be okay.”

Gabrielle leaned back and squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind wandered. Her whole life has been unstable. Washington D.C is the longest they have lived. She got used to the people around and felt safe.

The last message she received was so frightening. Margaret, her best friend, was with her phone when the notification popped up.

"Another message came in." Margaret said almost inaudible

Gabrielle took the phone, her heart sinking as she read the message on the screen.

“You can't hide from us. We're coming for you”

Her hands shook slightly as she handed the phone back. It was the third one that week.

"Gabby... you need to leave. It's not safe here."

"I know that." Gabrielle whispered, and a lone tear fell down her cheek.

Gabrielle agreed to move, hoping to be free and accept her true identity as a werewolf.

Her mind drifted to that night she got rejected. Maybe this was a chance to find another mate.

She had not gotten over it as her mind kept replaying that moment over and over again.

It had been four years ago, on a chilly night. The Werewolf Mating Ceremony had been in full swing. She remembered standing there, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she faced him.

Sean Davis

Gabrielle had always liked Sean. From afar, mostly. Ever since they got there, she had watched him train, lead the younger pack members, and go to school.

But her? She had been the quiet girl, one without a wolf for the most part. The girl whose mother kept locked up while others ran free under the moon, she stared out her bedroom window, yearning for freedom.

She wasn't allowed to attend gatherings, not until the day her wolf finally awakened, and that was on her eighteenth birthday.

Nara.

Her mother couldn't stop her then. For once, Gabrielle felt like a complete being, and dressed in a simple white dress with her curls cascading down her back. She had gone there, her heart trembling with both fear and hope.

And then she smelled it.

There was that unmistakable pull, and the scent surrounded her, making her feel like she was in heaven.

Her wolf howled.

"Mate."

She felt her heart beat crazily as she approached him. The most handsome boy, with dark hair that came down to his broad shoulders that made him seem more masculine, and teeth that could cut rock.

"You're my mate."

Sean's cold eyes met hers. He could not even hide the disappointment on his face.

"I, Alpha Sean Davis of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Gabrielle Christensen, as my mate and Luna." He had said, his voice as hard and emotionless as a rock.

The words had cut through her like a knife. She remembered the way her chest burned, the air knocked out of her lungs.

“Why?”

"I need a strong person to run my pack with, and that's not you. How can you protect a pack if you can't even protect yourself?". Besides, you're just a lone wolf without a pack”. And just like that, he had walked away like he didn't feel the pain either.

That was four years ago. Things got easier after a while, but thinking back still brought back the pain.

“Gabby, we have landed” Her mother’s soft voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

They moved quickly through the airport, keeping their heads down to blend in. Gabrielle held her backpack to her chest like it was her life.

"Where are we going?" Nara asked. Gabrielle sighed.

"I don't know yet, I'm just following."

A man stood at the arrivals gate holding a small white sign that read "AUDREY CHRISTENSEN" in bold black letters. He was tall, dark skinned, and wore a navy blue jacket with the Sideways Rentals logo on his sleeve.

He gave a polite nod as they approached.

"Miss Christensen? I'm Slade, your driver."

Audrey offered a tired smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem, ma'am. Car's out front."

The ride was quiet. Slade drove a black car that moved smoothly. For a moment, she felt fine, just watching the scenery and enjoying the view. She imagined running into huge lands and her wolf rolling in the sand.

California was beautiful, and she hoped that it would be their last destination, and they would have no reason to move anymore.

She pulled out her phone. Her last message to Margaret which she sent at touchdown was still unread.

Maybe she didn't want to be friends anymore. Gabrielle understood. Being friends with such an unstable person had to be draining, perhaps Margaret was glad to be done with.

"Where's the apartment?" Gabrielle broke the silence.

"Not far from here." Slade said. "It’s in a nice, quiet neighbourhood. You'll like it."

Audrey turned in her seat to face Gabrielle.

"It's only temporary, just until we get settled we'll live with a friend."

Gabrielle nodded. She didn't care about where they were going. She just wanted to stop looking over her shoulder, and wanted to sleep without dreaming of being taken away from her mother.

"You're overthinking again." Nara said.

Gabriella didn't respond. It was not like she could help it. She looked out the window again. That was when her stomach dropped.

There was a dark shape standing near the edge of the freeway. At first, it looked like a tall man in a hoodie, but as they got closer, her blood turned cold.

The person had glowing yellow eyes and stood with an unnatural stillness. Suddenly, white fur tore out of its shoulders, and it got down on all fours, scraping the ground.

Gabrielle's mouth opened to scream, but before the sound left her throat, Slade slammed on the brakes.

"Hold on!" He yelled.

The tires screeched, and Gabrielle was thrown forward, her seat belt digging into her chest. The car skidded sideways, smoke pouring from the tires.

"Mum!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

Suddenly, they heard a roar, and the werewolf lunged forward and crashed into the hood of the car. The metal crumpled, and the windshield exploded, sending glass flying into the front seats.

Gabrielle screamed as shards rained down like knives. She covered her face, heart thundering.

"Run! Get out!" Spade shouted, already bleeding from a gash on his forehead.

Audrey fumbled with her daughter's seatbelt, her hands trembling.

"Gabby! Get out of the car!"

Gabrielle tried to move, but her limbs felt frozen. The beast was tearing through the front of the car like it was paper. It grabbed the driver and ripped him from the driver's seat.

"No!" Audrey cried..

Gabrielle gagged. Her vision blurred with tears.

"Mum... we have to go." She said, sobbing.

"My belt is stuck!" Audrey turned, eyes wide with panic. "The back door! Crawl out!"

Gabrielle fumbled for the handle, but her fingers were slippery with sweat. She could hear the growl as the creature finished with the driver and turned back to the car.

It wanted more.

"Go, Gabby, go!" Audrey yelled. "I'll be right behind you, please go!"

"I can't leave you here mum!" Gabrielle screamed as sweat got into her eyes.

The engine made a sputtering sound, and smoke came out of the hood. Something sparked, and then there was a loud explosion.

Gabrielle was thrown through the open door as the explosion ripped through the car. The heat of the explosion was still on her, burning through her vision. She hit the ground hard, her body rolling until it slammed into a concrete barrier, hitting her head hard.

She couldn't breathe, and her ears rang.

She tried to lift her head, but the pain spread through her ribs and shoulder. Blood dripped from her scalp, and all she could feel, breathe, and know at that movement was the pain.

"Mum?" She whispered

There was no answer. Just flames and smoke.

"Nara?" Gabrielle whispered desperately. "Please, take over. Let's save mum."

No response. Only the terrible silence that followed. She tried to get up, her elbow shaking as she pulled herself up. Suddenly, she lost her balance and hit her head.

Then everything went black.