Chapter 1- New Beginning

Gabrielle sat by the window, staring out at the cloudy Washington DC sky with her hands wrapped around a cold cup of tea she hadn't even touched yet. Inside her small bedroom, everything felt still, like time had paused for a moment.

Her mind wasn't on the world outside. It was trapped, replaying that moment over and over again. The day she got rejected.

It had been four years ago, on a chilly night. The Werewolf Mating Ceremony had been in full swing, and the forest clearing was well lit with lanterns and merriment. 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 shy girl, the quiet one. The girl without a wolf for the most part. The girl whose mother kept locked up. She was called a freak by some, as while others ran free under the moon, she stared out her bedroom window, yearning for the same freedom they had.

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.

“Gabrielle.” Her wolf whispered in her head.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Gabrielle said out loud.

“Yes. And I’m finally here.”

Three nights later, her mother reluctantly allowed her to attend the mating ceremony. Gabrielle had dressed in a simple white dress with her long curls cascading down her back. She had walked into the clearing, 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 immediately howled.

“Mate.” Nara said.

She felt her heart beat crazily as she approached him. Her lips trembled as she whispered.

“You’re my mate.”

Sean’s cold eyes met hers. He could not even hide the disappointment on his face. Then his lips pressed into a thin line.

"I, Sean Davis of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you, Gabrielle Christensen." He had said, his voice as hard and emotionless as a rock. "You're too weak. I won't have a weak woman like you as my Luna. Besides, you're a lone wolf without a pack”

The words had cut through her like a knife. She remembered the way her chest had burned, the air knocked out of her lungs. She remembered the looks from the onlookers, as some looked at her with pity, and others with smug satisfaction, like they were there just for the entertainment.

"I just 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?” And just like that, he had walked away without even looking back. Like he didn't feel the pain either.

"Gabby?" A soft voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She turned to see her best friend, Margaret, standing by the door, looking concerned.

"Are you okay?"

Gabrielle forced a small smile.

"Yeah. I was just thinking."

Margaret came in and shut the door behind her.

"You've been in here all day." She sat down beside Gabrielle, lowering her voice. "Did you see it?"

"See what?" Gabrielle frowned.

Margaret handed Gabrielle's phone over.

"Another message came in."

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's the third one this week."

"I know." Margaret said softly. "Gabby... you need to leave. It's not safe here."

"I know that." Gabrielle whispered, and a lone tear fell down her cheek. "We're leaving tonight."

Her bedroom door opened.

"Gabrielle!" Her mother called.

Gabrielle and Margaret looked up to see Audrey Christensen standing there, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun with worry on her face.

"Come on, sweetheart. We need to pack. We don't have much time."

Gabrielle stood up quickly.

"Okay mom." She turned to Margaret giving her a quick hug. "Thanks for everything."

"Be safe." Magaret whispered, hugging her tightly. "Call me when you get there, okay? I want to talk to you everyday."

"I will." Gabrielle nodded.

With that, she followed her mother out of the room. In the living room, half packed suitcases lay open with clothes spilling out onto the floor.

"Mom, are you sure about this?" Gabrielle asked, kneeling beside a suitcase and folding some jeans. Her mom had told her not to say where they were going out loud, just to be safe.

Audrey sighed, zipping up another bag.

"It's the furthest we can go without raising suspicion. I've already arranged for a place to stay." Her voice trembled slightly. "We can't stay here, Gabby. They've found us. Whoever's sending those messages are just waiting to go for the kill."

"Who is doing this?"

Audrey paused, the lines in her face becoming deeper.

"I don't know for sure, but I won't take any chances. We have to be fast so we don’t miss our flight."

There was a knock at the door. They froze.

"Don't answer it." Audrey whispered.

Gabrielle's heart hammered in her chest.

There was another knock, louder this time.

"Mrs Christensen, it's the driver!"

The two women let out a breath of relief and Audrey hurried to open the door.

"Oh, good."

A tall man entered inside, looking outside nervously before closing the door behind him.

"I parked the car around the block like you asked. I'll help you carry the bags.“

Gabrielle picked up a smaller suitcase.

“I’m kind of glad I’m leaving.” She said to her wolf.

“Hopefully we’d be much better there.” Nara sighed. “And I can run free and maybe find our second chance mate, who knows?”

They quickly packed up the last of their belongings, zipping up bags, stuffing in whatever they could carry. Gabrielle was scared, but she tried her best not to show it, wanting to be like her mom.

Audrey placed a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.

"It's going to be okay, sweetheart. Once we're far away, we can start over."

Gabrielle looked up at her mother.

"And then what? Will we ever stop running?"

"I hope so." Audrey said.

Outside, the night had fallen, casting the streets in complete darkness.

"Looks like something is wrong with the power." Aubrey said.

The headlights of the car came on and off at the end of the block, and they hurried toward it, dragging their bags behind them.

As they loaded the car, Gabrielle took one last look at their apartment building. A chill ran down her spine.

Behind one of the windows, she thought she saw a figure watching them.

"Gabby, get in!" Her mother said.

She tore her eyes away and climbed into the backseat. Audrey slid in beside her.

As they drove away, Gabrielle leaned her head against the window, watching the dark city blur past.

A part of her felt numb, but she knew it was for the best. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

-Let me know when you get there, okay? Safe journey!-

From Margaret.

Her lips trembled as she locked the screen and slipped the phone back into her pocket. She was going to miss Lily.

"Is everything okay?" Audrey asked softly.

Gabrielle forced a smile.

"Yeah, mom. I'm fine, just glad that we're going to be safe."

But deep down, she wasn't sure she'd ever be okay again.

As the car drove deeper into the night, the city disappearing behind them, Gabrielle closed her eyes, wondering what the future held. All she could hope was that the danger was over.