Chapter 1

Giselle’s POV

The hostel hallway stretched before me like a dark tunnel, each shadow a potential threat. My fingers gripped the small duffel bag so tightly my knuckles turned white as I pressed my back against the wall. The muffled voices from the common room sent ice through my veins.

"She has to be here somewhere. Alpha Blake wants her found tonight." The gruff voice belonged to Marcus, Blake's second-in-command. I'd recognize that threatening tone anywhere.

I held my breath, waiting for their footsteps to fade before I dared move again. Three days of hiding in my room, surviving on protein bars and bottled water, had left me jittery and exhausted. But tonight was my only chance.

The fire exit door was just ten feet away. I clutched the envelope from my mother against my chest—the envelope that had arrived yesterday with perfect timing. It contained a boarding pass to New York and enough cash to get me to the airport. My salvation.

With one final glance down the empty hallway, I pushed through the fire exit and ran into the night, praying the alarm wouldn't sound. The cool April air hit my face as I sprinted across the back lot and disappeared into the darkness.

The Omaha airport buzzed with late-night travelers, a sea of faces that provided the perfect cover. I kept my head down, sunglasses on despite the hour, and a baseball cap pulled low over my dirty blonde hair.

"You're being paranoid," I whispered to myself, clutching my ticket. "Blake's men never search airports."

It was the one place in the city where wolves tended to avoid. The mix of overwhelming scents, security measures, and cameras everywhere made it less than ideal hunting ground. Even alphas had to respect some boundaries in human society.

I found a seat near my gate, positioned with my back to the wall and a clear view of all entrances. My leg bounced nervously as I checked the time: 11:42 PM. My flight would board in twenty minutes.

"Just breathe, Giselle. You're almost free."

A family with young children settled across from me, the normalcy of their vacation chatter a stark contrast to my situation. The mother looked at me and smiled kindly. I managed a weak smile back, wondering what she would think if she knew I was running from a wolf who had branded me his mistress after I refused to sleep with him.

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. My heart stopped.

We know you're running. There's nowhere you won't be found.

I quickly turned off my phone, hands shaking violently. They were bluffing. They had to be bluffing.

"Flight 2476 to New York LaGuardia, we are now boarding groups A and B."

I gathered my single bag and joined the line, constantly scanning faces. The boarding pass trembled in my hand as I approached the gate agent.

"Rough day?" she asked, noticing my shaking hands.

"Just nervous flyer," I lied, forcing a smile.

"You'll be fine, honey. New York's beautiful this time of year."

If only she knew I wasn't worried about the flight, but what—who—I was leaving behind.

As I walked down the jet bridge, I finally allowed myself to exhale. Alpha Blake's reach was vast in Omaha, but even he couldn't stop a plane once it was in the air. In three hours, I'd be in New York with my mother, Valeria, and her new husband.

A new life, I thought. A fresh start.

The flight attendant's voice jolted me awake. "We're beginning our final descent into LaGuardia Airport. Local time is 5:17 AM."

I blinked sleep from my eyes, surprised I had managed to doze off at all. The sunrise painted the sky in hues of pink and orange as the sprawling cityscape of New York came into view. So different from Omaha—bigger, brighter, more overwhelming.

And somewhere in that massive city was my mother, who had suddenly reached out after years of minimal contact. The birthday invitation had been unexpected, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

As the plane touched down, I pulled out the letter she had sent with the tickets.

My dearest Giselle,

I know it's been too long since we've properly seen each other. My birthday is next week, and I would love nothing more than to have you here with me in our new home. My husband is eager to meet you, and there's so much I want to share with you about my new life.

I've enclosed a ticket and some money. Please come.

With love, Mom

The letter was shorter than I'd expected after years apart, but the plane ticket spoke volumes. Whatever had kept us distant before, she was reaching out now. And I desperately needed someone to reach out to.

The terminal was already bustling despite the early hour. I turned my phone back on, bracing myself for more threatening messages, but found only one text—from my mother.

Landed safely? I'm waiting in arrivals. Black SUV.

I typed a quick reply: Just landed. Coming out now.

My heart raced as I followed the signs to baggage claim and then to arrivals. What would I tell her about why I came so readily? How much should I reveal about Alpha Blake and the mess I'd gotten myself into?

I pushed through the automatic doors to the pickup area, scanning the line of vehicles until I spotted a sleek black SUV that screamed money. And there, leaning against it, was my mother.

Valeria had always been beautiful, but now she looked... different. Her usually casual appearance had been replaced by designer clothes, perfect makeup, and a sophisticated hairstyle that made her look ten years younger. More striking than the external changes was the confidence she exuded—she stood taller, smiled easier.

"Giselle!" she called, waving elegantly.

I ran to her, surprising myself with the surge of emotion that hit me as she wrapped her arms around me. She smelled expensive, like jasmine and something else I couldn't place.

"Mom," I whispered, fighting back tears. "You look... amazing."

She held me at arm's length, examining me with concern in her eyes. "You look exhausted, darling. Was the flight terrible?"

Was it that obvious I was running from something? I wondered.

"Just a long night," I managed, forcing a smile. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Come, let's get you home." She guided me toward the SUV where a driver—an actual driver—waited to take my bag. "You must tell me everything about Omaha. How's school? Still pursuing that business degree?"

As the driver loaded my meager belongings, I noticed the wedding ring on my mother's finger—platinum with a diamond that caught the morning light. Whatever life she'd built here, it was worlds away from our modest existence in the Midwest.

"School's... on hold," I said carefully as we slid into the backseat. "There were some complications."

She gave me a searching look but didn't press. "Well, you're here now. We can figure everything out together."

The car pulled away from the curb, merging into the early morning traffic. Through the window, I watched the city come to life—a new world, a new chapter.

"Mom," I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer, "what happened? How did you... I mean, all of this..." I gestured vaguely at the luxury surrounding us.

She laughed, a musical sound I hadn't heard in years. "I married into the Zaro family, darling."

My blood ran cold. I'd escaped one wolf only to land in a den of others.

"You got married?" I whispered, suddenly feeling trapped all over again.

"Don't worry, Giselle. Alpha Zaro loves me a lot. He is very nice husband." She squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You will be also safe here. I promise."

Safe. The word echoed in my mind as the city blurred past the window. If only she knew what I was running from. If only she knew that safety was a luxury I hadn't experienced in months.

But as the SUV wound its way through Manhattan toward what my mother called "our new home," I allowed myself a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could start over here. Away from Alpha Blake. Away from the debts and the threats and the fear.