Chapter 39: THIRTY-NINE

J A D E

The train rattled along the tracks. People stopped, ending their trips, but I stayed in, until we were only a handful of people left. I couldn't get off. Getting off would mean I would have to step onto a platform, into a city, into the unknown. And the unknown was where she was waiting.

I wanted to get as far away as possible.

I changed trains three times, always keeping an eye out for her. I saw no sign of her, but I couldn't relax. Not yet.

By the time the train pulled into its last stop, I was exhausted. My feet hurt, my eyes burned, and my stomach growled. I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

I stepped off the train, the smell of diesel and hot metal filling the air. I was in another city, another unfamiliar place. But it was better than the last.

I wandered the streets, looking for a place to eat. I finally found a small cafe, tucked away on a side street. The food was good, and the company was even better.

I met a girl, a waitress named Amy. She was bubbly and full of life, and she didn't ask too many questions. She knew without even asking that I was on the run. She was the first person who didn't judge me, didn't try to get involved. She was a breath of fresh air in the stagnant chaos of my life.

She told me they had vacancy at the restaurant and asked if I was interested. The pay wasn't great, but it was something. And it was a job that would allow me to blend in, to become invisible.

And so, my life took on a new rhythm. Work, eat, sleep. Repeat.

But still, there was no sign of the woman from the diner. No sign of Markov. I didn't dare go back to my old routine, not yet. But maybe one day, when I was ready.

The days went by, each a little less miserable than the last. I made friends with the other waitresses, and the regular customers. I even allowed myself to be happy. To enjoy the moment.

And soon, the fear left my bones, and the memories of the strange woman faded into the background. She had moved on. I was free.

Realizing that paying for motels every night wasn’t a healthy lifestyle, I started saving up and in a month, I was able to raise up money to rent a studio.

The studio apartment was very small, basically one room. The kitchen and living area were in the same space.

I decorated it with whatever I had collected during the past months. There was a bed, a desk, a few chairs, a table, and a small bookshelf. But I’ve never been more happy with my life. For the first time in my life, I had my own place, could call it my home, could set my own rules, I could live the way I wanted without being controlled by anyone. I was on top of the world.

Amy and I became close friends, she was human, and for once, I had a friend that I could be completely honest with. We would hang out after our shifts, talking about boys, laughing, sharing secrets. I realized that Ava’s loyalty for Markov would always come first before our friendship, which is why I had to let it go.

I wanted a friend that wasn’t involved with my past, a friend that didn't know anything about me or my past. And Amy was the perfect friend for that. She had her own struggles, her own demons. She was my safe haven, a reminder of how fragile and beautiful life could be.

One night, we were hanging out at her apartment, drinking wine and gossiping. We were talking about her ex boyfriend, a man who was charming on the outside, but controlling and abusive on the inside.

I shared my story, how I was on the run from a dangerous man, a man who would do anything to get me back. We bonded over our experiences, our shared pain. And in that moment, I felt closer to her than I had ever felt to anyone. She didn’t know I was a werewolf, and I didn’t know when the right time to tell her would be.

But for now, I was enjoying my life. I wasn’t rich or comfortable in any way, but I was finally living the life I always dreamed of.

M A R K O V

Three months. Three agonizing months of searching.

Every day, the same thing. I would wake up, go through the list of leads, chase the ones that sounded the most promising, and then, end up disappointed. Every. Single. Day.

I was running out of options, running out of hope.

I was desperate. I needed a miracle. I needed a break.

And finally, finally, my prayers were answered.

I had received a call from one of my contacts in a small, human town. She said she had seen someone who looked like Jade, a young, dark haired woman who matched her description perfectly. She was working as a waitress in a small, local diner.

My heart leapt into my throat. It was her. It had to be.

I left immediately, not bothering to pack a bag or even tell Tristin where I was going. I didn't care. All that mattered was finding her.

The drive was long, the roads winding and dusty. But I didn't stop, not once. My only focus was on finding her.

I pulled up outside the diner, the sun beating down on the cracked asphalt. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I didn't know what would happen. I didn't know how she would react. All I knew was that I had to see her, to make sure she was okay.

I walked into the diner, the smell of greasy human food and coffee assaulting my senses. I scanned the room, looking for her. And then, I saw her.

She was standing at the counter, pouring coffee for a customer. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her eyes flashing with laughter. She was smiling, her face radiant. My heart clenched in my chest.

She was so beautiful, so vibrant. I had never seen her look so happy, so free.

And then, her eyes locked on mine.

Her face paled, her body stiffening. She was frozen, her expression a mixture of shock and fear.

"Jade," I whispered, my voice a hoarse croak.

She quickly turned on her heels, grabbing the jug and ran towards the back of the kitchen, disappearing from sight.