Chapter 240
Lynette's POV
I ran.
Not from fear. I didn't run from anything.
But I needed distance. Needed the burn in my lungs and the ache in my muscles to drown out the memory of Kael's voice.
"That wasn't Elara in my car that night. Was it?"
Damn him.
I pushed harder. My real body—finally mine again—responded like the weapon it was. No wheezing. No weakness. Just raw Alpha power eating up the miles of forest trail.
But it didn't help.
Because he was right. His wolf was right.
I'd been in Elara's body that night. In his car. Listening to him break down about his mother. Feeling his hands on skin that wasn't technically mine.
And now his wolf recognized me.
I slowed to a stop in a clearing. Doubled over with my hands on my knees. Not from exhaustion—my body could run for hours—but from the weight of how badly this was spiraling.
I'd been so careful. Stayed cold. Stayed distant. Played the role of tactical consultant with perfect professionalism.
But I hadn't counted on his wolf being this persistent.
Or on my own wolf responding to his.
I straightened up. Forced myself to breathe normally.
The forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Then I caught it. Cedar and winter wind.
No.
I spun around just as Kael stepped out from the tree line.
He looked—god, he looked dangerous. Hair disheveled like he'd been running. Eyes locked on me with that predatory focus that made my wolf sit up and take notice.
"Alpha." I kept my voice level. "You should be handling pack business."
"Drake can handle it." He moved closer. Not fast. Deliberate. "Right now, I need answers."
I took a step back. Hated myself for it. "I don't know what you think—"
"Stop." The command in his voice hit like a physical force. "You've been avoiding me since yesterday. Since I told you Elara has no memory of that night."
My stomach dropped.
Because she wasn't there. I was.
"You ran from my office. Canceled your training sessions. And now you're out here." He kept coming. "Your avoidance is just proving me right."
"Maybe you scared her," I said. Tried to sound casual. "Interrogating her about—"
"My wolf doesn't react to her anymore." He cut me off. Closer now. Too close. "At all. But you..."
He stopped three feet away. Close enough that I could smell him. Feel the heat radiating off his body.
"Every time you're near me, my wolf goes insane."
I forced myself to hold his gaze. "Maybe your wolf just responds to strong Alphas."
"No." His voice dropped. Rough. "This isn't about strength. This is about recognition."
My pulse kicked up. I could feel my wolf stirring. Wanting to close the distance between us.
I shoved it down hard.
"You're confused," I said. "Whatever you think happened—"
"Something happened." He moved again. I matched his step backward. "Something complicated. That's what you said in my office."
Shit. I'd said too much.
"I meant—"
"What did you mean, Lynette?" His eyes were almost glowing now. Amber fire. "Because my wolf is telling me you were there. In that car. And I'm starting to believe it."
I needed to leave. Now.
I turned.
His hand caught my wrist.
The contact sent electricity straight up my arm. My wolf surged—not in aggression. In want.
Double shit.
"Let go." I didn't look at him.
"Not until you tell me the truth."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Liar."
I yanked my arm free. Spun to face him. "What do you want me to say? That your wolf is having an identity crisis because it can't accept that Elara doesn't remember you?"
That landed. I saw it in his face.
Good. Let him think I was just insulted.
"My wolf doesn't make mistakes." His voice was dangerously quiet. "Not about this."
"Then your wolf is delusional."
I turned again. Made it two steps.
Then his arms were around me from behind.
He slammed me against a tree trunk. Not hard enough to hurt. But hard enough that I couldn't move.
His body pressed against my back. All heat and muscle and Alpha dominance that made my wolf want to submit.
I'd never wanted to submit to anyone in my life.
"Get off me." I tried to sound cold. Controlled.
"There's something underneath." His breath was hot against my neck. Right where the mating mark would go. "Not your scent. Deeper than that."
My body went rigid.
His nose traced up the side of my throat. Scenting me. His chest rose and fell against my back with each heavy breath.
"My wolf says you're mine." His voice was barely human now. More growl than words. "Says I should mark you. Claim you. Make sure you can't run."
I felt his canines scrape against my skin.
Oh god.
My wolf flooded my system with want. With the primal need to tilt my head. Expose my throat. Let him bite down and—
No.
I slammed my elbow back into his ribs. Used the split second of surprise to twist out of his grip.
Put ten feet between us.
"You need to get yourself under control." My voice shook. From adrenaline. Not fear. "I am not Elara. That night wasn't me. And if you try to mark me without consent, I will rip your throat out."
He stared at me. Chest heaving. Eyes wild.
For a second I thought he'd come at me again.
Then a voice cut through the clearing.
"Kael. What are you doing?"
Victoria.
She stepped out from the trees on the opposite side. Her sharp gaze swept between us. Taking in Kael's disheveled state. My defensive posture. The way we were both breathing too hard.
Kael's jaw clenched. He didn't look away from me. "Confirming something."
"By cornering her in the woods?" Victoria's tone was ice. "Drake mentioned you chased Lynette out here."
"I didn't chase—" I started.
"She's not in danger," Kael interrupted. But his voice was still rough. Still not fully in control.
Victoria looked at me. "Are you all right?"
No. I was about three seconds away from letting an Alpha I barely knew mark me because my wolf had decided he was mate material.
"I'm fine." I forced my breathing to steady. "Just a misunderstanding."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. She didn't believe me.
Smart woman.
"I need to go." I didn't wait for permission. Just turned and walked away.
This time Kael didn't follow.
But I felt his eyes on my back the entire way out of the forest.
---
I made it home in record time.
Didn't stop. Didn't look back. Just ran until I hit the front door of the Grey house.
Inside, I went straight to my room.
Started pulling clothes out of drawers. Shoving them into a duffel bag.
My hands were shaking.
Not from fear. From the adrenaline still flooding my system. From the feeling of Kael's teeth against my throat. From my wolf's screaming insistence that I'd made a mistake by running.
I grabbed my phone. Pulled up Drake's contact.
Typed fast before I could second-guess myself.
Resigning from tactical consultant position effective immediately. Personal reasons. Will send formal documentation.
Sent.
Three seconds later my phone rang.
Drake.
I declined the call.
He called again.
I turned the phone off.
Went back to packing.