Seven Years of Mate, Seven Seconds to Ruin

I nodded, my throat tightening. “It’s me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, Damien didn’t move. He just stared, his expression unreadable, like he was trying to determine if I was real. Then, with a few long strides, he was standing in front of me. Up close, he looked older, the years etched into his face. But his eyes—those amber eyes we shared—held the same intensity I remembered.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone gruff, but not unkind.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Where could I even begin? That I’d spent years living a lie? That I’d been betrayed by the very wolf I thought I could trust? That I had nowhere else to turn?

“I…” I faltered, my shoulders sagging under the weight of everything I wanted to say. “I had nowhere else to go.”

Damien’s eyes softened, just a fraction, and he exhaled slowly. “Come with me,” he said, his voice low. He turned without waiting for a response, leading me toward a smaller, quieter path away from the central fire. I hesitated for a moment before following, feeling the eyes of the Whisperfang wolves on my back.

The path led to a small, weathered cabin nestled at the edge of the clearing. Damien pushed open the door and gestured for me to enter. The inside was simple but warm—a far cry from the cold, imposing dens of the Greyfangs. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls, and the faint scent of herbs lingered in the air.

“Sit,” Damien said, nodding toward a worn armchair near the fire. I obeyed, sinking into the seat as the exhaustion of the night began to catch up with me. Damien grabbed a wooden stool and sat across from me, his elbows resting on his knees.

“Talk,” he said simply.

I took a shaky breath, my gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t even know where to start,” I admitted. “But I was wrong. I couldn’t do it without you, brother. It’s . . . wrong.”

“Sounds like you’ve been through hell,” he said after a long pause.

I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”

Damien studied me for a moment, then shook his head. “You should’ve come to me sooner, Talia. You didn’t have to go through all that alone.” He took a deep breath, “Are you okay?”

“I thought…” I hesitated, biting my lip. “I thought you wouldn’t want to see me. After everything that happened with our family, with the pack…”

Damien’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw the pain flash across his face. “You were a kid,” he said firmly. “We both were. What happened back then wasn’t your fault—or mine. But you’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

The weight of his words settled over me, and for the first time in years, I felt a spark of something I thought I’d lost: hope.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

“You’re always welcome, Talia. You’re my sister. I don’t want to put you in a situation where you don’t know what to do.” He said that made my heart feel touched.

I smile at him. “Thank you and i miss you,” and we shared a hug.

“I miss you too. So much, my sister.”

“I will get my things there.”

—

Two hours later, I perched on the edge of the cabin Damien left me as he said it’s safe to be here, my nerves raw and frayed. The faint scent of bleach lingered in the room, mixing with the sharper tang of my own fear. Every sound outside the door set my heart racing, my senses attuned to the slightest movement. I didn’t belong here. This wasn’t home.

The knock came, low and deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine. I inhaled sharply and stood, the old floor creaking beneath me as I approached the door. My stomach churned as I imagined who might be on the other side. Was it Kieran, come to drag me back to the pack? Or worse—one of his enforcers?

I opened the door cautiously, only to find myself staring into the piercing gold eyes of a stranger. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded an air of dominance that immediately set my wolf on edge. His tousled dark hair curled slightly at the ends, and a scar slashed diagonally across his right eyebrow. He smelled of pine, smoke, and something distinctly… dangerous.

“You’re Talia?” His voice was deep, with a rough edge that made me bristle.

I nodded but didn’t answer. My wolf stirred uneasily under my skin, sizing him up.

“I’m Ryder,” he continued. “Damien sent me to get your things in the pack you’ve said you’ve stayed.”

I hesitated, gripping the doorframe tightly. “How do I know I can trust you?”

His golden eyes softened slightly, though his presence remained imposing. “If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn’t have knocked.”

Fair point. Still, my instincts screamed to stay cautious. He didn’t seem like a threat, but I’d learned the hard way not to trust first impressions.

“May I come in?” he asked, his tone patient but firm.

Reluctantly, I stepped aside. He entered the room with a fluid grace that marked him as a seasoned wolf, someone who could shift and fight at a moment’s notice. His eyes swept the room, lingering briefly on my hastily packed duffel bag before returning to me.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, leaning against the wall with an ease that contrasted with the tension in my chest.

“Fine,” I lied, crossing my arms. “Just… trying to figure out what’s next.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. “You’ve been through a lot. Damien told me about everything, how lonely you are in the pack you’re staying... You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

At the mention of that, i can remember Kieran, my wolf snarled inside me, the memory of his betrayal still fresh and raw. “I don’t need rescuing,” I said, sharper than I intended.

Ryder raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “Good,” he said simply. “Then you’ll be ready to leave soon. The car’s waiting.“

“The car?” I frowned. “You mean we’re going now?”

“Unless you’d prefer to stay here and risk Greyfang trackers picking up your scent.” His voice was calm, but his meaning was clear: staying was not an option.

I glanced at my bag, already packed with what little I had. “Fine,” I muttered. “Let’s go.”

The car was parked at the edge of the motel’s lot, a sleek black SUV that seemed out of place against the shabby backdrop. Nolan opened the passenger door for me without a word, then climbed into the driver’s seat.

The ride was quiet at first, the low hum of the engine filling the silence. Outside, the forest loomed, dark and endless, its shadows crawling across the road. My senses remained on high alert, every unfamiliar scent and sound making my wolf twitch.

“How far is it?” I asked finally, breaking the tension.

“Far enough,” Ryder replied, his eyes focused on the road. “Damien wanted to make sure you’d have time to settle in before anyone from Greyfang realized you were gone.”