Chapter 54
Aria’s POV
I pulled into the second floor of the parking garage. There was a huge cargo truck parked in the comer.
“Arial”
May came running out from behind the truck, screaming my me. The second I saw her, my tears just poured right out. I wrapped her in the tightest
Tm sony Fm so, so sorry…”I choked
I didn’t know what else to say. She had a peaceful life back at Red Stone Pack, and completely ruined it. All because I was stupid enough to sign a deal
with the devi
She held my face in her hands. “Stop. This isn’t your fault. Walt–why do I smell blood? Oh my god, your shoulder”
Blood had already soaked through my shirt while I was driving Half of me was painted red.
“Did that son of a bitch do this to you?” sher
esnapped.
“No, no he didn’t. It’s it’s complicated…”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did, came another sullen voice
Zane stepped out from behind the truck with a small first–aid kit. His expression darkened the second he saw me. Without a word, he ripped open my bloody shirt and started treating my wound fast and rough.
Bleeding’s stopped,” he said shortly. “Once we reach the first stop, I’ll get a doctor to check on you”
He helped me up. “You think you can go
“I’m good,” I gritted out. Then I noticed the bruises on his face. He was limping too. “You looked awful What happened?”
“Grayson, obviously. Beat the crap out of me,” Zane rolled his eyes. “I’m guessing if he really does catch us this time, host skin me alive, then hang me to death”
Fear stabbed through me. “Then we can’t get caught. No matter what.”
“We won’t he smiled. “Everything’s planned out this time.”
He whistled, and a scruffy–looking man popped his head out the driver’s window and gave me a little wave. “That’s David. He’s transporting a load across.. the border. We’ll just hide in the back.”
Inodded nervously, Zane then led me to the truck.
“There’s someone else I think you’ll want to see.
Inside the truck, past stacks of crates, a small space had been cleared. There was a hospital bed. And my grandmother tay
“Grandma!” I gasped, stumbling toward her.
She stimed, eyes fluttering open just a little.
“Jolen………. is that you?” she murmured.
She thought I was my mom again
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Chapter 54
May whispered behind me, “They wouldn’t give her her meds. She’s gotten worse these past few days.”
“My guy also said she’s severely malnourished,” Zane said coldly. “Looks like Grayson’s been treating her like crap. Honestly, even I’m shocked, hi shred of humanity when I first met him. But even that was gone now.”
I clutched Grandma’s hand, tears slipping silently down my face,
Grayson was always cruel. But he was brutal to me. Maybe because I never deserved any of his love or affection.
Thank god I realized that before lost everything.
“Jolene, where are we going?” grandma asked in a hoarsenice
d… once we get there, we’ll be free. Everything’s gonna be okay”
“To a new place,” I whispered. “It’s a long way, but…once we
“So you’re bringing me this time?” she mumbled, almost smiling: “Good. Don’t forget your daughter okay? Poor little Aria… she didn’t deserve this life…
she deserved so much more.
Oh grandima.
Though I was just a nobody from a small town, she always believed I deserved the best the world could give
“We need to go.” Zane said. “Are you ready?”
I wiped my face and nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”
David loaded us in, then shut the doors. I felt the truck start to move, rolling slowly out of the garage.
I packed out through a small crack between the crates. Familiar streets blurred by. The Apex building in the distance got smaller and smaller.
A deep ache pressed down on my chest.
When I first came to this place, I thought I’d build a future here. Make something of myself.
But that was just a dream.
lended up pissing off the most powerful man here… and now I was running for my
“I know how you feel,” May said quietly beside me. She was staring out too, her expression heavy.
“You shouldn’t have gotten dragged into this. I’m so-
it out,” she said, squeering my hand. “It’s not like I’m local anyway. And hey, maybe a fresh start will be good for me. Might even make a fortune, who knows?”
Zane sat across from us and grinned. “And you’ve got me, remember? No way i’d let two lovely ladies worry about money. Once we’re sale, I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of
May giggled stupidly and nudged me. I pretended not to notice. It was clear May had fully switched sides–from Team Grayson to Team Zam
We all dozed off not long after that, rocked by the phovement of the truck. It only stopped once to refuel.
By midday, we reached our first checkpoint
us snapped awake. Zane had briefed us earlier this would be our first big hurd
All 3 of us
“Maybe he hasn’t realized you’re
‘re gone yet,” May whispered. Her grip on my hand was cold and clammy.
But I wasn’t that
Chapter 54
Imotioned for her to look through the crack.
There was a long line of vehicles ahead. Cops was questioning every single one, And shifted werewolves were ining everything downt.
Security was on highest alert.
“He knows,”
aid quietly. Achill can down my spine,
“This is way more intense than before,” Zane muttered. “He’s definitely fucking pissed now.”
“We can hide in here, but what about our scent!” May asked, panicking. “Those guards can smell us from miles away?”
*This truck’s loaded with spices. It should cover most of it,” Zane said. “Wof these soldiers are low–level. Their noses aren’t as sharp like Alpha sa Commis So just stay calm. Don’t panic. Don’t release your scent.”
We all went silent. The truck crawled forward slowly with the line,
About 30 minutes later, it was our turn.
“Driver out. Show your ID, a solder came over and ordered. “Open the back.”
May gripped my hand tight. I squeezed back, trying to keep her calm.
David followed instructions. When the doors opened, the crates hid us from view
1 heard a low growl. A woll
Please let the spices be enough.
“We might have to unload everything for a full inspection,” the soldier said.
What?
My heart skipped a beat. May let out a tiny squeak.
Zane immediately reached over and clamped his hand over her mouth. He stared at us, slowly shaking his head.
“What? That’ll take forever. I’ve got a delivery deadline, David complained. “Come on, man. Is that really nece
The soldier scoffed. “You know why we’re doing this? Our Alpha’s losing his damn mind over some girl who keeps running from him, says if we don’t bring her back, we’re all fucked. So yeah, it’s necessary.”
“Love makes guys crazy,” David muttered, “Look, I’m in a hurry. How about you help me out…and I pive you a little something in return?”
We couldn’t see it. He must’ve slipped the soldier some money.
After a beat, the soldier whispered, “Fine. Go. And be quick before someone else sees.”
We all hold our breath till the truck had officially left the check point.
“God we made it! We are out!” May threw her arms around me, laughing and crying at the same time.
I laughed too, patting her back. “Yeah. We’re okay.
“Time for you to rest easy,” Zane grinned, checking his watch. “We’ve got 4 more hours till the boat ride. Once we’re on that boat, we’re gone for good
May passed out again, leaning on the crates. She looked totally wiped.
But the emotional rollercoaster we’d been through, I couldn’t sleep
Chapter 54
“Can’t sleep?” Zane slid over beside me, his voice low.
Inodded. “Hey…Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah anything.”
“Grayson and his ex–wife. What really happened?”
He blinked. Then frowned. “Seriously? You’re still thinking about him? You got out. Move on.”
“I am moving on,
- Isaid quickly.
- y. “But I need to know. Otherwise, I just keep wondering. So that isla… what was she like?”
Zane sighed, leaning back.
“Elegant. Beautiful. Confident. Her family wasn’t as powerful as the Harts, but still noble. We all met back in Europe, during school”
My heart sank. Of course she was perfect. “Was it love at first sight?”
“Sort of Grayson’s mental health’s always been unstable. A doctor once said he needed a she–wolf’s presence to stay balanced. So ever since he was a kid, the Hart family had been searching the world for someone who could match him.”
“Let me guess. Isla was the only one?”
“Actually… no,” Zane said. “When Grayson was a kid living with his grandma in Europe, there was this little girl on the same street. She was also a noble and was perfect for him. He could only stay calm when she was around. The Harts even wanted them to marry once they came of age.”
“Then what happened?”
Disappeared. Rumor was something happened to her mother’s side of the family. They went back home. To Frostpine Pack”
“She moved away.
My heart stopped.
Wait Frostpine Pack?
That was also my hometown.
