Chapter 73: Chapter 73
Kyra’s POV
My bare feet pounded against the forest floor as I fled from the pack mansion, twigs snapping beneath me. The cold night air burned my lungs, but I didn’t dare slow down. Behind me, the heavy thud of boots—not just any boots, but the unmistakable stride of an Alpha and his warriors—grew closer.
"KYRA!" Kieran’s voice roared through the trees, laced with Alpha command.
My lips trembled. No. No. I can’t go back. Not after what he’d done. Not after what he wanted from me.
"COME BACK HERE, KYRA!"
My wolf, Sylvia, snarled in my mind. Run faster. He’s gaining on us.
I pushed harder, my muscles screaming, but I could feel them closing in. The scent of cedar and musk—Kieran’s scent—filled my nose, making my stomach twist.
Then, salvation.
A sleek red sports car screeched to a halt in front of me, the door flying open. I didn’t hesitate. I dove inside, not caring who was behind the wheel—only that it wasn’t Kieran.
"KYRA!" His roar shook the car windows.
I twisted in my seat just in time to see him standing in the middle of the road, his blue eyes glowing with fury. Even from this distance, I felt the weight of his Alpha dominance pressing against my chest.
Tears of relief spilled over.
A handkerchief appeared in my line of sight. I blinked up at the driver—and my breath caught.
Emily.
The same she-wolf who had appeared at my flower shop weeks ago, warning me about my father’s failing health. The same she-wolf who had vanished without explanation. Now here she was, saving me from Kieran’s clutches.
She smirked, one eyebrow arched. "The one and only."
"But... why?" My voice cracked.
Emily’s grip tightened on the wheel. "Simple answer. Not telling you yet."
I exhaled, slumping into the seat as the car’s speed stabilized. Despite everything—despite how much she’d irritated me before—gratitude swelled in my chest.
"Thank you," I whispered.
She snorted. "Too early for thanks, sweetheart. You’re still tangled in Kieran’s web."
I studied her profile. Emily and Kieran had history—a messy, violent one. But unlike Amanda, she hadn’t tried to break me.
"You loved him," I said quietly.
Her smirk vanished. The car lurched to a stop in front of a crumbling two-story building, an old white sedan parked nearby.
"We’re switching cars," she said, voice flat.
"What?"
"Relax. Someone’s picking this one up to throw Kieran off our trail." She jerked her chin toward the sedan. "Get in."
Sylvia growled low in my mind. "She’s hiding something."
I knew that. But right now, Emily was the only thing standing between me and Kieran’s claws.
And I wasn’t going back.
I stared at Emily, my mind racing. Sylvia paced anxiously. "She’s hiding something big. Don’t trust her completely."
Emily threw open the driver’s door with a sharp click. "What? You planning to stand there all night?" Her tone was all sharp edges, the way Alphas spoke when giving orders.
I didn’t need telling twice. I scrambled into the passenger seat just as the engine roared to life. Through the rear window, I caught a glimpse of a tall figure approaching the abandoned sports car. My breath hitched.
"That silhouette..."
Emily noticed my tension. "Relax, princess. That’s just my contact retrieving the decoy." She floored the accelerator, the sudden G-force pressing me into the leather seats.
The admission came out of nowhere. "I don’t have feelings for Kieran." Emily’s hands tightened on the wheel, her knuckles bleaching white.
My eyebrows shot up. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Believe what you want." She shot me a sideways glance. "But hate burns hotter than love ever could."
Sylvia perked up. "Truth. I scent no deception."
I swallowed hard. "Then why... all those years as his..."
"Fuck buddy?" Emily barked a laugh. "Sweetheart, even rogues need stress relief. And between you and me?" She flashed a sweet grin. "The bastard’s excellent in bed. What else? I bet you already know that."
Heat flooded my cheeks. I turned to stare out the window. I heard her chuckle.
"Where exactly are we going?" My voice sounded small even to my own ears.
"Somewhere off-grid." Emily’s fingers drummed an irregular rhythm on the steering wheel. "No pack ties. No territory disputes. Just... neutral ground."
Sylvia bristled. "No such thing exists for wolves."
I asked, "Where on earth?"
"To the place where no one will recognize you and Kieran’s radar won’t reach."
"And where is that place?"
She glanced at me. "Relax. I’m not your enemy, Kyra. Although we aren’t friends either."
A deafening silence filled us after that. I just stared at the road while Emily continued driving silently. I rested my head against the window when I heard Emily sigh.
"Didn’t peg Kieran for this kind of crazy." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Disappointing."
My head snapped toward her. "What do you mean?"
That bitter smirk returned. "I thought he was on my side. He was a lone wolf on the road when I met him, Kyra. I thought he was my ally, but it turned out he just needed me for his own benefit. He’s indeed a devil."
"He’s a master at that," I muttered before I could stop myself.
Emily actually chuckled. "Listen up, Kyra. Lesson one: put yourself first. Kieran sure as hell does. That’s what I’ve learned from my past."
"You must have a painful past."
She shrugged her shoulders. "You can say that. That’s why I’m enjoying seeing Kieran suffer. I want him tormented. Only you can do that since you’re important to him."
I stared at her. "Do you think he really loves me? You think he... cares about me? Really?"
"Wouldn’t you love to know." Her eyes gleamed in the dashboard lights. "Having second thoughts? You’re willing to forgive him?"
"No." The word came out sharper than intended. "I just need leverage to protect my father."
"He must’ve warned you about hurting your father if you disobey him."
I nodded and pressed my lips together.
Emily snorted. "Oh he won’t lay a claw on dear old dad. That’s too direct." Her voice turned icy. "He’ll strip everything from him instead. The company. The pack standing." A pause. "You."
The truth landed like a sucker punch. My father’s empire—the Monroe legacy—reduced to a bargaining chip. And me? Just another piece on Kieran’s chessboard.
Sylvia howled in outrage. We are NO ONE’S pawn!
Exhaustion finally pulled me under. I woke to the crunch of gravel as we pulled up to a secluded two-story cabin, its wraparound porch swallowed by towering pines.
"Welcome to the wolf equivalent of a cage." Emily killed the engine. "No pack signals. No mind links. Just you, me, and the crickets."
I gaped at the remote hideaway. "This is..."
She looked at me and smirked. "Welcome to my safe house."
