Page 99 of The Secret Mate Society

"Where are you going?"Alarm filled his voice.

"Away from you," I spat, clutching Jake's scrapbook to my chest with one hand while the other found the doorknob."Don't follow me."

"Ethan, please—it's not safe out there!"He moved toward me with that unnatural speed I'd always attributed to athletic grace.Now I knew better."The rogue is still out there.He killed Jake, and he'll kill you too if he gets the chance."

“Better him than you," I snarled, yanking the door open."At least he's honest about what he is.I don’t even know who you are."

I bolted out the door, adrenaline giving me speed I didn't know I possessed.Behind me, I heard Calder calling my name, his voice desperate and shaking.I didn't look back.I couldn't.

My feet pounded against the pavement as I ran, tears blurring my vision.I had no destination in mind, just away.Away from the lies, away from the monster wearing the face of the man I'd so stupidly fallen in love with.

I heard footsteps behind me, gaining rapidly.Of course he was faster than me.He wasn't human.

"Ethan, stop!"Calder's voice was closer than I expected."Please, just listen to me!"

"Stay away from me!"I screamed over my shoulder, clutching the scrapbook tighter."You fucking animal!Monster!I hate you!"

The words tore from my throat, vicious and raw.I meant them to hurt, to wound him as deeply as he'd wounded me.The footsteps behind me faltered for a moment, and I seized the opportunity to cut across someone's yard, leaping over a low hedge.

My lungs burned as I ran, my body demanding oxygen that my panic wouldn't allow me to take in properly.I had to keep going.I had to get away.I stumbled onto a busier street, nearly colliding with a woman walking her dog.

"I'm so sorry," I gasped, barely acknowledging her startled expression as I pushed past.

I heard her yell something after me, but the words were lost in the rush of blood pounding in my ears.I glanced back, terrified I'd see Calder's powerful form bearing down on me, but the street behind me was empty.Had he given up?Or was he circling around, planning to cut me off?

God, what had I done?I'd fallen in love with a monster—the very creature I'd been hunting my entire adult life.Every touch, every kiss, every whispered promise had been tainted by his lies.And Jake...poor Jake had paid the ultimate price for trying to warn me.

I ducked down a side street, slowing to catch my breath.My lungs felt like they were on fire, and my legs trembled beneath me.I leaned against a brick wall, clutching the scrapbook to my chest like it was the only real thing left in my world.

What was I supposed to do now?Go to the police?They'd think I was insane.Run to my mother?That would only put her in danger too.I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to.Everyone I trusted had either died or betrayed me.

A low growl from the shadows at the end of the alley sent ice through my veins.

"Calder?"I called out, my voice breaking."Is that you?"

No answer came, just another growl, deeper this time.I backed away slowly, my heart hammering against my ribs.The sound was familiar, feral and threatening just like that night my father died…

I turned to run, but my foot caught on something—a broken bottle or piece of trash—sending me sprawling onto the wet pavement.Pain shot through my palms as they scraped against the rough surface.Jake's scrapbook skidded away from me, pages fluttering open in the damp morning air and photos flying everywhere.

I scrambled toward it, desperate not to lose the only evidence I had left.As my fingers closed around the cover, a shadow fell over me.I looked up, and my blood froze.

Standing at the mouth of the alley was a beast I recognized.Broad shoulders, thick fur, and eyes that seemed to burn with an inner fire.I'd seen this beast before…

I realized Jake had been wrong far too late.This wasn’t Calder.This werewolf was larger than he could ever be, with matted fur and eyes filled with malice.This was the monster from my nightmares, the creature that had haunted me since I was fourteen years old.The one that had killed my father.

I tried to scramble backward, my palms slipping on the wet pavement.The beast's lips curled back to reveal yellowed fangs, a low rumble emanating from its chest.Those eyes… nothing like Calder's warm brown with gold flecks, were a sickly yellow, filled with a hunger that froze my blood.

"Please," I whispered, though I knew it was useless.This thing didn't care about my pleas.It had murdered my father without mercy, and had taken Jake's life without hesitation.I was just another heart to rip from a chest.

The werewolf took a step forward, its massive paw splashing in a puddle.I pressed myself against the brick wall, nowhere left to run.The irony wasn't lost on me.I'd run from one monster straight into the arms of another.

The beast lunged forward with impossible speed.I threw my arms up in a pathetic attempt to shield myself, a scream tearing from my throat.But instead of claws and teeth tearing into my body, I instead felt a fist connect with my stomach.

Air rushed out of my lungs and I collapsed to the pavement.My vision began to tunnel in and I glanced up one last time to see only fangs filling my world.

Then everything went black.

Chapter42