The morning light spilled into Liora's room like a gentle lie — soft, golden, and entirely unfit for the weight in her chest.
She lay still beneath the sheets, eyes wide open, listening to the birds outside like they were mocking her. Today was the day. It could be the beginning of freedom… or the beginning of her downfall. Maybe both.
Her thoughts spun like storm clouds.
She could almost feel the warmth of Kael's hands again, the way his voice steadied her even when everything else felt like it was slipping. She had no idea what their future looked like — just that it had to exist. Somewhere far from Garran. Far from obligations she never chose. Far from becoming a symbol of legacy rather than a person with a pulse.
She turned to her side and stared at the necklace she'd tucked beneath her pillow. Two pendants — one hers, one Kael's. Together, they formed the forever symbol.
She hadn't taken it off since he gave it to her.
A knock on the door snapped her out of thought.
"Liora?" a voice called — Layna, one of the other cheerleaders. "You coming to practice?"
Liora stood quickly and opened the door just enough to show her face. "Not today. I… I'm not feeling great."
Layna's eyes softened. "You okay?"
Liora gave a weak smile. "Just a migraine. Probably stress."
"Well, rest up. Big game tonight."
As Layna walked off, Liora closed the door slowly and leaned her forehead against it.
Big game tonight, she echoed in her mind.
And she wouldn't be here for it.
If everything went right, by the time the final whistle blew, she and Kael would be miles away.
If everything went wrong…
She didn't finish the thought.
---
Kael sat on the edge of the locker room bench, fingers clasped so tight his knuckles turned white. He stared at the floor as if it held answers he hadn't earned.
Jason tossed a basketball in the air and caught it with a loud smack. "Dude, you're vibrating. What's going on with you?"
Kael didn't answer.
Jason grinned, nudging him. "If you keep looking like you want to punch the floor, Coach might not even put you in. You might not play tonight."
Kael muttered under his breath, "I don't plan to."
Jason blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kael shook his head and stood, ignoring the question.
Jason raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Kael always carried shadows with him — today they just seemed heavier.
Kael walked to the far end of the locker room, tucked beneath the shelves. His duffel bag was packed. A change of clothes. A worn map. Cash — not much, but enough for two bus tickets and a few days' food. And the other half of the pendant.
His fingers brushed over the symbol. One piece of something that only made sense when complete.
We run tonight, he reminded himself.
And we don't look back.
---
Storm moved like the wind through the woods — present, yet unseen.
The trees stretched above him like tall, silent witnesses, and the dry leaves beneath his boots whispered secrets he didn't want to hear.
He remembered a younger version of himself — standing in this very forest, asking Liora to walk with him after a pack run. She had smiled gently, but there was distance in her eyes even then.
She had said no. Kind, but final.
And now… now he watched her fall into someone else's orbit. Someone who didn't even belong.
Kael was a mystery. A threat to order. A question mark written in muscle and silence.
And yet Liora had chosen him — or worse, bonded to him.
Storm stopped and leaned against a tree, staring at the sky.
He had two choices.
Tell Garran, and the Alpha would crush Kael before he took his next breath.
Or say nothing.
Let them run.
Let them escape.
Let Liora be free — and out of his reach forever.
He took a breath so deep it made his ribs ache.
And when he exhaled, he said nothing at all.
---
The alley behind the gym was quiet, save for the distant echo of basketballs bouncing on hardwood and sneakers squeaking through drills.
Kael stood with his hood up, back against the wall, arms crossed. He looked up at the sky as if it might give him courage.
Liora stepped into view like a breath he'd been holding.
"You made it," he said softly.
She gave a small smile. "You doubted me?"
"Not for a second," he said, stepping forward.
Their hands found each other easily, like they had always meant to.
"I brought something," she said, reaching into her jacket pocket.
Kael did the same.
When they opened their palms, each held a pendant — a perfect half of the infinity symbol. She took his, he took hers. They fastened the necklaces around each other's necks.
"In case we get separated," she whispered.
"We won't," Kael replied. But his voice trembled, just a little.
Liora touched his chest, fingers grazing the scar there, and closed her eyes. "We're really doing this."
Kael leaned his forehead to hers. "We have to."
---
The gym was buzzing.
The bleachers were packed. Music blared from the speakers. Students laughed, shouted, waved signs in the air. The school spirit was electric.
Kael sat on the bench, jersey on, hood still up, eyes focused on nothing.
Jason nudged him. "You ready, man?"
Kael didn't answer.
He was counting seconds.
Across the gym, Liora sat among the crowd, hair tucked under a beanie, sunglasses hiding her eyes. Her duffel bag sat at her feet. Her knees bounced. Her fingers clenched the edge of her seat.
At the far end of the gym, Storm stood against the wall. No uniform. No cheering. Just watching.
The whistle blew.
The crowd erupted, a roar of noise and school pride.
Kael stood from the bench, ignoring the ball tossed his way. His eyes locked briefly with Liora's across the gym. No words. No signal.
Just movement.
He slipped through the side doors.
Liora followed ten seconds later, bag in hand, vanishing into the shadows behind the bleachers.
And from the far corner of the gym, Storm moved too.
No one saw him leave.
Except Jason.
He watched them go, a frown tightening on his face…
And said nothing.
But the moon watched everything.