Chapter 4: Making Moves

Hannah’s POV

No amount of washing could remove the memory of Luke’s lips on mine.

Walking around the pack land isn’t helping my mood, and the longer I pace my room, the more a plan starts to form.

I sit on my bed and grab my phone. I reread the message that Damon sent me.

He wants to meet again and says all I have to do is set a time and date.

Gleefully, I throw myself back against my bed, kicking my legs at the prospect of seeing him. Then my phone dings again. Thinking it’s Damon, I roll over to read it—but it’s from Luke.

‘I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. Forgive me. I’m sorry, Hannah.’

I groan in disgust. Another message appears.

‘You deserve better from me.’

I scoff. I don’t want or need anything from him… especially not his kisses.

I can’t marry him. I just can’t. And if I stay, then I know I’ll have no choice but to be his wife, his mate, and lover. A shiver runs down my body at the thought.

I don’t care how good he looks; I still won’t have him—that’s what I think to myself as I try to remove any and all current memories of him from my mind.

If I stay and I’m forced to marry him, I’m scared of what will become of me. Will my whole life be h*ll like my school years? I was so glad when he graduated, but the whole experience had already been tainted for me, and any joy was denied me.

I won’t let that happen again.

I haven’t thought too much about sex; after all, I always knew I would be forced to give myself to the next alpha. But I had always thought the man would be someone decent… anyone, but him.

I growl and throw my legs over the bed. I can’t stay in this room anymore, in this place.

I grab my phone again and dial Bridget. She picks up just as I clear my house.

“Sup, b*tch,” she greets me in a friendly tone.

“What are you doing right now?” I ask. Whatever it is, I hear her fumble before she speaks again.

“Doing hair. What do you need? I got my truck back—I can get you. What did he do?” She adds, and I laugh.

“What did who do?” I chuckle.

“I don’t know. You said, once you turned eighteen, you could start dating,” she says.

Bridget is human and hasn’t quite figured out our customs yet, but she tries; bless her.

“It’s not really dating, but I did meet someone… and I could use an excuse to leave Blue Moon today and probably tomorrow,” I lie, knowing I’ll probably be there much longer—running away is starting to seem like the best plan.

“Yeah, come on, I should just be finishing up. Should I call Alex? I heard she’s in town.”

“Yeah! I’ll be there soon.”

I hang up and go to grab a bag, which I stuff with the few things I can’t live without. I don’t look around my room, as I don’t want to spark any good memory that could hinder my epic escape plan.

Though I’m the alpha’s daughter, everyone has come to terms with my freedom of movement, and I’m glad I’m never questioned about where I’m going. No one will suspect that this time, I’m not coming back.

“Hannah,” says a voice I grew up with.

I see Blaine Anders smiling over at me as he exits the healer’s house.

He is my father’s closest friend and has spent a lot of time around the house. Though he’s kind to me, as I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed something behind his eyes. I can’t place the look, but it’s on his face now and has been since I turned fifteen.

“Hey, Blaine,” I say, hoping he’ll keep it short.

“Heading into town?” he asks. Such a stupid question, I mean—my bag?

“Yeah,” I answer instead, adding, “Gonna see Bridget.”

He nods and then does an odd twist around as if checking if anyone is close by.

“I heard about Luke being the next alpha,” he says, taking a step closer.

I press my lips together to keep from spitting at the mention of him.

“I’ve heard that too,” I say.

“Kind of an odd choice,” he says. “I figured your father would want a wolf with more experience, better head on his shoulders.”

I didn’t care what head Luke had as long as he wasn’t the one I had to marry.

“As you know,” I reply, “I don’t make that choice. But if you want to complain to my father about it, I won’t stop you.”

He cocks his head at me.

“You don’t approve?” he says—and there is something about the joy that flashed across his face right after I spoke.

The chill I feel is unusual in his presence. He usually is very easy to talk to, but now, I feel on edge.

“I just don’t know him,” I answer—disgusted that, once again, I’ve chosen to protect Luke instead of exposing him as the monster he is.

The look in Blaine’s eyes disappears, and his posture, which I hadn’t noticed tensing up, relaxed.

“I should let you get going. Be safe, Hannah. You are the future.” he gives me a wink before turning away from me.

I watch him for a while. That was odd.

I replay the whole interaction as I make my way to the boat to take me to the mainland and again during the ride over to Bridget’s house.

I’m still uneasy as I pull up and find her hugging her client on her steps. She sees me and waves in mid hug.

“You look amazing. She’s a lucky woman,” she says to her client. The woman’s smile takes over her whole face. She thanks her again and hurries off.

“She looks great,” I say, coming in for my own hug. “But you should really think about getting an official salon.”

“This is just a favor, babes—she’s proposing to her girlfriend tonight. I thought I’d help her out. Come in,” she says, leading me into her apartment.

“That’s so cute. I’m happy for her,” I say, dropping to her sofa.

“We work together. She’s super nervous, but her girlfriend is so nice—and almost as pretty as me. Almost—well, not almost, but the upper side of the scale,” she says, then turns to look at herself in the mirror.

I shake my head at her and drape myself over her sofa.

“Ok, what’s going on?” she asks then, and I hear her take the seat across from me.

I roll my head in her direction and groan.

“My father has picked who will replace him as alpha—and, yes, that means this new alpha will be my husband,” I explain before you can ask me.

“You mean the man who you’ve been saving yourself for?” she asks, and I nod. “So what’s the problem? Is he old? Ugly? Oh my god, does he like six fingers on his hands? I almost dated a guy with six fingers,” she rants.

“It’s Luke,” I answer, and her energy dips.

“Oh,” is her only response.

She clears her throat and gets up, prompting me to flip over and watch her.

“What? What is oh?” I say.

“You hate Luke,” she points out.

I raise my brows. Well, at least someone pays attention to me.

“I know, but he’s my father’s pick,” I groan.

“So what are you going to do?” she asks, grabbing a beer for me.

“Run away,” I answer.

She chuckles for a moment until she sees how serious I am.

“Ok. But you can’t just run away. I mean, where would you go? How would you survive? You have no money. And don’t you think Luke and the rest will come to find you?” She floods me with questions.

“Luke claims that he loves me and has the whole time—but he’s lying. So he’ll get the title of alpha and not have the burden of a wife who can’t stand him. And I’ll get a job here.”

I cross my arms as I face my friend. “Maybe I’m not running away, but I’m definitely not going back.”

Our eyes are locked for a moment. Then she exhales and shrugs at me.

“I know a place that’s hiring. I did a lady’s hair once and said their secretary isn’t coming back after having her twins,” she offers.

I jump up and wrap my body around her.

“Thank you, thank you—come on, help me apply!” I kiss her cheek and link our arms as she leads me to her bedroom, where she keeps her laptop.

Step one, check.