If I'm going to run today, I need to be prepared. I change from sandals into a pair of sneakers and go into the study in the wing again. Any book with a layout of packland will do, just to have an idea of where I am headed. After browsing for a bit, I find a small map. Though it's not very detailed, it gives me a broad idea of where Midnight territory connects to my pack. Running through is not an option. He'll catch me. Not only is he an Alpha, my wolf is non-existent. I'd need a car. To find a car, I'd need Violet.

Just as I think of her, she enters.

She seems surprised that I spoke to her civilly. I continue,

I lie, straight through my teeth. I needed to gain her trust in order to get information on the nearest car.

She says with the brightest smile on her face. Goddess, this girl is so naïve.

For the next hour, she drones on and on, about responsibilities of a Luna, how she is a constant support to the Alpha, the formal marking tradition, pack engagement, pack training and education. I listen to everything with a smile on my face, occasionally chiming in with a question or two to demonstrate interest. I see her guards begin to lower, and I know in a couple of minutes, I can begin asking questions about pack specifics.

She giggles,

We head into the kitchen and just grab some junk food out of the cupboards. I say as I fake concern.

Violet's eyes soften when she sees the concern on my face,

I just nod my head, faking further concern and regret in my expressions, which is something she catches onto.

I give her a weak smile. She continues. And just like that she's taken the bait.

With that, Violet just sets off. From what I gather, this girl loves to talk and she's all too trusting. She tells me about the layout, the people who live here. How the upper floors are for the higher-ranking wolves and the lower ones are for regular warriors. Since this packhouse is on the outskirts, warriors live here. Families live in the central packhouse. All the packhouses on the outskirts are for the warriors. Until finally, she gets to what interests me:

She takes my question as a need to know more about my mate and smiles fondly and just continues on.

I laugh.

Nothing in the world could have been more convenient for me than hearing her say that. I let out the biggest smile and she just seemed satisfied that she'd cheered me up. She reminded me of Yasmeen, trusting, kind, naïve apart from the fact that she's an avid talker.

I think we would have been friends had I chosen to stay here. I didn't mind her company. But I had to get back to my life and she was just the foundation I was using to get back there.

She turns to leave and I feel the guilt in my stomach increasing.

With that, she leaves. I run straight into my room. There's half an hour before Amor arrives. I have to find a way to deal with the guard at the door who will most likely be positioned there even when Amor is here. I grab a duffle bag, throw in an extra pair of socks, a first aid kit, a water-bottle and protein bars. That's really all I need.

I go into the kitchen and grab a pepper spray. I'm sure this is the most useless idea I have ever had. To think I had once been a warrior but was now going to use pepper spray to take out a wolf, when I used to be able to take them out, just with a couple of fighting techniques before. I grab the iron from the ironing table. Goddess, this could go so wrong.

I walk towards the door, put the iron there and hold the pepper spray behind my back. Sure enough, there's a guard outside.

The wolf immediately nods.

I give him the largest smile and then attack. I spray it directly into his eyes, he falls to his knees groaning. I know he's a wolf, it won't take him long to recover, so I grab the iron and bang it on top of his head, essentially rendering him unconscious. Again, it won't be long before he's conscious, so with all my strength I lug him inside the wing, inside my room, and lock the door shut. I head straight for the elevator, get in and press the button for the basement. The one minute it takes to get to the basement can easily be described as the longest, most excruciating, nerve-wracking minute of my entire life.

The lift opens into the basement, and I get a view of the line of cars. Different and expensive cars. Frankly, I've never been one for cars. It's a vehicle. Never really mattered what type to me, but clearly important to Zyon. That's something I never knew about him before.

I grab the keys that hang on one of the walls, point to the BMW at the end and run towards it. There's an exit on the other end of the basement that leads out. I get in, switch it on, and drive as fast as I can out of the basement, onto the road, putting in general directions for the Snowstorm pack. I want to get straight back to my apartment, but I'm not stupid. I know Zyon would have the navigation, somehow connected to his phone or laptop.

As I drive away, I can't help but look back in the rearview mirror. I'm leaving him behind. Once again. When I was younger, I was sure of my decision. This time, I'm uneasy. There's a part of me that doesn't want to leave him. I've craved him for so long- that part of me wants to finally revel in Zyon- after getting what she has craved for so long. I can't help but think, he accepted me as his mate, he wants me to be my Luna, but no matter what he wants, I know I need my life back. If I stay with him, I have to give up Daniel, the control I have over my life, and my life once again reverts back to being all about Zyon. I would lose the identity that I took such pains to create. An identity that doesn't involve Zyon.