Avenging Luna
Chapter 125: Paranoid

Chapter 125: Paranoid

Leila’s POV:

I knew I was being unfair—unfair to Lucy, to Chase, and maybe even to myself—but I couldn’t face any of it. Not Lucy’s kind eyes as I explained why I had to leave. Not Chase’s persistence and the questions I wasn’t ready to answer. And certainly not the chaos of the mate bond pulling me toward a life I’d sworn to avoid.

Lucy had given me so much. She’d taken me in without asking too many questions, provided a safe place for Ash and me to rebuild after escaping Drake’s pack. How could I repay her with the truth? That I wasn’t just some abused woman running from her violent husband but a rogue wolf fleeing a broken pack and the unwanted attention of a vampire mate? Lucy deserved to live in her blissful ignorance, in a world where the supernatural didn’t exist, where monsters were confined to books and movies.

And then there was Chase.

The thought of him sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. He was nothing like Drake, yet the bond felt just as intrusive, just as suffocating. How was I supposed to trust another mate when the first had ripped me apart? Drake had shattered any illusions I’d had about fated love, exposing the bond for what it was—a chain, not a connection.

And now, the Moon Goddess had thrown a vampire into the mix? A *vampire*. What was she thinking? Did she really think pairing me with a creature who fed on blood and lived in the shadows would erase the damage Drake had done? The bond was supposed to be sacred, a gift. But all I could see was the burden it carried.

As I stared out of the motel room window, Ash sleeping peacefully on the bed behind me, I tried to ignore the ache in my chest. The bond was persistent, tugging at me like an invisible leash, reminding me of the vampire I’d left behind.

Could I reject him? Did vampires even *have* rejection rituals like wolves did? And if they did, would Chase accept it, or would he fight it? I’d seen the stubborn determination in his eyes. He wasn’t the type to give up easily, and that terrified me more than anything else.

I couldn’t put myself in that position again. Not for him, not for anyone. Drake had shown me exactly what mates could do—how they could destroy you and leave you to pick up the pieces on your own. I wouldn’t let myself be vulnerable like that again, and I certainly wouldn’t let Ash grow up watching his mother get crushed under the weight of another broken bond.

Running had been the only option. Staying would have meant facing the questions I wasn’t ready to answer, the feelings I wasn’t ready to confront. So I’d taken the coward’s way out, packing up what little I had and leaving before dawn.

I glanced at Ash, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. He was my priority now, my only priority. I’d promised myself that I’d give him a better life, one where he didn’t have to watch his mother be ostracized or mistreated. One where he didn’t have to live in fear of packs or rogue vampires or anything else that prowled in the shadows.

But as much as I tried to focus on Ash, I couldn’t shake the feeling that running wasn’t the end of it. Chase wasn’t like Drake, and that made it worse. He hadn’t tried to force the bond on me, hadn’t demanded anything from me. He’d just been there, persistent but patient, as if he was willing to wait forever for me to come around.

And that scared me more than anything Drake had ever done.

Because patience meant he believed in the bond. It meant he believed in *me*. And I wasn’t sure I could handle that kind of faith.

Pushing the thoughts away, I focused on the map I’d spread out on the tiny table. I needed to keep moving. Staying in one place was too risky, especially now that Chase knew where I’d been. He might not have followed me immediately, but I knew he would. The bond would pull him in the same way it tugged at me, relentless and unforgiving.

I traced a line on the map with my finger, looking for the next town far enough away that it would give me a few days of peace. A place where I could figure out my next move without worrying about Chase—or anyone else—finding me.

What if running wasn’t enough? Chase was a vampire, and from what little I knew about them, they were persistent creatures. Could I really keep Ash and myself hidden from him forever?

The bond tugged again, sharper this time, as if it could hear my thoughts and wanted to remind me of its power. I clenched my jaw, ignoring it. I wouldn’t let it control me. Not this time.

Ash stirred, letting out a soft whimper before settling back into sleep. I smiled despite myself, brushing a hand over his tiny curls. He was my anchor, my reason for pushing forward. As long as I had him, I could face anything.

Even a stubborn, infuriating vampire mate.

Because no matter how strong the bond was, no matter how persistent Chase might be, I had one thing on my side: my will. And I wasn’t about to let anyone—not the Moon Goddess, not Chase, and certainly not the past—take that away from me.

Running away from one supernatural being hellbent on finding me had been bad enough, but now I was on the radar of not just Drake—the wolf alpha with a vendetta—but also Chase, the vampire who claimed to be my mate. Two different predators, two entirely different worlds, and me stuck in the middle like some tragic joke. The Moon Goddess must be laughing her celestial ass off at my misery.

"Boy, am I screwed," I muttered under my breath as I packed the last of my things. I needed a plan. A real one this time, not just a vague idea of disappearing. If Drake had shown me anything, it was that the supernatural world had far-reaching tendrils, and if they wanted to find you, they would. Now with Chase in the mix, I felt the weight of two worlds bearing down on me.

I needed to disappear. Not just vanish into the next town over. No. I needed to be gone, completely, as if I had never existed.

But how does one disappear when being hunted by creatures who can track your scent, sense your emotions, and follow your very essence through a bond? The thought made my chest tighten.

Focus, Leila.

Ash cooed softly from his spot on the bed, and I turned to him, my heart softening despite the fear gnawing at me. He was the reason I couldn’t falter. He was all that mattered now. If it were just me, maybe I’d be reckless, maybe I’d even consider letting Chase explain or confront Drake head-on. But I had Ash, and he deserved better than a life of constant running or becoming a pawn in the twisted games of alphas and vampires.

I pulled out the map again, my finger tracing the lines and circles I’d drawn the night before. I needed to find a place far from any known wolf territories, far from any whisper of supernatural activity. Somewhere remote, maybe even off the grid. A place where neither wolves nor vampires would think to look.

But as I looked at the map, a sinking realization hit me. Nowhere was truly safe. Not from them. Not when I had ties to their world through Ash and the damn mate bond pulling at my soul.

I thought of Lucy, her kind face crumpled with confusion and sadness as she read my note. Guilt twisted in my gut. I hated leaving her that way, but I couldn’t bring her into this mess. She was human, blissfully unaware of the chaos that lurked in the shadows of her world. If I stayed, it was only a matter of time before Drake or Chase showed up, and Lucy didn’t deserve to get caught in the crossfire.

I had to do this alone.

I glanced at Ash again, his tiny fists curled in sleep. His little chest rose and fell so peacefully, oblivious to the danger we were in. I touched his cheek, my resolve hardening.

"We’ll figure this out, baby," I whispered. "I promise."

### Hours Later

The bus rumbled beneath me, the landscape speeding by in a blur of green and gray. Ash was cradled in my arms, his weight a comforting reminder of why I was doing this. I’d chosen a route that zigzagged through small towns, avoiding major cities where I’d be more easily spotted.

As the hours stretched on, paranoia crept in. Every stranger’s glance felt like it lingered too long. Every shadow outside the window felt like it moved just a little too quickly. Was that person sniffing the air? Did that man’s eyes flash red for a moment?

Stop it, Leila. You’re being paranoid.

Or was I?

The truth was, I couldn’t be sure. Between Drake’s pack and Chase’s vampire world, I had no idea how many resources they could throw into finding me. The thought made my skin crawl.

By the time we reached the next stop, my nerves were frayed. I decided to get off, even though it wasn’t the final destination I’d planned. Staying unpredictable was my only advantage.

### The New Town

The town was small, quiet, the kind of place where everyone knew everyone else. Perfect for hiding, but also risky. Strangers would stick out here, and I couldn’t afford to draw attention. But I wasn’t planning on staying.

I found a dingy motel on the outskirts, paying cash for a room. The clerk barely looked up from his crossword puzzle, muttering something about checkout times before sliding me the key.

The room was small and smelled faintly of mildew, but it was safe—for now. I set Ash down on the bed, his little face scrunching as he woke with a soft cry.

"Shh, baby," I cooed, picking him up and rocking him gently. "It’s okay. We’re safe."

The words felt hollow even as I said them.

### Nightfall

As the sun dipped below the horizon, unease settled over me. Something didn’t feel right. The air was too still, the shadows outside the window too deep. My wolf, Layla, stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, her instincts prickling with warning.

I checked the locks on the door for the fifth time, my heart racing.

Then I felt it—a tug, faint but insistent, deep in my chest. The mate bond.

"Damn it," I whispered, pressing a hand to my sternum as if I could physically push the sensation away. Chase was out there. He had to be. The bond wouldn’t pull this strongly otherwise.

Layla growled lowly, her voice a mix of irritation and warning.

"He’s coming."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. I couldn’t let him find us. Not now, not ever.

Picking up Ash, I grabbed the small bag I’d packed and headed for the window. The fire escape led down to the alley behind the motel. It wasn’t much of an escape plan, but it was all I had.

As I climbed out, the cool night air hit my face, sharp and biting. I descended quickly, Ash nestled against me, his tiny breaths warm against my neck.

But as soon as my feet hit the ground, I froze.

A figure stood at the end of the alley, silhouetted against the dim glow of a streetlamp.