Avenging Luna
Chapter 126: Chase Brother

Chapter 126: Chase Brother

Leila’s POV:

At first glance, I thought it was Chase. The build, the confident stance—he had Chase’s physique. But as the figure stepped into the dim glow of the streetlamp, my stomach sank. It wasn’t him. The features were similar—the piercing eyes, the crooked smirk—but this man had an edge, a dangerous one.

A vampire.

My chest tightened as I took a cautious step back, Ash clutched tightly in my arms. My wolf, Layla, snarled in my mind, her instinct to protect Ash roaring to the forefront. Unlike the rogue vampire Chase had fought in the alley, this one didn’t reek of blood and decay. That didn’t mean I could let my guard down. He was still a vampire, and with Ash in my arms, this was not going to be an easy fight.

Cornered. Damn it, I should have stayed in that crappy motel.

"Well, well," the man drawled, his voice smooth and cocky, "so you’re the little wolf my brother’s been obsessing over?"

Brother. My heart sank even further. Of course, he was Chase’s brother. Because my life couldn’t get any more complicated.

"What do you want?" I growled, shifting Ash slightly so I could free one arm. My stance was defensive, my eyes narrowing as the faint yellow glow of my wolf bled into them. Layla was on high alert, her hatred for vampires making my blood burn. The only exception she ever made was for Chase, and even that was because of the mate bond. This one? He wasn’t getting a pass.

"Relax," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender, though the smirk on his face never wavered. "I’m not here to hurt you. Chase just wants to find you."

"Well, you can go back and tell him I’m not interested in being found," I snapped. My voice was low, controlled, but my muscles were coiled like a spring.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he said, stepping closer. "You’re gonna have to tell him that yourself."

He took another step, and that was the final straw.

"Then I’m sorry for this," I said sharply, setting Ash down gently on a nearby bench. His wide eyes followed my every move, but he didn’t cry.

Layla surged forward, half-shifting me in an instant. My claws extended, my body rippling with power as fur ghosted along my arms. My focus locked onto the vampire as a snarl rumbled deep in my chest.

His smirk widened. "Alright, hard way it is."

In a blur of motion, he was on me, his speed supernatural and almost too fast to follow. But I wasn’t just some weak wolf. I was a mother now, and that gave me a reason to fight harder than ever.

He came at me with speed and precision, his movements deliberate and calculated. But he underestimated me, mistaking me for an easy target. His first swipe missed as I ducked low, spinning and slashing at his side with my claws.

He hissed, baring his fangs. "Feisty," he sneered, darting at me again.

This time, I let him get close. As he lunged, I shifted my weight and used his momentum against him, slamming him into the ground. He was fast—too fast to give me much breathing room—but I was relentless.

A mother protecting her cub is a force of nature.

We traded blows, his fists meeting my claws. He was stronger than the rogue I’d fought earlier, his attacks more precise. He wasn’t trying to kill me—yet—but he wasn’t holding back enough to make it easy.

He made the mistake of hesitating, likely deciding how far he could push this without earning Chase’s wrath. That hesitation cost him.

With a growl, I closed the gap, ducked under his swing, and grabbed him by the throat. Using every ounce of strength I had, I slammed him into the ground. His cocky smirk faltered for the first time as I twisted his neck sharply, breaking it with a sickening crack.

His body went limp, his head hanging at an unnatural angle.

I stood over him, panting, my claws still extended and my body thrumming with adrenaline. Layla growled in satisfaction, though she was far from calm.

"We should’ve killed him," she snarled. "Next time, he won’t hold back."

"No," I muttered aloud, my voice shaking. "Not Chase’s brother."

Killing him would’ve been easier, but it would also cross a line I wasn’t ready to face. Besides, I’d bought myself enough time. Breaking his neck wouldn’t kill him, but it would keep him out of commission for a few hours. Long enough for me to get Ash and disappear.

I turned and scooped Ash up into my arms. He blinked up at me, his little face calm despite the chaos. "It’s okay, baby," I whispered, brushing a hand over his soft hair. "We’re okay."

Chase’s brother wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. And now Chase knew exactly where I was.

Time was running out.

I glanced at the vampire one last time before taking off in the opposite direction. But as I hurried away from the unconscious vampire, a sinking feeling settled in my gut. I knew his kind would heal fast, especially with blood to accelerate the process. I didn’t have much time before he’d be up and hunting me again.

My mind raced as I hurried down the street, Ash held securely in my arms. So, Chase had sent his brother to find me. That raised a dozen more questions I didn’t have time to ponder. Why hadn’t Chase come himself? Did he think I’d be less hostile if his brother showed up instead? If that was his logic, it backfired spectacularly.

And then there was the matter of Chase’s brother himself. He was different from the rogue I’d fought earlier. Stronger, faster, and with a cocky attitude that set my teeth on edge. If he hadn’t underestimated me, the fight might have gone very differently.

I quickened my pace, ducking into side streets and alleys to avoid any unwanted attention. I needed to get as far away as possible before Chase’s brother woke up.

As I walked, the weight of my decisions began to settle heavily on my shoulders. Running away had been my solution for years, but how long could I keep this up? Every time I thought I was safe, something—or someone—dragged me back into the chaos I was trying to escape.

And now, with Ash, the stakes were higher than ever. I couldn’t afford to make mistakes, not when his life depended on me.

But even as I tried to focus on the next steps, my mind kept circling back to Chase. Layla’s bond with him wasn’t something I could ignore, no matter how much I wanted to. It pulled at me, a constant ache that grew stronger the farther I tried to run.

And now his brother’s words echoed in my mind: "You’re the little wolf my brother is obsessed with."

Obsessed.

The thought made my stomach churn. Did Chase send his brother because he thought I’d listen? Or was this just his way of keeping tabs on me without risking another confrontation? Either way, it didn’t matter. I couldn’t let him, or anyone else, drag me back into the mess I’d fought so hard to escape.

I reached the edge of town as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The motel, the bus routes, the careful trail I’d planned—it was all useless now. Chase’s brother had found me too easily. I needed a new plan.

There was only one option left. The kind of place I’d sworn I’d never go.

The human world had its shadows, but the supernatural world had its abyss. If I wanted to truly disappear, I’d have to dive into those dark, forgotten corners. Places where neither wolves nor vampires dared to tread.

It wouldn’t be easy. I’d need help—dangerous help. But if it meant keeping Ash safe and severing the ties that bound me to this madness, I’d do it.

"Just a little longer," I whispered to Ash as I held him close. "I’ll find us a safe place, I promise."

But even as I said the words, a nagging doubt tugged at my mind. Could I really outrun two worlds that seemed determined to claim me? Or was I just delaying the inevitable?

For now, it didn’t matter. I’d keep running, keep fighting, until there was nothing left to fight for.

And if Chase—or Drake—thought they could corner me, they were in for a rude awakening. This little wolf wasn’t going down without a fight.

The only place I could think of that would offer any kind of safety was the witch territories. It was a place that vampires and wolves alike dared not venture. Rumors ran wild about it, stories of dark magic and unrelenting spells that kept even the strongest of supernatural creatures at bay. Some said witches could curse anyone who entered their realm, trapping them in endless loops of torment. Others whispered about their ability to manipulate the very elements.

But the one thing that was certain? No vampire would willingly step foot in those territories. And wolves? They steered clear, too. The witches were powerful, and their land was their domain. No one wanted to risk angering them, no matter how strong they were.

It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was the best I had. I needed to get Ash out of here, and fast. I couldn’t keep running forever, not with him in tow. The witches might have their own agenda, and I wasn’t naive enough to think I’d be welcome with open arms, but it was the only place left where I could hide.

I glanced down at Ash, who was peacefully sleeping in my arms, completely unaware of the danger looming over us. His tiny chest rose and fell steadily, and for a moment, I allowed myself to feel a flicker of peace. For him, I would endure anything. No matter what I had to face, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt him.

But the fear, that nagging dread, crept back in as I thought about the witches. Would they help us? Or would I find myself facing an even worse fate? What if their power was too much for me to handle? The world of magic and curses was something I had barely scratched the surface of, and I had no idea of what was going to unfold.