Akira vanished into the forest shadows. Moonbeams sliced through trees like silver blades as she ran—away from Leon, away from the pack, toward _Jaden_. Her heart pounded in her throat, breaths sharp. _Lara would've warned me._ Akira's heels tangled in roots. She kicked them off, barefoot now, wolf-sense sharp . Leaves crushed underfoot as she sprinted, the forest a blur of dark and silver.
Footsteps crashed behind. _Leon._ She didn't look back. Akira zigzagged between pines, moonlight flashing like strobes. _Can't outrun him._ But she'd try.
Suddenly—Roxas' men. Net. Trap. Akira snarled, shifting mid-leap . Claws slashed. A man yelled, dropping like a stone. Another swung a bat—Akira ducked, jaws closing inches from his face. _Wolf's rage._
Leon burst through. "_Back_," he snarled. His wolf eyes glowed blue-hot as he slammed into the men. Akira didn't wait. _Run._
Roxas laughed low. "Share, Leon." "She's promised."
Leon's growl cut him off. "_Mine."_ Akira heard it—the crackle of alpha dominance. Roxas snarled but backed off.
Akira hit a clearing. _Jaden?_ Moonlight pooled like milk. A small wolf pounced—_Jaden!_ Akira nursed him, wolf-form tight around her baby bro. "Shh, I'm here."
A _different_ growl. Wrong scent.
Roxas' men closed in . "Got her."
Akira snarled. _Protect Jaden._
Leon tracked Akira's scent. _Where…_
Akira's scream shredded night .
_Jaden!_
Leon exploded into the clearing. "_Akira!"_
Roxas had her. Blade at Jaden's throat .
"Let him go," Akira begged, wolf-eyes on Leon. _Don't._
Leon's eyes turned wolf . _"Mine."_ The word hung like thunder.
Akira mated-scented Leon. _No._ Jaden yelled, shifting human—"Aki!"
Roxas sneered. "_Now_ she's—"
Leon's roar cut him off . The clearing shook. Men fled.
Roxas hissed, "This isn't over."
Akira grabbed Jaden, checking cuts. Leon loomed.
"Yours?" Akira spat. "_Never._"
Leon's smile was wolfish. "Want proof?"
Akira's pulse spiked. _Mate bond._
_Jaden trembled._ "Aki…"
"It's okay." Akira stood, shielding him. Leon's gaze dropped to Jaden—_my pack, protect_—then snapped back to Akira. _Claim._