Page 24 of Taken By the Pack

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I pace a few steps in front of her grave.

“I don’t get it. I don’t get why I’m still here, still fucking chasing after her, when it’s obvious I’m not good enough. But I can’t stop. I can’t stop wanting her.”

I laugh again, the sound bitter and broken.

“I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. I just—fuck—I miss you. I miss you so goddamn much, Lila. You were the one who kept me grounded. You were the one who told me that I could be more than just another angry Alpha. But now… now I’m just here, staring at your grave, hoping to hear something—anything—that tells me I’m not fucked beyond repair.”

I pause, my voice cracking. “I need you, Lila. I need you to tell me it’s gonna be okay. That I can go after Grace. That I’m not just a fucking fool. That I deserve to be happy.”

I stay there for a while, letting the silence wrap around me, trying to hold on to whatever part of her is still with me. But in the end, there’s nothing but silence.

“Goodbye, Lila. I love you. I’ll always love you.”

And with that, I turn, wiping my eyes, and leave the cemetery.

7

ASH

After hours on the road, the coastal breeze of Driftwood Cove finally hits me. It’s not as big a place as I was expecting, but it’s got a charm about it.

The air smells like saltwater and old wood, and the town sprawls along the edge of the sea, small and a little run-down, but there’s something about it. Something… quiet.

I pull into the gas station, barely awake, rubbing my face. My back aches from the long drive. I stretch my arms over my head, cracking my neck, and grunt a little as I straighten up.

I need food. Something to wake me up before I get lost in this sleepy little place.

Walking into the station, I grab a bag of chips, a candy bar, and a soda. As I’m heading to the counter, the door dings, and I glance up.

A girl walks in. I freeze for a second.

She’s got brown hair, curly as hell, flowing down her back all wild and untamed. She’s holding a box of chocolates, looking at the shelf for a second, then glancing over at me.

Amber eyes. They’re like fucking fire. I swear to God, they glow. Then she smiles.

Shit.

I don’t know if it’s the smile or the eyes or the whole fucking vibe she’s giving off, but for a moment, the world just stops.

Like, time slows down. She’s real, but she looks like a goddamn dream.

And then, like nothing, she turns her attention back to the cashier. She pays for the chocolates, glancing up at me one last time, and that smile?

It fucking stays with me.

I blink, snapping myself out of it.

“Hey,” I say to the cashier, forcing myself to get my shit together. The guy looks young, barely out of high school. He glances at me and nods.

“Hey. You new here or somethin’?” he asks, smiling like he’s been bored for hours.

“Yeah,” I reply, shaking my head a little, trying to get my bearings. “Just passing through. Thought I’d check out the place for a while.”

“Well, you’re in the right spot,” he says. “Driftwood Cove’s a chill town. Real quiet, you know? Great vibes.”

He shrugs, glancing over at the door where the girl just walked out. “My name’s Miles.”

I nod, leaning against the counter. “What’s it like? Nothing like the city, huh?”

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