My heart pounded against my ribs as Liam's car sped down the dark winding roads away from Blue Mountain Pack territory. Every second felt like balancing on the edge of a knife. Freedom tantalized me just ahead, while the threat of capture loomed behind.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Julian's car in pursuit, his face twisted with possessive rage. The memory of his unexpected visit to my room just hours before kept replaying in my mind.
"They'll figure out I'm gone by now," I said, breaking the tense silence. "Julian will know I've escaped."
Liam's knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. "We have a good head start. They're all at the ceremony."
I wasn't convinced. Julian's obsessive declaration—"This isn't over"—echoed in my mind. Would he really just let me go?
"What about the pack borders?" I asked. "Won't they have guards?"
"We're taking a maintenance road," Liam replied. "It's rarely guarded, especially during important events."
