Chapter 6: Running Away
Meredith's POV
Meredith stirred from her sleep, her body aching and weak as she slowly blinked her eyes open. The first thing she noticed was the softness beneath her—a bed, far more comfortable than anything she had ever known. Then she felt it. Warmth pressed against both sides of her, hard bodies—too close for comfort. Her breath caught as she turned her head to the side and saw a man lying beside her. No, not just any man.
He was handsome, his features masculine, with muscles rippling even in his sleep. His skin was bare, and she quickly realized he was completely naked. Her pulse quickened as panic set in. Turning to the other side, she saw another equally breathtaking man, also naked, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept.
Soon, fragmented memories began flooding her mind. The Annual Purge. The dark forest. Running. The growls, the chase. Three of them surrounding her. Fangs sinking into her flesh. Pain and something else—something far more intense than anything she'd ever felt.
“Oh, God,” she whispered breathlessly. “Werewolves.”
Meredith's brown eyes widened as the truth hit her like a slap. She tried to sit up, but her muscles protested with every move. A groan escaped her lips, and that’s when she noticed both men beside her stirring. Alpha Damien was the first to wake. His golden eyes flashed as they landed on her, sharp and alert in an instant.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but there was something else in his gaze—a glint that made her heart skip a beat. Xavier followed, his gaze softer but no less intense. Both men sat up, their movements slow and deliberate, as if trying not to startle her. But it was too late. Meredith scrambled away, her back pressing against the headboard as panic gripped her.
"Stay away from me," she gasped. "You're... you're werewolves. You bit me. You’re going to kill me!"
Damien's brow furrowed, and he shook his head. "No, Meredith," he said softly. "We're not going to hurt you..."
“How did you know my name?” She froze, her eyes darting between the two men. "What did you do to me?"
Xavier reached for her but stopped when he saw her flinch. Hesitant at first, he licked his lips and gently said, “We marked you.” His voice was soothing. "Not to harm you, but to claim you as our mate."
Meredith's breath came in ragged bursts as the weight of his words sank in. "Mate?" she repeated. "What does that even mean?"
Damien moved closer, his gaze locking with hers. He sighed. "I see you don’t remember. The Annual Purge isn’t about killing. It's a way for us to find our true mates. When we bit you, we were connecting our souls with yours. You’re no longer just human. You're becoming one of us. A werewolf."
Her hands flew to her neck, where the marks still tingled. "No... no, that can't be. I'm weak, I'm just human. I can't be like you. I don’t want to be like you."
"You're not weak," Xavier said firmly, his hand gently cupping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "The bite cleanses you of your human identity. Soon, your own wolf will emerge, and you'll be stronger—stronger than you’ve ever imagined. You’re one of us now, whether you like it or not. You've been chosen, and your destiny has been decided.”
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why did you choose me?"
Xavier leaned closer, almost kissing her. "We didn’t choose you. Fate did."
Damien’s fingers brushed her cheek, a gesture far too tender for the storm of emotions raging inside her. "I’m sorry, but this is not a dream. You’re ours now."
She swallowed hard, realizing there was no going back. Damien patiently watched her, his eyes softening as he noticed her gaze darting around the room. Her breath was still uneven, her body trembling slightly from the overwhelming flood of strange sensations. Damien leaned in closer, gently kissing her cheek with his soft lips.
"How are you feeling, Sweet Pup?" he asked.
Meredith swallowed hard, her mind still piecing together the fragmented images from the previous night. She remembered the power in their touch, how her body had responded to them in ways she never imagined. And now, here she was, marked by three of them, claimed as their mate. A part of her wanted to draw back in fear, but another part felt drawn to them, bound in a way she still couldn’t understand.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked around. “There are only two of you here..." she murmured. "Where's the other one?"
Damien and Xavier exchanged a glance before Damien answered. "Magnus is in his own room for now," he said. "We thought it would be best to give you some space. The bedroom will be reconstructed soon to accommodate all of us... for the time being."
Meredith’s heart pounded. "All of us?" The thought of sharing a room, let alone a bed, with all three of them was almost too much to bear.
“Yes,” both men spoke gently.
Silence lingered before Meredith responded. "I want to go home. Away from here. Away from... all of this."
Xavier shook his head softly. "I’m sorry, my Gorgeous Mate, but you can’t go home anymore."
Damien leaned closer, his hand still resting on her cheek. "The Moonlit Pack is your home now, and forever."
Meredith's chest tightened. Her eyes filled with tears, but she fought them back. "I didn’t ask for this."
Damien’s eyes softened, and he leaned down, pressing his forehead gently against hers. "Neither did we."
Meredith closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm of emotions surging within her. She inhaled sharply before asking, "Can you… give me a moment alone?"
Surprised by her request, Damien and Xavier exchanged glances, but they both nodded without hesitation. "Of course," Damien murmured, standing from the bed. "We’ll be right outside."
With that, they both left the room, the soft thud of the door closing behind them. Finally alone, Meredith sat up, her breath quickening as she glanced around the room, searching for a way out. Her eyes soon landed on the window. It was her only chance—her only way to escape this nightmare. Without thinking twice, she moved to the window, fumbling with the latch as quietly as possible.
The cool breeze of early morning hit her face as she pushed the window open, the scent of the forest and fresh dew filling the air. She quickly climbed out, her bare feet hitting the ground softly. She scanned the area, desperate for a path that would lead her far from the Moonlit Pack. But before she could take another step, her body froze. A figure stood just ahead, bathed in the soft light of daybreak. His piercing eyes met hers. He was leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed over his muscular chest, as if he had been waiting for her.
"Running away already, Little Wolf?"