Running from the Mate Bond Book 3: Ember
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Eleanor Moon
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55
“Well, you were the one who got into my bed, remember?”
I forced out a harsh laugh. “You said it yourself, Logan. I was young and foolish. But if you think I want you as my mate now, you’re the fool!”
Ember thought she had escaped pack-life. Four years of freedom, of living life on her own terms, until her Alpha mate, drags her right back into the world she ran away from. He’s been planning the biggest pack merger in werewolf history, building their future while she pretended he didn’t exist. Now every wall she built is crumbling. Old wounds reopen, desires resurface, and Ember must decide if reclaiming herself means walking away… or daring to stay.
The Memory
EMBER
I stared at my reflection, tilting my head as I perfected my winged eyeliner—sharp enough to kill. After blending the smoky eyeshadow, I admired the end result.
Perfect.
Exactly the way I wanted to look tonight.
Downstairs, the bass from the speakers vibrated through the house—the party already in full swing. My parents had been planning my nineteenth birthday for weeks.
My mother, practically glowing with excitement, was obsessed with the idea of me finding my mate. A whole year had passed, and my parents were getting impatient. That’s why they were throwing an even bigger party than last year, inviting every eligible alpha they knew in hopes I’d find him tonight.
I rolled my eyes.
They couldn’t wait for me to be claimed.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get out. I had spent a year building my GPA and taking on extra credits, earning myself a full scholarship to Columbia.
College. New York. The dream.
It had been a battle convincing them to let me go—werewolves didn’t typically leave pack life. But I wanted more. I wanted a human college, city lights, and freedom. And with my straight-A record, I’d secured a full ride.
I was out.
Not that I had much of a place here anyway.
My father, Alpha Jayden, was powerful, respected—the leader of one of the most established mid-tier packs in the country. The pack thrived under him. But with no male heir, the question of who would take over after him always lingered in the background.
Not that it mattered. He was still young, nowhere near stepping down. And I had no interest in taking over. Even if, technically, I could. A female alpha. It wasn’t unheard of. I had the bloodline—the strength.
But I wanted something else.
Pack life felt suffocating. The rules, the expectations, the constant spotlight…
My mother had been only eighteen when she met my father, became luna, and gave up her dream of going to college, choosing healer training and motherhood instead.
I never understood why they didn’t have another pup. I wasn’t exactly the successor they needed.
Exhaling sharply, I set the eyeliner down.
Tonight wasn’t the night to dwell on that—nor on the past.
And yet, the memories crept in anyway.
This birthday—the music, the lights, the suffocating attention—it all felt too much like last year.
My eighteenth birthday.
The night everything had changed.
I bit my lip, forcing the emotions down before they could take hold.
Not tonight, Ember.
Please…not tonight.
Unfortunately, the past had a cruel way of rewinding itself, playing on a loop I could never quite escape, and any little thing—the color of a dress, the way I did my makeup, the beat of the music—could trigger the flashbacks.
I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of my door swinging open.
“Sweetheart, aren’t you ready yet? Everyone is waiting downstairs!”
My mother’s voice was cheerful, her smile warm—completely unaware of the storm brewing inside me.
I forced a smirk, then a smile. Something to reassure her—but it didn’t reach my eyes.
If only she knew…
What I had done. What I had been through. The humiliation, the heartbreak, the pain I had buried deep. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment.
I couldn’t let my thoughts sink back into the darkness. It was all too much. I didn’t want to think about it…ever again.
I took a slow, steadying breath and opened my eyes to find my mother watching me closely.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
I forced a small, too-bright smile. “I’m okay.”
She looked satisfied, nodding as she reached for my hand.
“Come on, everyone’s waiting for you! A lot of single alphas from other packs are visiting today too. Everyone’s buzzing—waiting to see if you’ll be their mate!”
She winked playfully, as if this was exciting news.
I let out a huff, shaking my head. “Oh, Mom.”
I knew it was possible—but I wasn’t looking for it. I didn’t need a man in my life right now. And I sure as hell didn’t want a mate. I was determined to make something of my life. I would venture into the human world and build a career. I wanted to become successful, to be…free.
As for this pack?
The walls that held every painful memory?
I was ready to leave it all behind.
I was ready to breathe again.
Summoning a spark of energy, I spun on my heels, my dress twirling around me, making my mother giggle softly.
“How do I look?” I asked, flashing her my most confident smile.
Her face softened. “Beautiful. Just perfect, sweetheart.”
I grinned. “Well, I do have your genes, Mom.”
I gave her a quick, playful pat on the cheek before linking my arm through hers.
“Let’s go.”
And with that, I stepped forward—leaving the ghosts of my past where they belonged—forcing another too-bright smile.
We descended the stairs, and we were greeted by smiling faces, friends, and family alike. My mother was right. A lot of alphas were here tonight—clearly hoping for a chance to mate with one of the oldest bloodlines in the country.
I let out a small, amused laugh, shaking my head. “As if I’m some prize to be won,” I muttered.
“Of course you are, sweetheart,” my mother replied, beaming. “Anyone would be lucky to be mated to you.”
“And you know how happy it would make your father if you found your mate. He can’t wait to plan a merger.”
I shot her a look. “A merger? Seriously, Mom?”
She just winked mischievously. “Or maybe you’ll find someone to rule alongside you. You could be the big-shot she-alpha yourself.”
That made me laugh hard. “Oh, you’re too much of a romantic, Mom.” Shaking my head, I walked over to my father and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
“You look pretty, Chickpea,” he said, his voice warm.
I chuckled, rolling my eyes fondly at his old nickname for me.
“When did my little girl grow into such a beautiful young lady?” he murmured, his gaze soft, proud, as he reached for my mother, pulling her to his side.
I smiled up at him, feeling the familiar warmth of belonging—even if tonight was just another step closer to leaving.
But first, drinks.
Scanning the room, I spotted a few cute guys ogling me, lifting their glasses in silent cheers.
I winked back, smirking as I picked up a drink from a nearby tray. I wasn’t looking for love—but I did like to have a good time. It was easier that way. If I kept myself busy—flirting, drinking, dancing—my mind wouldn’t wander to places it shouldn’t go.
“I think I’m going to mingle,” I told my mother, flashing her a grin.
She hummed thoughtfully, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “That’s fine, sweetheart. But just so you know—I invited Logan.”
I nearly choked on my drink. “You did what?!”
She blinked innocently. “Well, I think it’s ridiculous that you two aren’t speaking anymore. And since you refuse to tell me why, Ella and I figured it’s time to settle this once and for all. You can’t keep avoiding each other forever.”
My stomach twisted. I set my glass down and inhaled slowly. I should have seen this coming. “And why, exactly, can’t we keep avoiding each other?” I asked, arching a brow.
She smirked, ignoring my irritation. “I just have a feeling.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Mom, you two need to get a grip. The chances of Logan and me being mates are literally zero.”
She didn’t look convinced, but I couldn’t tell her why I was almost certain he wasn’t my mate. She could never know what had happened.
I huffed, annoyed, and turned on my heel. “Get over yourself, Mom.”
And with that, I disappeared into the crowd.
LOGAN
I glanced at the rearview mirror, staring at the pack house in the distance.
I had been parked outside the New Moon Pack for a while now, debating whether to actually go inside.
I knew that I had to. But I was dreading it.
With a frustrated sigh, I ran a hand through my hair, gripping the back of my neck before exhaling slowly.
I handled everything so fucking poorly last year.
With Ember.
The guilt had lingered in the back of my mind, gnawing at me. Of course, my parents had noticed, and my mother had been pushing me ever since, asking why I was avoiding their pack, why I never visited anymore.
It wasn’t that hard to dodge them while I was away at college. But now that I was back, it was getting harder and harder to explain to them why I was still avoiding the New Moon Pack like the plague.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, inhaling sharply. Ember clearly was avoiding me as well, and honestly?
I didn’t blame her.
But now that I was back—now that I was actually here—I had no choice but to face her.
Our families had always been close, our packs allied, and I knew there had always been quiet hopes—hopes that one day, Ember and I would be mated and our packs would merge.
Even though I’d always had a soft spot for Ember—protecting her from bullies when we were kids—she had been just that. A kid I looked after. Nothing more.
Although I couldn’t deny…she had a smoking hot body. Still, the thought felt weird. I never really looked at her that way—not while I was busy partying, surrounded by college girls and city lights.
I knew I would need a luna beside me eventually. But I hadn’t put much thought into it. I figured it would happen when it happened.
Honestly? I had been enjoying myself too much in the human world to worry about werewolf matters.
But that part of my life was over now…
I got my Master’s in Finance and Management, and I was back. Ready to take over the pack from my father. To step into the role I was born for.
It was time to focus.
Time to step up.
And for that, I needed to maintain good relationships with the neighboring packs—including the New Moon Pack.
I sighed, rolling my shoulders back, trying to shake off the tension. Then, taking a deep breath, I opened the car door and stepped out.
I was going in, whether I liked it or not.
