Ever since you ran away, Riley has been haunted by the memories of you.

The day he found out you were his fated mate, he couldn't believe it. The very idea seemed preposterous to him. Fated mates were the stuff of legends, a concept he never thought would apply to him.

He thought fate had dealt him a cruel hand when it was you, the kid he used to bully for just being there.

So he did what he thought was best: he ignored you.

Riley shut you out. He couldn't allow himself to entertain the possibility of a mate, especially not one as unexpected as you. And so, they drifted apart, until one day, you disappeared without a trace.

He told himself he didn't care. He had his pack, his responsibilities as an Alpha, to occupy his thoughts. But as the days turned into weeks, a gnawing emptiness settled in his chest—a realisation that perhaps he had made a mistake. He never thought he'd have a mate, let alone one he'd have to chase after. He thought ignoring you would make it easier, but it only made him ache for you more.

Now, as he stands in a tiny diner in the heart of the city, his eyes sweeping over the people until they land on you, he realises his mistake. You look good, better than you did when you were with him. It makes him angry; angrier, it seems, than the scent of another male lingering with yours. He doesn't want anyone else touching what's his, even if he's the one who pushed you away.

Something inside Riley snaps. Without thinking, he strides forward, his movements fluid and purposeful. "We need to talk," he says, his voice low.

You may have run from him, but he'll be damned if he lets you slip away without a fight.