Chapter 5

Maggie's heart pounded in her chest as she hurriedly waved her hand in the air, desperately trying to flag down a passing cab.

Her eyes darted across the busy street, searching for any sign of an available vehicle. 

Finally, her gaze locked onto a yellow taxi approaching from a distance. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, her arm outstretched, as she caught the driver's attention.

The cab slowed down, and Maggie, adrenaline coursing through her veins, rushed to the backseat. She flung open the door and gestured frantically for her children Luke and Leah, to join her. They hurriedly followed suit, their faces filled with concern and confusion.

"Hurry” Maggie said to the cab driver.

Maggie's breath was ragged as she settled into her seat, quickly buckling her seatbelt. 

The cab driver, a middle-aged man with a graying beard, glanced at Maggie through the rearview mirror. "Where to, miss?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Just go!" Maggie practically shouted, her voice on the edge of hysteria.

The driver raised an eyebrow, but he nodded and pressed down on the accelerator. The cab shot forward, merging into the stream of traffic.

As the driver sped away, and Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to look out the back window, but she couldn't see Raphael anywhere.

She hugged Luke and Leah tightly, tears streaming down her face. She knew she had to come up with a better plan. She couldn't keep running forever.

As they raced through the bustling city streets, horns blaring and buildings blurring past, Maggie's mind raced to make sense of the situation.

The cab weaved through traffic, the driver expertly manoeuvring between cars and cutting through side streets to avoid congestion. Time seemed to blur as the cityscape transformed into a blur of lights and motion.

Maggie's hands clenched tightly together in her lap, her knuckles turning white. She was still turning her head and looking back to be certain they weren’t being followed.

The weight of seeing Raphael pressed heavily upon her shoulders, but she knew she couldn't break down now. She had to stay strong for Luke and Leah.

Raphael had suspected it for some time now. The way Maggie had looked at him when they had been together, the way she had hesitated when he had asked her if they were his.

He had tried to ignore it, to push it to the back of his mind. After all, he was a werewolf, and he had been banished from the pack. He couldn't take care of children. But now that he had seen them, he knew he couldn't just let them go.

He knew he had to find Maggie and talk to her, to convince her that he could be a good father to their children. He had to make things right.

He took a deep breath and started to walk down the empty street, his senses on high alert. 

As he walked, he thought about what he would say to Maggie. He knew she was scared, but he had to make her see that he was different from the other werewolves and was no danger and, that he could protect them.

As the cab screeched to a halt in front of Maggie's apartment building, she wasted no time in rushing out of the vehicle. Luke and Leah followed suit, their eyes filled with concern and worry. The trio hurriedly made their way to the entrance, their footsteps echoing in the dimly lit hallway.

Just as Maggie fumbled for her keys, her phone began to ring in her pocket. Startled, she hastily retrieved it and glanced at the screen. It was Sarah. With a deep breath, she answered the call, trying to steady her voice.

"Sarah, hi," Maggie greeted, her words slightly breathless. "I'm sorry I had to leave in a hurry."

Sarah's voice crackled through the phone, laced with worry. 

"Maggie, where are you? You sound like you've been running forever. Is everything okay?"

Maggie's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing to come up with an explanation that wouldn't raise suspicion. 

"I'm fine, really," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of defensiveness. "I just had a last-minute emergency, something personal came up. I couldn't explain earlier."

Maggie's voice quivered slightly as she spoke, her words careful and deliberate.

 "Sarah, I'm sorry for asking this, but... can I and the kids come over to your place for the night? I promise I'll explain everything to you when I get there."

There was a momentary pause on the other end of the line, as Sarah processed Maggie's request.

 "Uhmm, sure," Sarah replied, her voice tinged with concern. "The spare key is just by the base outside. You know when you see it”.

Relief flooded over Maggie, grateful that Sarah was willing to offer her a safe haven. 

Sarah's tone softened, concern evident in her voice. "Are you sure you're alright? You sound shaken."

Maggie quickly composed herself, not wanting to burden Sarah with the weight of her worries. "It's just been a hectic day, you know? But don't worry, I'll be okay."

"Thank you, Sarah," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'll be there soon” Maggie said

“Alright catch you later” replied Sarah before she hung up.

Taking a deep breath, Maggie gathered some belongings and prepared to face the world outside once again. She knew she couldn't delay any longer—she needed to make her way to Sarah's place before Raphael finds out where she stays.

As Maggie stepped out of her apartment and locked the door behind her, the weight of the unknown bore down on her shoulders. 

Reaching Sarah's building, Maggie scanned the surroundings for the spare key. She spotted it resting by the base, exactly where Sarah had said it would be. She picked it up and let herself into the building, climbing the familiar staircase to Sarah's apartment.

Upon reaching the door, Maggie hesitated for a moment. She took a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly as she inserted the key and turned the lock. The door swung open, revealing a warm and inviting interior.