a

ying goodbye. Not to him, b

sedan waiting near the border to carry me away

the throb in my healing leg with every step. The moon was high, a cold

ded: the ancient Laurel tree. It was the highest point in the territory,

had

h hitched, and my heart slammed

anches. The moonlight caught the silver thread of Chlo

Ethan's side. He had his arm around her waist, his face s

oying, artificial scent of vanilla and ros

finger over the rough bark. "You carved my name

make my toes curl. Now, it sounded like

correcting its mistakes,

Correcting mistakes? Is that what

red in sticky sap. *Our love is like this tree, Ava,* he had promised, his eyes brig

i

" Chloe sighed, resting her head on his c

reed. He kissed t

eak, like a bone. It was quiet, final-like a fra

es, my presence breaking th

lie," I said, my voice raspy

s hand instinctively tightening on Chloe's waist as i

ere?" Chloe spat. "I

t the last of my

n't bear to see the pity or the annoyance in his ey

ap still oozing like amber blood. Underneath, barely

he ground. I picked it up. The st

d, stepping forward, his

agged it down, gouging deep into the living wood. I scratched out his name. I sc

shrieked. "You're

is chest, sobbing theatrically. "Make her

trace of the Alpha Command, a weight that usuall

haking. "There is no memory," I whis

nto her pocket and pulled out a ring-a simple silver band with the Moo

t at me. "Take your trash! I don

t with a dull thud a

ad meant everything to me o

tumbled. I threw my hands out to catch myself, but I crashed into the stone altar that sat

ered in silver co

made c

my palms and arms, sizzling like acid against raw nerve endings. It felt like dipping

n agony, the silver trinkets scatteri

sped, the pai

cond, the bond flared. He took a step, his han

pered. "Ethan, I'm

e rising from my burns. Then he looked at Chloe, who was standi

cold. The hesi

ped his arms around Chloe, shield

he said, his voic

is shoulder at m

an the silver ever could. "You are no longer my ma