ER

s do no

y chest that makes me so tired all the time, but now it is not so strong, and I am beginning not only to notice but also to feel other sensations again. For i

more afrai

's t

ve nothing back at first. Then the undergrowth shift

man, not

ly the lower half of his face. His dark hair lies messy across his forehead with no intention of being straight. The collar of a dark shirt is partially open to reveal one sid

his nose. His head tips a fracti

leeding,"

gh, the kind that does n

he back of my wrist across my face and feel the grit of dirt and dried tears. "You're

r patrols are still celebrating. They won't notice a

ies a scent I do not recognize, something dry and sharp, like sun-heated stone

the border," he says

iation is immediate and ugly.

agrees. "

pect to need. There is no pity in it. No soft concern. Only a st

," he says af

't, the f

et and small after the bond broke, lifts her head a fraction at th

you to

rd the direction of the pack ho

s about to say next. I have never seen

do

wth behind me. Viktor's voice carrie

err

cool and assessing crosses his expression. When he looks a

time,"

ees and the pressure in the air lifts as if it had ne

ng hard. Mia is right behind him, hair wild, eyes wide. She rea

ulder. "I was inside. I didn't see unti

t her hold on a moment longer because t

trees, jaw tight. "Someone else was he

oward Mia. "A rogue. He

et his eyes and do not look away. Whatever he sees there makes

e cabin. We're going th

is the only ans

the fire that is already being lit in the hearth. At the sight of me, Albert gets up right away from his leather chair. His eye l

econds, I just enjoy its pleasant effect on me, and I let it fill me. The second I feel t

l right

he dirt on my dress and the scrapes on my palms

ays close. Viktor remains near the doo

she does not offer to anyone. Her expression is the one sh

s will have heard. An Alpha's daughter rejected by her own Beta in f

turns toward h

k. An Alpha's son, or at least a high-ranking Beta. Somet

till a dull weight under my ribs, but

t a stai

l. Camilla's mouth

rer. "And I am not going to be handed to the f

door. Mia's hand find

peak to me that way. You have no idea w

ools to keep me safe. I want to go back. Not for classes. I want to train. Away

when I was small and trying to convince him I was fine

n trauma--" V

see Eric every day. I will hear the same whispers. I will keep being the gi

e fire pops once in the hearth. Fin

ired trainers. The best we have. You will have a year. On your

romi

peak again. Albert'

soap. Sleep comes in short pieces. Every time I surface, I hear Eric's voice again, calm and final,

e territory himself. The sky is still pale. The b

, I look once more at the tree line we left behind. The stran

explain why h

his mouth has stayed wit