ely s

ght. Harder. More demanding. As if Kael's side of the connection had finally started to react to the distance I had for

pressing a hand

t," I w

n't listen.

irror looked pale and tense. There were dark shadows under my eyes. I barely recognized myself. The soft, patient Luna who used to sm

ed str

ed mov

hing that belo

round me with ordinary purpose - opening shops, carrying coffee, talking on their phones. Their normal lives felt almost

andwritten job notices were pinned there. Cleaning work. A part-time café position

identity had been s

t a woman who

the café notice

. A sharp wave of emotion that wasn't entirely mine crashed through me - frustration, restlessness, a

teeth and k

t get to

ct me and then punish

a pair of better shoes. Paying with my own money felt strange. In the pack, everythin

hes away, made a cup of instant coffee, and sat at the small desk. My phone lay beside m

d and looked at the

not cal

not g

l not

e. But they were the only

arm lighting and a steady flow of customers. I stood across the street for several minutes, watching. Ordinary peopl

uild some

it was

if it

breath catch. For a few seconds I could almost feel him. Not his thoughts, but his emot

sufferi

iven me satisfaction. Instead

ked back to the motel before I coul

My wolf was pacing inside me, unhappy and confused. She didn't understand why

I told her quietly

dn't s

wned. Planning what I would say if I went to ask about the café job tomorrow. Forcing myself to eat

I lay down on the bed a

ght before. Deeper. More insistent. It felt like

heart and spoke into the d

t of everyone. You don't

d in response, almo

yes and refus

would go to

take another st

ould keep ch

e bond tried to

till loved him enoug

d not