de

wasn't what she was looking

e here. I'll leave now," she said

to

ing tone ma

irectly in front of her, his eyes fixed

smell it?

he felt. "That's why I came here. I thought it was

hung betw

at her for

wlers Pack, reject you, St

ion, showing no sign of

ords settled inside her, leavi

nd cau

she wh

tely, shaking her head

a hand against her chest, fingers curling against her ribs. Her m

ng made

old s

hed across his face w

on in the

uld have revealed itself then. Her scent. The pull. Everything. He had spent the entire y

nown for

tire

nt every day o

f Stella's eyes. She blinked

mpatience creeping into his voice. "I've al

over her, brief

e Moon Goddess would bin

s jaw t

ent properly. You have nothing. No wolf, no status, no f

eath the pain, something stronger began to rise. She had spent her whole life apolog

red. So ti

he said. "I don'

birthday." Her voice was soft and

said n

"And you spent it looking at me lik

ut a shar

give me one day w

ssion did

you've been afraid of this since the moment yo

ld his

er. That's just

t was quick, controlled, and gone

, reject you, Caden

last word. She was done p

you to kno

is gaze on

worse th

ehind his eyes. Without a word, he turned and walked away. His foots

to steady her breathing. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, catching hersel

e allowed herself to feel the hurt without hiding it. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she had always known that life could fi

between the branches, the sk

a birthda

as any

pulled Stella close and held her tightly, both arms wrappe

shoulder. She wasn't crying anymore. She was just breathing. The ache in her chest

as serene

pack house, a group of p

closed

pression had changed. The softness was still

their birthday?" she a

faint sound that

wler, app

ssing the words. "He couldn't wait one m

ms and glared at

inally. "He's not worth

ed silent f

en hurt," s

ve her

a admitted. "I just hat

hadn't meant to admit that somewhere inside her, despite

She understood what

again," she announced, "I'm going

sarcasticall

said, opening her mouth in

er sai

" Lina

oice suddenly echo

hts

e, dream about me." She pressed her hands together beneat

la said. "I'll dream abo

d and turn

rec

Ste

ned. When it faded, Stella lay still and stared at the ceiling. The ache was there, but it

y toward Lina, who was alre

iven her almost nothi

eeks

t of Stella's everyday life. It was still there, reminding

kept

on, the news had spread throu

going to mark K