around us thinned as the road stretched into unfamiliar territory, the familiar scents of the forest repla

n her shoulders as she drove. "There are certain herbs and supplies I can only get i

ing markets, strange food, and noisy streets. It was a place full of mystery and energy, completely different from our quiet, tuc

umans there?" I asked, trying to mask

led. "That's likely, yes. Just

ed, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror more than usual, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. She wa

y, Mom?" I a

t. I just... don't want us to be here longer than necessary. We'll g

in my chest. I wanted to push her, to ask what she was worried about, but

gher than I'd ever seen in our small pack village. It felt cold and crowded, and even though we h

me - cars honking, people chattering, and the occasional bark of street vendors sh

ulder, grounding me. "Stay

protectively around me, guiding me through the maze of humans. I watched them as they passed by, ea

ble," I whispere

d, her voice gentle but distant, li

above the door, and the windows were filled with rows of glass jars, dried plants, and the faint shimmer of wh

y mom with a slight bow. He was an older man with a l

hatting with him in low tones. They spoke quickly, as though they'd done this a hundred times befor

I didn't recognize, small bottles filled with shimmering liquid, and stones that sparkled under the dim light. My finge

haven't heard anything?"

g my way before leaning in closer to my mom. "No signs of them her

dn't understand. I felt a chill run down my spine. Mom

atching my worried express

m here, and something told me I wasn't quite ready to hear her answer anyway. We left

ight slip away. We walked in silence for a few minutes, my mother's pace quicker tha

inally whispered, unable

ugh her eyes were still guarded. "I just want

one foll

t the flicker of doubt in

assing by, seemed to set my mom on edge. I felt like I was seeing a different side of her - one that was cau

s grip on my shoulder tightened

ch a glimpse of two figures standing across the street. They were dressed in dark clothing, their eyes fixed in

" I whispered, fear c

atbelt before she was in the driver's seat, her hands white-knuckled on the wheel as she started the engine

trailed off, not even

ied, her voice bar

any pack, dangerous and unpredictable. They lived outside the laws we followed, often attack

do the

the road ahead. "I didn't think they'd be this close to the city.

rowds, the danger lurking in the faces of strangers... it was all too much. I'd felt safe with her

over me, like a shadow I couldn't shake. The perfect, predictable life

pered, glanci

sweeth

. going t

tly, her eyes softening. "As long as we

to hide. And as I stared out the window, watching the city f