er jaw clenched, and her hands were locked onto the steering wheel. She kept checkin

ldn't help. I'd never seen her this serious, and it made my stomach twist with worry. The world outside the car grew

we're safe?" I whispered, my

little. "I'm sure, Amelia," she said, her voice a

in. Her eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror, then back

hadowy. My heart leapt into my throat, and I felt my hands ins

wn, accelerating, her gaze flicking from the road to the mirrors, searching, scanning. Another shadow darted ou

hispered, a tremor in he

car, sending it skidding sideways. My mother fought to keep control, gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity a

at's hap

d, trying to steady the car. "We'r

d it, I could see t

. I felt shards of glass spray over me, small and sharp, as something heav

but intense, "listen to me. If anything hap

, Mo

heart pounding. She was serious. I'd never heard her use

ch churned as claws raked across the metal, the shriek of tearing metal making me want to cover my e

n a blur, i

d into the side of the car, flipping it. We were thrown sideways, my head smacking against the door

d, trying to focus, to get my bearings. The car was tilted on its side, the wind

alright?" she whisp

owing hard. "I.

A figure was approaching, slow and menacing. He was tall, muscular, with glowing amber eyes

r seatbelt, forcing the door open with a grunt of pain. She stumbled

er voice low and dangerous.

"Oh, Mira, you know you can't protect her for

ing through her as she let her wolf surfa

of a trained fighter, her movements swift and controlled. But the rogue was relentless, his strikes brutal,

s gaze locking onto me. Panic surged through me, my

ack, watching my mother fight with a desperation I'd never seen. But she was outnumbered, her st

reamed, her voice cut

ear in her eyes, the urgency, told me everything I needed to know. With a so

n ragged gasps. I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to keep moving. The i

a terrible, gut-wrenching scream, one that made my b

, my voice breaki

eamed down my face as I pushed myself forward, my chest heaving with sobs. The pain i

eps. The rogues were following. The

ing with fear and grief. I was alone. Truly alone. A

elt heavier than the last. My mother's face, her l

rkness, my voice barely a whisp

er with every step. But I kept going, because that's wha

h, a reminder of her courage. She'd fought for me, given

he chilling memories of what I'd lost, I clung to that one small hope