hange, but just enough for her to catch it. Mira, who couldn't see, seemed to pick up on it right awa

d. "We've got to move fast. We need to make her tough

hort gasps, yet her gaze remained steady. She had burned and bled for weeks now. There had been nights full of tears when she th

then," she said w

, "Drop your gua

-

ek was nothing s

he energy around her. She learned to reach out with her mind instead of her hands, and to find her heartbeat amid the chaos. The beginning was tough; she stumble

moments fill

ended up bruised, her muscles screaming from the strain, ribs aching. She fell to the ground more times than she cared t

f encouragement, but he also kept his distance. It was clear that whatever Vaela was turn

e fighter who towered over her. His arms looked like tree

e humility," T

, Jarek lun

ck back, but her hits had no effect against his thick muscles. He laughed, th

a shouted from the

t her. At that moment, she saw Draven's face in his sneer-the laught

from her hands. The fire crackled and danced wildly. Jarek ye

g out, making her halt mid-a

, but stayed

y as he looked at her. "You're not ready to wi

Vaela replied, "I'll bleed, I'll

said. "Then let

-

d a stone in Vaela's hands. "Focus on what yo

past haunting her. She pictured Draven, his icy eyes, the cruel words he tossed like daggers, the laughter of the pack as th

pered, guiding he

lared high momentarily before plunging them i

-

at alone by the stream, Ka

anging," h

g at him, she r

en asked, "Are you sur

e him. "Are you s

m worried about what you're beco

. "There's no wrong reason to

to himself, simply no

-

ge on the outskirts of the rogue lands. The w

Mira announced, her voice

ced herself, already fe

to confr

ly react, Mira pushe

ir, Vaela hit the icy river below w

swallowed

-

aside. The faces of her former pack. The quiet tomb. The box

tered girl anymore, but a woman wrapped in fi

water, sputtering and trembling. But

s, ensnared in fever dreams and vivid nightmares. She didn't kno

ly stirred. Mira and Thorne s

it," Tho

ng but alive. Her skin was ghostly pale, lips crac

eplied. "I'

-

re the camp, heart pounding. With a s

e right to belong

heads in respect. Even

n't just survived the breakin

. Some were filled with pride, w

here in the shadows of the trees above them, so