UMN

rem

to my mouth. "You're nothing but a beautiful lie-a pretty

frantically, but

k and steel, "no matter how much you struggle, I'll make da

ks as I fought, fought, f

phas, also reject

t to watch me wince. Dante forced the ice deeper, watchi

ream until my

ese bonds, both phy

really looked at them-I knew the

't see me

aw a m

saw a

hing Agatha wan

to believe it-had

that no longer claimed me as their own. Each step sent waves of pain t

gu

avy with finality. That's what

like something broken beyond repair. The forest that had once been my hom

y wolf, once strong and proud, now whimpered deep within me, wounde

red, forcing myself forward. Wha

I he

iliar laughter that ma

the trees. Men-large, cruel, their eyes gleaming with sick amusement.

them, radiant in her

tilted her head. The smile she wore made my stomach twist into

r voice dripping with false sym

w she'd use it to diminish me, to make me feel plasti

was happening. Had she followed me? Why

my voice a hoarse whisper

cky ground. I caught her scent-expensive perfume mixed w

her pout exaggerated. "You're smart, are

strength I didn'

lips, her nail digging in slightly. "I really

ncts screaming danger. Too late, I rea

t forced all the air from my lungs. I doubled over,

n myself. Boots connected with my ribs, a sickening crack reverberating

hey laughed. A

he looked... pleased. Satisfied. Like she was wa

ed. What did I ever

ng. Her fingers grasped my chin, forcing me to look

was vicious, slicing through the last shreds of my dignity

m fall. Not in front of her. Not when she was alr

e words tasting like blood in my mo

deeper rage, perhaps, or the bit

e worst part, isn't it?" She cooed. "You were just there. An unknown

ly to stand back up, smoothing her perfect dr

amused by my misery, entert

is... They'll realize the truth." Even as I said their names, I felt the a

of laughter, her eyes glea

gonna feel guilty?" She leaned closer, her voice dropping to

eart, but something deeper-my faith, per

act moment when ho

he lo

ed on their names, my closest

ing hysterically, as if I'd told

" She wiped a fake tear from her eye, her amusement genuine

replayed moments I'd shared with Jess and Ivy-secrets whispered in the dark,

was too mu

s adored you?" She leaned in, voice dripping in mock sympathy

re like poison, seeping into every crack in my

nto my ear. "Now, eve

ting from her like heat. "The Logans

head. "You're just a st

hen I no

ed

agged cliffs

. This wasn't just about humiliation. Th

nted m

n in my body, but a sharp kick to my ribs sent

lips curling into a smil

ye, Ba

h

shov

I

My heart pounded in my chest, faster and fas

olor-blue sky, green trees, gray ro

no

w rushed toward me, p

life flashed before my eyes

er echoing throu

arms, listening to his lazy jok

r back when I was tired, his touc

when he thought I wasn't looking, betray

go

woman who hated me

final, desperate scream-n

! GIVE ME A S

them all my rage, all my sorrow, all my d

h

swallowed