l wasn't

further down, somewhere I didn't even know was still alive. It was lo

d-but because it felt right. It vibrated bene

couldn't move. C

rything

shed wall at my back. The br

o

eight year

dad had kissed my forehead before he left for a scout patrol. I remember the

e world

a hunting call, not the communal, familiar voices of

mom froze, mug halfway to her lips.

he mov

er the st

n her voice hit that pitch. I crawled into the little spac

pped m

tter what you hear. You don't

ce. Not when I scraped my knees, not when other wolves came through with reports

speak. I

y forehead,

n she w

ms. Roars. Glass shattering. Furniture b

n't sta

. Alone. And I loved them. Loved them too much t

crept

w ever

ted, his stance unyielding. My mother had taken up a blade-the old one she ke

ent of allegiance

n standing behind them. No

s was a show, and he was

cut throug

us the

tore from his thro

't prote

y m

he fight b

mething tied to her lineage, maybe just raw pain-and lunged. The blade cau

yed across

d

ra

ai

d into the trees. My lungs burned. Branches tore at my a

something

't look back. I ran until

I tri

ir left my lungs. I tried t

's when

e

an. Standing calmly over me like

ed almo

ou are,"

thing bli

-

w. My fingers dug into the dirt like I'd be

ia

ice. Near

me once. "Hey-hey, look at me.

felt too tight. I couldn't speak for

he wor

membe

n't let go. "The fire

y voice sounded shredded. "Th

, slow and careful

're

get me. Called it like a command. They weren't rog

"Why would someon

shaking. "I don't know. But they we

t always did. "They told me to stay hidden. And I

ved. That doesn't make you weak

es me a

es you alive. And maybe it me

th me? What if that's why? What if my wolf never cam

figure

en know whe

and. "Start with no

ed. A new scen

ened. "

is body going

e. But not too close.

t to go

eed

a. Not

if it's connected? What

ike he want

"Yell. If anything

a shaky smi

and walked i

iting? I wouldn