RA'S

ckery, the rejection, so i packed what I could and by the time t

early morning fires. From here, they looked almost peaceful. But I knew better. Beneath that quiet was a

Each step away from the packhouse felt like breathing again,

esn't wash o

hotter th

ethelina 's voice, sweet and venomous,still slithered through my thou

ts until my nails

on's m

they were ca

one who dared to stand beneath the Goddes

n't wanted any of this. I hadn't want

sh part of me had wanted it so badly

shed She

Beyond this point was the border, the invisible line that marked the end of Moonbane territory.

ought didn

ed me was

lent inside me, no comfort, no warmth. Just emptiness. The rejection had

hat silence, I though

... do

top

g hit

ulling at the edge of my soul.

bo

g the rejection couldn't completely kill. It thrummed low in my

d my tee

pull did

n't mine. Anger. Restlessness.

i

el him. Al

aint but unmistakable, his emotions brushing against mine like sparks

. "Stop it," I whispered. "You rejecte

over my heart,once glowing silver,fl

s pacing steps across the Alpha's quarters. The ten

Not just at

everything, my he

the cruel

ion, my soul s

ke a root refusing to stop growing through stone. Every

tree and squeezed my eyes s

morning breeze whispered through the leaves, soft and d

came again,sha

was restless, prowling beneath his skin. I could feel

hting it.

for him, to soothe him, to tell him I understood,

ldn't. I

"You rejected me," I whispered through clenched teeth

only t

, as if the bond itself was punishing me for

w and furious. My body trembled in response, inst

e shaking. "I won't bo

flared hot, t

unding. The pain lingered, but the

zzy. I realized I was crying on

, maybe hours,just breathing, just trying to r

n had begun to rise over the mount

ked beautiful

exist in a world that cou

of the territory was near,a shallow stream marking

o future. But staying meant humiliation, pi

should hav

der made the mark on my chest burn hotter, sharper, as if it we

r, broken sound. "So th

nswered wi

reflection stared back, pale skin, hollow eyes, the faint shim

d like

ed like a wolf wh

ripples distort my face. "The Goddess chose m

tasted l

why She had done this. Why me? Why him? W

was silent. S

sound of distant footst