VAR

the soun

bleeding through the curtains. The air smelled faintly of ashes and t

ot everything that had happened. Th

ony. The

oice sayin

iation..

there. I pulled the blanket over my head and

ing. My mind wouldn't stop replaying the way everyone had looked at me... the

, another h

e a thing of gos

ealized I'd been crying again. I wiped my cheeks w

ere children. My friend. My p

wn me away like

silence. Three steady

ng. No one had come near my room si

me again, a

My voice ca

voice I knew bet

me. Ae

inside me

, pulled a robe over my thin nightdress, and walked to

golden hair, proud jaw, pale blue eyes. He looked like he always ha

ome in?"

self to speak, so

amiliar. His gaze landed on the folded white dress from yest

oin us last n

ter laugh. "Did

ous gesture he hadn't grown out of. "I

on my tongue. "You humiliated me in front of eve

you," he said softly. "You k

arp breath. "You rejected

e council decided. The Frostmoon alliance will strengt

our choice," I said quie

er. The faint scent of pine and smoke

e, Syl. You were my first friend.

t deeper tha

d nothi

," I whispered. "I wanted to be

le

a stray strand of my hair. "You're

said, pul

jaw tightening. "Th

nfused. "Why are yo

u to be ther

sense. "You want me to

fix it if he said it fast enough. "It would show the pack

und like laughter at all. "You don't

ce was th

really don't see what

"Please, Sylvara. I wa

aking my head. "Friends d

xpression that had once melted me. And before I could step back,

oft. Bri

e. I didn't

e special to me, and I'm sorry again, I didn't mean to hurt

closing echoed throug

e where he'd been. Then I lifted a hand to my fore

the tears come. Quiet, bitter ones that

as g

reall

omeone else...another woman,

here, the forgotten g

ever felt like home and whispered to th

mbled out of

ime since yeste