sweat and my muscles hurt. No more. I was tired of being the silent, defenceless girl who allowed things to ha

I heard footsteps behind me. With my heart racing, I froze. That sme

lissa." "Are we still attempting

I didn't look back. "

, just watching you suffer. You really ought t

were. I answered, maintaining a calm tone, "I b

y believe that you possess the strength Ronan requires at

her and yelled, "He didn't 'choose' you." "I don't know

had appeared. She crossed her arms and whispered, "Believe what you want." "He pushed you a

re. Rather, I straightened up and looked her in the ey

She lowered her voice and stepped forward. "You'll retreat if you'

f her sleeve revealed a small, dark trace on her flesh. My eyes got big. I

s it Lyra? Did she b

ely cruel; she might be harmful. Perhaps a spy, or worse. S

ng breath. Ronan was in danger if she was

rked fiercely, "I see you staring.

I was just curious as to why I would ma

s a little anxious. She spat, "Keep dreaming," and tur

m Ronan. He had to be aware of that mark and what I had observ

rs and maps in his office. When I walked in,

his voice irritated. "W

to speak with you, Ronan

aised an eyebrow.

y. Her arm is marked with a symbol fr

gh. "You have no idea what y

That mark is visible in the scrolls. It is the Darkwood Pa

er was unpleasant. "Lyr

"I'm attempting to assist you, Ronan.

elissa," he remarked icily. "M

and reverberated. What if her purp

gh, Melissa. I don't require your

d rage. He refused to listen to me or even en

nce. But when you see the reality, don't rush to me in

and rage, I turned and walked o

cover the truth on my own if Ronan refused to listen. I woul

lls containing information about the other packs, alliances, and rivalries, as well as anti

lues that would link Lyra to the Darkwood Pack. I eventually located a page detailing their cu

through it was visible as da

were notorious for being spies, infiltrating other packs to ob

yra was one of them, her purpose wa

dence. Actual evidence that Lyra was a threat and that she had

ver,

y attention, like the way she avoided certain of the pack members and the cryptic looks she exchanged with others.

whenever I had free time. To find out as much as I could, I even managed to insinuate a few ques

would eventually have to face Lyra head-on. I

a quiet conversation with an unfamiliar pack member. Ang

a steady tone as I walked towa

d as she gazed a

now who you are." "Are you not

or. She soon covered it up with a smirk, though. "Madela, you

't lie to me." "I have witnessed t

snarled, "You know nothing, little girl." "You'll

ntested, refusi

lissa, keep out of my path. Let's just say accidents happ

e shudder, I didn't back down.

kle. "You ought to be. You don

leaving me standing there

who could stop Lyra from hiding something harmful, and I had been correct all along

e into the horizon. There was the truth, and