ing as Eli's words settled over her. "You

cross the forest floor. Mason stood a few feet away, his arms crossed and

the chaos inside her. "But you haven't told me everything. No

uences of what he was about to say. Finally, he took a deep

ha

t run," he said, his green eyes locking onto her

hard and nodd

strated sigh. "This

gnore

ks existed, this forest was alive with magic. The land itself has a will, a consciousness, and it chooses who it allows

rogues?"

over order. They've always been a problem, but lately, somet

hat does that ha

doesn't just call people here without a reason. You're here becau

t how?" s

ard, his expression hard. "We shouldn't be

" Eli sai

eart skipped a beat as she realized what he was impl

on unreadable. "That's not up

head. "This is insane. Sh

firm. "You know she does. The fores

I'm standing right here, you know. Maybe inste

n a small smile, but

with sarcasm. "If you're so convi

What are you t

challenge. "If she wants to be part of this

orks," Eli said, his v

d. "If she's as special a

hem, her heart racing

le one. Spend the nigh

That's ridiculous. She doesn't e

ssing his arms. "Or she'll run

oulders, her gaze s

expression a mix of shock and fru

"If this is the only way to

dened. "Good. Th

rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set Lyla's nerves on edge. She carried a small fla

so often, she would stop and listen, half-expecting to hear footsteps behind

e told herself.

r. The forest felt alive, watching her with unseen eye

rowl rumbled thro

rowl came again, closer this time, and she turned slowly to see

fur dark and matted. It bared its

wolf let alone survive an attack. She took a sha

whispered to hers

rouching low as if

with sleek grey fur. It lunged at the rogue, its powerful jaws snapp

ed the battle. The grey wolf was faster and st

ey wolf turned to Lyla, its gre

she whi

and relief floo

uman form as they approached. His shirt was torn, and ther

ne that," he said, his

e a choice,"

ng. "You could have told Mason to go to hell.

et. "Maybe I didn't. But I neede

g moment, then sighed. "You

out now?" she said, a small

, Eli chuckled.

expression smug. "Looks l

Mason," E

"Relax. I'll admit, she's

s. "Thanks for the

to town, Eli fell

e tonight," he

ified," Lyl

nce of fear," Eli said.

For the first time, she felt a flicker of something more t

u," she s

oment, the world felt a

the feeling that her journey was just beginning and that the sha