ough the forest canopy. It had been nearly three weeks since Ciara had escaped Raven's Claw and col

rders. No steel eyes w

tling through the trees, and Emory's s

eepless night. But instead, she was wrapped in warm wool, cradled by soft linen sheets. The fire crac

ly. It was no longer just a whisper of a life inside her

he had t

hing she heard before darkness

could safet

and kind eyes illuminated by the morning light. "You

sitated.

of warm tea and bread by her side. "Y

nks. She wasn't used to kindnes

silence. "I don't know what happened before you got here, and I won't ask. Bu

e simple words hit harde

ave the room, bu

ai

tur

me is

to officially m

e by little. Emory gave her space but always left meals, warm

pry. He di

t... h

Ciara sat outside on the porch wrapped in a shawl. She loo

s like this exist," sh

I'm crazy for living out here. No t

" Her ear

aravan that wandered through neutral territories. I never belonged anywh

genuinely curious.

eeline. "You were bleeding. Alone. Carrying something precious

. "And I don't believe in letting people die

he was worthless since birth. A product of shame. A shadow behind the sc

a br

a

...

ornings walking the trails near the cabin, her afternoons learning how to cook with Emory,

for how peaceful it was. L

ace twisted in rage, the pain of rejection, th

lm and patient, never touching, never crowding her-ju

rew slowly, not romanti

hes folded neatly. "I traded with a nearby fa

genuinely.

t be a pack Alpha, but

foreign even to her ears. S

now came. Her ch

olstice. Ciara was kneeling by the fire, stirring soup

, breath

e doorway, noticed imme

nds over her stom

d," she w

yes filled

of p

of

face lighting up. "He's st

rs and smiled. "No.

om cruelty. Far from rejection. Fa

a mate. She didn

a child to love. A f

always, had

ory returned from a routine tra

ng her a flyer. "It's small. Human-run. Quiet. They're doing

. "You think

o meet others again. To let yo

ed her. But it a

o far. Maybe

, she

was that the decision

the Moon Goddess would lead fa