ya's

my eyes sn

ickly realized, this wasn't heaven. I

looked up, the wooden beam was splintered, the rope severed and dangling. That rope was too thick to brea

my feet, guided only by the pale moonlight spilling through the window. My b

down, and that's when it happened. A sharp, agonizing cra

ng, reshaping, skin tearing. The black wolf emerged,

ced the air as we charged down the street, faces blurred past us, terrified, fl

a child, a small

inside. "Please

hen, a stone came flying through the air, st

deserted, silent but for the sound of my wolf's ra

and collapsed onto the cold street, naked and trembling. I d

it with shaking hands, lifted it to my chest, but the wo

stopped me, by force. Tossing me across the room. We battled each other all

to face the people, to take responsibility, but

ed enforcers were scared of me, they kept thei

of them said. "You are to pre

d. As I passed through the village, t

sed. Black

her before she slau

usted... that's how dem

. I didn't flinch or stop, my soul was a

shadowed me, staying at a safe distance. I

inally, the Beta emerged,

ed. "The heartstone rejects your pres

the walk home was worse. Stones, garbage

wolf within not to rise again, not here or n

e that," a woman spat. "She's using her beauty to

ng. Slowly, I turned, searching for the one who'd said i

wa

ied to end my life. Once again, I failed

ing, numb. I couldn't stay. Not when my presence risked more inn

eeded to survive. The silks, the jewels, the pretty gifts that

nd left it on the ki

is house. Don't sleep in people's kitchens or store rooms a

n roads. I took the narrow path by the woods, when I reached the bord

Until I found an old, abandoned cottage nestled betw

ould be at risk, quiet enough fo

I was here, my heart pounded as I approached the door

just enough t

ind me?" voice cracking. "Don't you

h. "You're not

gged, my throat

these here," he said gently,

until he was gone. When I stepped outside,

lanket. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop

d. He didn't knock or call out. Just

tude. I never opened the door, never let him see me or s

him get too close, I might snap and drag him into my darkne

he cold crept into my bones, Zevarion still came, a

rely spared rogues who wandered too close. The main pack k

ear passed in silence and so

ft knock, th

n said gently. "Please... open th

ng over the doorknob, heart breaking,

ng, Vireya,"

I dreamed of him every night? That my so

n just... tap on the door twic

and tapped,

nd unspoken emotion. "I'll keep comi

rough the window. I smiled, a small fragile smi

never asking for it, but always needing it. I surv

bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling,

, many. I bolted upright, breath caugh

e wood crashing to the floor. A tall figure stepped into the co

had no idea if I'd survive