ver slept.

o silence, London's heartbeat thrummed

ached, but the pain in her chest dwarfed it all. She had left Hyde Park hours a

re no

step, echoing until she wanted

e smell of beer, smoke, and cheap perfume clung to the air. No one here cared who she was. No one whis

shuttered bookstore. The place was dim, noisy but not full. She slid o

the bitter taste, but she welcomed the burn down her throat. Anything to silenc

woman laughed too loudly at some joke from her companion. The bartender w

like she'd bee

ss. Why am I still here? she thought. What'

bitter laugh slipped past her lips, startling hers

ember standing, only that her legs were unst

around the yellow glow of street lamps. H

ollided with some

uscle. Soli

back, mutter

and the apology d

t of the world. His hair caught the light-a pale, startling white that looked almost silver. His eyes

ld fell

hank the Moon, she couldn't survive that again-but with somethin

ve. Just studied her, his

ed. "What?" she sn

n was carved from stone, save for the

word, he melted into the fog, his tall figure van

p in her lungs. Her skin prickle

whispered, but the nig

hawl tighter and stumbled

't know

just collided with the

just shifted, irreversibly,

**************** A

at, pressed her face into the thin pillow, wrapped herself in her shawl as if it could ke

didn't flinch, didn't ask, d

e knew

nized somethi

le pastry from the corner shop, and forced herself onto the busy pavement. London was awake, bus

rket. Here, among the patchwork of vintage stalls an

est brew, and sat by the window. The warmth of

rifted over. Two men, hun

said, voice rough with age. "After the wars, after the

d. "Fools. Rogue

if you've nowhere else-they'll take you. No questions asked. They'

lly. Her cup clinked against

ent M

them as rumors. A sanctuary pack? One

ething flickered in her chest. N

and tossed a few coins on the table. The men barel

seemed endless, the walk unforgiving. Hours passed. She was hun

to quieter streets, lined with old brick homes and ivy. Hampstead

e of the park. Her chest

n was nothing more than another cruel rumo

ldn't turn

The trees loomed, their bran

ked far when t

e. Heavy.

d. She spun, sc

te. Broad shoulders. Pale hair catching

eath c

i

nger fro

ilent, as though

roat went d

re he stepped forward, and the fog