placed me in his hands. My fingers clenc

, and the warriors

his face

n that silence: the dirt under my fingernails, the sleepless nights on the pant

denly, he beg

on in my sternum that traveled up to my throat and

ot just his skin,

knew it. And yet, he remained mot

n a whisper. "We're goin

rd the side of the forest that belonged to my pack. "T

't stolen, t

cleared his th

o I think she is... her mark. Her sc

ing fingers. The older man, on the other hand, looked at me with

He didn't need to. His pack had al

is," he said, withou

a sen

d lifted me like someone raising something they

n covered me with a thick cloak. The fabric fell to my

el told his people. Wi

" they repli

mine. It smelled of rancid grease, of damp leather. Of his hands. Of the kitchen where I had

I stumbled, his arm caught me gently. The sharp pain in my forearm came and went, but something el

uddenly. "But if you want to tell me

t someone to believe me the first time-"It wasn't me.

portant to make that clear. Even though my l

that wasn't laughter

ong thing

he distance. They were domestic lights,

head and disappeare

aid, pointing to a mark on the s

e, that chang

n't hav

who I am. And because you are who you are,

for it. But also, for the first time, I didn't try

cro

sounding like a superstitious fool. A woman came o

her, the equipment

t. I thought that smelling him so close was dangerous. Beca

y took me into the cabin.

eplied. "Let everyon

t trembl

-aid kit touched me with steady hands. When she saw the bruises on my ri

she announced. "It'll make you a little dizzy.

he injection. Kael staye

save me?" I

because, when I smelled you, I

re I was plunged into darkness, I hear

Tomorrow at dawn. I'm

er?" the e

ck and to

se si

wants her back?

ooked

any right to what was never

nside me. And I, for the first time i

kne