outh, but not

stood there, cold and patient, li

t," I wh

dded. "Then

ke that, I

ooked surprised, and others looked pleas

d to me. "Co

d this time. He just w

ards stood at every corner, with their eyes following me as I passed. I kept my head down

the years, in other to be invisible and

following. He just walked, and I followed

im was larger than any room I ha

fire burned in the hearth, casting orange light across the

. A wardrobe stood against the opposite wall, taller than me

e furs on the bed, to the silver candlesticks on

ug before. It felt soft,

that door," he said, po

he

earing a white gown, and off

I was also tired. I was tired of hiding, of surviving, and I

d to th

dy warm. Obviously, someone had prepa

. The heat wrapped around me like a blanke

her's voice echoed in my head. "Never remove th

t the water was warm, and I was tired. I wanted to feel like myself again,

the necklace

ears, I took off my mother's ne

tub, and the silver chain ca

ction in the water,

in shock at

t forgotten what she looked like. I saw bright eyes, soft skin, an

beau

ays been

ek. The skin was soft, and smooth, unlike the roug

y brow. This was my mother's face. She had given

she would re

to an Alpha, bathing in warm water, and wearing a wh

bly laugh, or c

heartbeat. I was still here, and still alive. That was what

rom wherever she was, and if she kn

me, she was safe, and I h

of the hiding, the waiting, and t

ed her to

e, Celeste and Vivienne would have ended me a long time ago. They would not h

ainst my skin, I fel

arms, and I let the water wa

nd, like someone had k