a's

ands from Blair's grasp, putting a small but

ightmares are getting worse. You know they are. Only on pack

ood. "There are too many rules there," I said quietly. "Too much hierarchy. I don't want to live

eper frustration. "I know why you left, Ellie. I d

enage girls-us-grinned at the camera, arms slung around each other. Standing be

o Elder Gideon and Serena?" Blair's voice

o. My parents' reluctance, their fear for me. They had only agreed to let me go on

s this summer. An

ade to an elder. In our world,

whimper. She was homesick. She missed the scent of the deep woods, t

es," she said, her voice softening again, "don't you want to know what thes

led me. Our pack hadn't

one was appointed three years ago. They say s

battlefield. On one side was the suffocating fear of returning to the cage I'd escaped. On the other was

ograph, to my parents' loving

breath, and when I opened them again, my e

ispered. "I'

unched herself at me, wrapping me in a tight hug. "Oh, than

in my chest. I wasn't making a choice; I was walki

ng. "We'll leave as soon as finals are over! I have to let m

. I saw a shadow of grief pass over her face before she expertly masked it.

former Lycan King. He had been her mother's closest frie

mind too numb to

eeded to pack and which old friends we had to see, her

a sense of foreboding sett

king me home. It was sending me straight into the arms

e! We're going home!* Her joy was a stark and