nger in

n's P

legs gave out. Collapsing against a

between sobs. "Why h

gged breathing and occasional sniffles. As the

spend my life with, was the same guy

ttered bitterly. "Thank

tly in my mind. For once, he

to stand, but my legs were shaky. Grabbing onto the tr

d up, nostrils flaring as I caught an unfamili

ure stumbled through the bushes, and I

tartling white with hints of pale green, like grass peeking through sno

growled. "What ar

. "P-please don't kill me," he s

s not an answer. What are y

d. I was running from the Whisperer. He... he wi

zards were real, sure, but they usually kept to th

eyes filling with tears. "My fami

struck a chord in me. I felt my anger

id softly. "That'

n suddenly blazing in his eyes. "But I have

bed his arm. "Wait. You know you

just passing through. I w

g to hide, head that way." I pointed deeper into the forest. "There's a place called Dark Wood. No one goes there, but th

in surprise. "You're

ward. "I don't know. Just... see

n hurt today," he said softly. "Not physically, but... a

d. How cou

His eyes began to glow an eerie green, and I felt

e," he murmured. "But this should help wit

epped back. "Now we're even

, he turned and disapp

est, the overwhelming despair I'd felt earlier... it was still there, but

o town. By the time I reached my house, it was

g to hug me. "Where have yo

sister, Hailey,

your mate?" Da

ed in. "Is it that hot g

em the truth? That my mate was Sebastian , t

my mate," I lied,

l. "Oh, honey.

you all this ti

sted. "Can we... not do this rig

gnoring their concerned looks. I locked th

h the door. "You'll find your mate so

in my pillow. I

my mind. A wound that might never fully heal. Bu

e to the sound of frant

y's voice called urgentl

ng out of bed. "

ide with excitement and fear. "There's a pack meeting. Alpha Gr

ed. "What abou

w. But everyone's saying he's go

reets were filled with people rushing towards the town

raised platform. His face was grim, and beside him stood S

whispered to Lily, who

ut I heard Sebastian went berserk last night

Looking for someo

mbers," he began, his voice heavy. "I'm afraid I have disturbi

pled throug

ued. "But something went wrong. The mate bond wasn

. This was my fault. Because I ran

and the safety of others," Gregory said. "But we need

for a heart-stopping moment, I t

bastian 's mate might be, please come forwa

ous chatter. I stood frozen

irian," she whispered.

"I can't. You don't underst

he hissed. "And you along with him. Rej

ng. How had everything g

edge of the square. People were shouti

easily the size of a car, was circling overhead.

hat?" some

hriek. The sound reverberated through my bones

moonlight. And a figure with snow

e

oped low over the crowd. As it passed, a sin

touched it, I felt a surge of energy course through me

ily. Then, clutching the feat

ut I didn't look back. I ran straight for the

s lay ahead, I knew one thing for certa

ving behind everything I'd ever know

re's a rewritten version of the cha