chest, as if it wanted to escape from all her suffering. Keane's words replayed in her head, cutting at her soul-angry, re

her chest, and all she could do was stand there, stunned. This was not real. It could not be. They

Keane had done was incredibly violent. She had known him all her life and shared her hear

arting towards the source of the noise. For a brief period, her heart hoped that Keen would co

e stepped into the room, looking at Constance's pale

streaming down her cheeks until Lyra was in front of her, bringing her into a close embr

yra gently stroked her back, trying

d me to leave the pack tonight." Although the words were awkward, they'd been said

hat? No! That doesn't make sense. He's been in love w

e to get out." Her lips were shaking while she spoke, and her chest tightened. "I don't know, Lyra. One minu

at's not right. He can't just do th

e, I will be alone. I have no wolf, no status, nothing. I will be an outcast. Maybe I should ju

ce's shoulders, forcing her to look her in the eyes. "You're not alone. You've got me. And if Kee

treats my best friend like she's worthless. We'll head somewhere else and start over

glimmer of hope in the heavy darkness surrounding her.

doesn't really matter where we go. What counts is that we

her support helped ease the pain Keen had caused her. Still, fear gnawed at her stomach. "What if h

has true feelings for you doesn't allow you to go out like this. You deserve more, Constance

ad loved her as she believed, he would not have been so cold and merciless. Maybe there was something bigg

her tears, and nodded. "Okay. Le

at is my girl. Pack a few items; we'll sneak out of the eas

and with each piece of clothing she added, the reality of her departure hit her harder. This was real. She was leaving the

ned to Lyra, who was already waiting at the door, scanning the

mach was churning with an

felt like this before. With each step, Constance felt a heavy weight se

over Constance. The familiar scent of the woods surrounded them, yet it offered no so

nce's heart raced, both with fear of being caught and the overwhelming reality of what she w

ot her a confident smile. "Almost there,

he glanced back at the packhouse one last time. Keen was in th

't just cold; they carried a troubled depth. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more underneath his rejec

y of how Keen had stared at her. Did she miss something? Co

er grip. "Let's go, Const

's shoulders were finally free of the weight of the Ironhowl Pack. She had no clue where they were

asn't

t shake her doubts. Why did he get rid of me so un