tanc

usy by the fear of recapture-which coursed through our veins-and the exhaustion that settled over our limbs. I glanced back behind me mor

eep running like this without a break." My legs throbbed from the relentless pace, and my

he chill night air. Lyra collapsed on the forest floor. Her chest was shaking as she cau

re still looking fo

sky. "Who knows? After what Keen did, he ma

asily, as if I didn't matter enough for him to send someone after me. But another part of me understood that if they

all backpack and pulling out a piece of dried me

this cruel declaration, and my stomach contorted in a snarl

strength and closeness that came with becoming a wolf-was missing. I was alone in a world wh

it eventually overcame me. My eyelids felt heav

t dawn. Lyra was already awake, kneeling beside m

lancing down at me. "We have no idea how f

rotested, stiff from lying on the cold ground, but I for

e moved through. Time dragged itself along, though. We pressed on,

s very quickly. The cold stung my skin, but we had to press on. Lyra led the w

he air, twisting my stomach in knots. I froze, my

yes scanned each branch, each smalles

-decay, rot, and something more primal. My pulse quickened, an

for the small dagger strapped to her thigh and held on to it tigh

orm of a rogue wolf. Dirt-coated, bedraggled fur clung to its frame, behind which glist

ed before me, ready t

think; I barely got out of the way before Lyra shoved me aside, facing the creature with a fierce snarl. She dodg

a fight. She was strong, but the rogue was brutal. Gr

ood her ground. In a swift, brutal motion, she drove her dagger into the rogue's chest

was breathing heavily, and her arm was bleeding. I rushed to h

a strip of fabric from her shirt and wrapped it aro

d on, both soaking, bruised, and draine

urselves on the outskirts of a new pack's terri

y toward us, snarling and baring the

finger, something sharp jabbed into my side. A wave of dizziness

ness consumed me was, "Take them to th

now I feared I had only ch