sive. I needed to reconnect with my werewolf nature, the one that had always been there to protect me an

ess of the woods, but I didn't feel afraid. My need to find my children outweighed any fear the darkness might evo

gh the woods. The moon was high in the sky, its light reflected in the calm waters of the strea

ime to reconnect with the Moon Goddess, the entity that always represented the essence of my were

asking the Moon Goddess for help,

so strong. "Moon Goddess, I beseech your help. Please show me the way, guide me i

dess had denied my prayer. It was as if she was rejecting the connec

me seemed distant, and I wondered if my inner wolf was lost forever. My des

strength I had left. "Moon Goddess, please help me. I have no one else to turn to. My inner wolf is lost,

o have my inner wolf back, to be able to use my strength to find my chi

the moon itself was embracing me. A voice softly whispered in my mi

r wolf never abandoned you, but you denied

a moment I had suppressed, blocked, because it hurt too much. It was when Hunter, the father of

would never allow myself to be vulnerable again. To keep that promise, I had buried my inne

e that day resurfaced. I had closed myself off to protect my heart, but in do

urmured, my voice choked. "Tha

. I knew my journey was just beginning, but now I had a direction. I had to co

*

to do, and that involved going back to my past, facing the painful memories I had buried, and unraveling the mystery t

neighbor, Meg Stuart, was outside, watching wit

for her sharp tongue and thirst for gossip, and I knew I wouldn't be ab

Meg asked, with a falsely co

plied, "As well as can be,

"Where are you going? I don't think it's a good i

arents invited me to spend some time with them in Denver, Colorado. They think

it. However, my parents were merely a cover. I was an orphan, raised by A

? That's a long car trip, Fierce. It'll

think it's exactly what I need. Distract my mind and try to find some peace. Maybe yo

e just shook her head, still surprised by my response, and walk

the place where it all began, where my inner wolf had been suffocated. I knew this journey would be fu

han ever, my children depended on me, and I