ltrated into their sanctuary. The air was heavy, almost stifling, laden with a palpable tension that seemed to seep into my skin and weigh

I wasn't welcome. Every look, every barely audible whisper between the wolves of his pack reminded me

gestures. The scars on their bodies spoke of battles, of incessant struggles to protect their territory or to survi

eft behind me, only the ashes of a past that I could no longer look at without feeling my heart si

er than the looks of the others. I noticed the huts, the campfires, the carefully s

to a small wooden cabin, rudimentary but isolated enough f

p sigh escaped me. The interior was spartan, a simple pallet in the corner, a ric

lf from something invisible. My mind was in turmoil, but my thoughts w

moment when my world was turned upside down. I saw their faces again, those of my sister and of the man who should have been my companion. I saw their gest

cross boundaries I would never have considered. An anger that had led me here, into t

av

is eyes were an enigma, burning and icy at the same time, as if they contained a fire ready to devour everything in

ed my crazy proposition? I knew he didn't do anything for no reason. Every word, every gestu

kept coming back. And with them, this strange sensation, th

y thoughts. I jumped, my heart pound

sion cold and hard. His hair wa

ns you, she said

ng a knot formi

es on me again. They did not try to hide their distrust, their hostil

ccelerated. The woman opened the canvas, gestured for me to en

k in his hand. His eyes immediately stared at me

d, his voice echoing

egs trembling

ke my pack ? he

breath, search

from what I've known,

ile widening slightly. Yes, I gu

oach me. I instinctively backed away, but

oice has a price. Each member of this pack ha

own, unabl

But there is something inside you, som

y. I looked up at him, tryin

ou mean ? I

ain, his intense

time, he said simply,

chair, sat down,

fused mind. What did he see in me? And why d

my mind. The looks of the wolves, the coldness of this pack, the disturbing intensity

e within me. I had crossed a line. I couldn't go back any longer. Whatever happe