ation. The sting of Kieran's indifference cut deeper than the physical pain. He had stood th

the shadows, but when Rowan crouched beside her

ere," he said quietly, hi

he didn't ask why. A pa

continued, glancing toward the pack

pack wasn't enough-they would keep pushing until she broke completely. And Kieran? He

wincing as her muscles protest

." His golden eyes flickered with somethi

acknowledging it aloud, felt like

ply. "I can help y

s life-had been all she had ever known. Even when they had turned against her, some

only ever b

he weight of her decision p

. "But if you say yes, t

tate. "I'm done

a moment before nodd

necessary delays. Rowan led her through a path that avoided the patrols, slipping throug

idn't tur

zation that this was it. She was leaving behind everything-the pain

ad no

No home.

in her life, she felt s

ee

e disappeared behind her, Celeste k

dy presence beside her. Each step felt like shedding a layer of the past-the pack, the pain, Kieran.

e trees stretched like silent sentinels around them. The only sound was the ru

este asked, her voice q

cross the river, we'll be out of th

ance-someone to stop them, some last-minute obstacle to make her que

nted he

e felt something else. A dark, simmering fire. They had cast her

m

noted, keeping his p

at the path ahead. "I don't know w

"It doesn't have to make sense

o she

w-moving body of water that shimmered beneath the moonli

and tossed it to her. "Put thi

the shock of cold stealing her breath as the water rose to her waist, then her shoulder

ering. Rowan handed her his jacket, and she pulled it

rroundings before e

nd the river was unfamiliar, untouched b

felt relief. May

she fel

w?" she

efore saying, "Th

red at the

her life, her future