LOGINRuby has officially arrived! Accalia is finally beginning to discover who she really is, but Ruby clearly knows more than she’s letting on… And we’re only just getting started. Enjoying the story? Come join me on Facebook at Becca’s Book Realm for updates, teasers, and more. Becca x
I kept running north, even though every part of my body was begging me to stop. My lungs burned, my legs were aching, and I had no idea how much farther I could go, but the strange pull inside my chest hadn’t disappeared. If anything, it seemed to grow stronger the farther I went.“I think we’re far enough away now.”I slowed down, looking over my shoulder, the forest behind me was dark and quiet. I couldn’t hear the people who had been chasing me anymore, but that didn’t mean they were gone.“Are you sure?”“No.”I frowned.“That’s not very reassuring.”Ruby gave a soft laugh.“I’m just being honest.”I rolled my eyes, then immediately regretted it when my legs nearly gave out beneath me. Then, I stumbled forward and caught myself against a tree.“I can’t run anymore.”“Then we stop.”I leaned against the trunk, trying to catch my breath. My whole body ached, and I was freezing. I wrapped my arms around myself and looked down at my bare feet. Running naked through a forest hadn’t exac
For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to go home.As I stood in the middle of the forest, breathing heavily with my paws planted firmly against the damp earth, I thought about how only a few hours ago I had been terrified of what was happening to me. Now I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to keep running and stay here, where nobody could hurt me and nobody could tell me I wasn’t good enough. Out here, I didn’t feel like the girl who was always picked on or the daughter who could never do anything right. For the first time in my life, I felt strong.Then my legs gave a warning ache, reminding me that even this new body had limits.“We should stop.”I slowed to a walk, reluctant to listen. “I don’t want to.”Ruby laughed softly. “You’re exhausted.”“I’m fine.”“You’re falling over your own feet.”I glanced down at my paws. She wasn’t wrong. I’d been so caught up in the freedom of running that I hadn’t noticed how tired I was becoming. The forest was quiet around me now, the only so
The need to move was overwhelming. It wasn’t a choice; it was a compulsion. My paws, I mean, my hands and feet no longer felt human, pressed against the earth, and I had to run.The forest blurred around me. Every smell was heightened; pine needles, damp earth, distant animals, the faint scent of something metallic that I couldn’t quite place. Every sound screamed at me; the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs, the rush of air past my ears. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding, faster than ever before.I ran, and I ran. Faster than anything I had ever imagined possible. My legs stretched and propelled me over roots, rocks, fallen branches. The wind whipped through my fur, and I felt it all, the speed, the strength, the sheer exhilaration of being something entirely alive, entirely free.It was intoxicating.I had no idea how long I ran. Hours, maybe. Dawn was creeping into the sky when the forest finally thinned, and I found myself at a stream. My throat was dry from the exertion, my
School dragged on like always, my body aching and bruised, but at least today hadn’t been a total disaster. The nurse’s sympathy had helped, even if it was fleeting.By the time I made it to the diner, I was tired in a way that made every step feel like wading through water. But my shift went surprisingly well.No tripping over trays, no broken glasses, and, most importantly, no sign of them. The popular kids from school that usually made my life miserable had apparently decided to leave me alone tonight.I somehow made it through the evening, keeping my head down, moving quietly and carefully, so as not to draw attention. For once, there was this tiny flicker of relief, like maybe, just maybe, I could get through one night without everything going wrong.On Mondays, the diner closed early. I was grabbing my backpack, ready to finally leave, when I froze.Out front, were the people I had dreaded seeing all night. The it crowd. They were laughing, leaning against their cars, and smirki
The rest of the weekend had blurred together. Sunday had been spent catching up on the chores I’d neglected after being away for most of Saturday. By Monday morning, I already felt like I needed another weekend.The alarm had gone off, and I’d slammed my hand on it without thinking, hating the sound more than usual. My whole body had ached; my head, my knees, my stomach, but I’d dragged myself out of bed anyway. Chores had come first, then a quick breakfast I’d barely managed to swallow before heading to school.I’d pulled my hat down low, hoping nobody would notice me. Maybe, just maybe, I’d thought, I could make it through the hallways without the staring, the whispering, the laughter. Just for once, I wanted to blend in.I'd made it to school minutes before the bell, and it proved to be too early. The second I stepped into the hallway, someone yanked the hat right off my head. Time stopped. Every single person turned toward me. My stomach dropped. Gasps, whispers, and snickers had
The door slammed behind me with a bang that shook the walls. My father stood in the hallway, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes burning with anger. His silence was worse than yelling, but it didn’t last long.“Where were you?” He snapped.“I, I was at work. I just...”“Don’t lie to me!” He yelled. “You weren’t working. You were out with some boy, weren’t you? Whoring yourself out like the little tramp you are.”A shiver ran down my spine. “No! I wasn’t...”He stepped closer, towering over me, the smell of alcohol evident in his breath. “Don’t you dare talk back. After everything we do for you, is this how you repay us? You’ve made us late this morning. We had to make our own breakfast. Do you know how pathetic that is?”“I didn’t mean...”His hand shot out, striking me across the face so hard my head moved sideways. My cheek burned and stung.“You never mean to,” he spat. “Always, sorry. So unbelievably useless. You shame this family. You shame me.”I staggered back, but before I coul







