13

AMIRA

A growl threatened to rise in my throat, but I forced it down.

The only reason Derrick was standing here at all was because I had survived Moonshade Forest before.

Yet somehow, he had already decided my warnings weren't worth listening to.

Frustration burned hot in my chest.

Fine.

Everyone died eventually.

For months, I had been certain Derrick would be the one to kill me.

What I hadn't expected was that his own stubbornness might get us all killed first.

“Fine,” I said tightly.

“The safest time to enter is right before dawn. The outer edge has the weakest magic, but that's where most of the wolves are. The first few hours of daylight are the easiest time to move through the forest.”

My throat suddenly felt dry.

After clearing it, I continued.

“Once the magic starts prickling against your skin, we should stop and make a Wayfarer's Camp until it passes.”

A knot formed in my stomach.

“I'm not exactly sure how far that point is from here.”

Derrick simply jerked his head toward the forest.

“Let's go.”

Of course.

No questions.

No discussion.

No sign that he cared whether my advice was right or wrong.

The moment we started moving, the group closed around me like a cage.

Not a single part of it surprised me.

Derrick walked in front.

Thorne and Selene followed just behind him, one on either side.

I had heard Selene's name before, but this was the first time I had seen her up close.

She was beautiful.

Painfully beautiful.

Tall and graceful, with auburn hair that brushed her shoulders and framed delicate features that belonged in a magazine.

Strength rolled off her without effort. It wasn't loud or aggressive. It simply existed.

Every wolf around her would feel it.

There was no question about her position in the pack.

She stood directly beneath Thorne, and years of confidence showed in every movement she made.

She looked comfortable, secure, and completely certain of where she belonged.

A sharp ache settled unexpectedly in my chest.

Not because I wanted her position.

Because I couldn't remember what it felt like to belong anywhere.

Draven and Lucian moved into place behind us.

The sight of them made my stomach twist.

Both had been there the night Derrick killed Rowan Kingsley.

The memory slammed into me before I could stop it.

Blood.

Shouting.

The crushing feeling of helplessness.

Draven walked beside me.

Lucian stayed behind.

Even without turning around, I could feel his eyes on me.

The weight of his stare followed every step.

Eldric walked on my left.

His healer status meant nothing.

Anyone foolish enough to underestimate him wouldn't survive the mistake.

Six wolves surrounded me.

Six wolves strong enough to kill me before I could take a second breath.

And not one of them trusted me.

Not one.

A bitter laugh almost escaped.

Wonderful.

The trail led through the Whispering Woods.

Every step felt familiar.

The path was the same one I had taken when I tried to escape Victor.

The memory still sat raw inside me.

The fear.

The desperation.

The hope that freedom was only a few steps away.

Then movement appeared ahead.

A wolf emerged from the trees.

The sight of her hit me like a punch.

My breath caught.

My foot slipped against the ground.

It was her.

The same wolf.

“Lyra,” Derrick said. “Everything in order?”

She lowered her head respectfully.

Then her eyes found mine.

Cold unease slid down my spine.

Something about the way she looked at me made my pulse jump.

Swallowing hard, I looked away first.

“Excellent,” Derrick said. “We should return in two weeks.”

Return.

The word echoed unpleasantly in my head.

If everything went wrong, none of us would be returning.

We started walking again.

Curiosity got the better of me after a few moments.

A glance over my shoulder followed.

Nothing.

Lyra was gone.

No movement.

No sound.

No sign she had ever been there at all.

The emptiness between the trees left an uncomfortable feeling crawling across my skin.

The sound of rushing water slowly grew louder.

Soon we reached the Moonwater River.

The familiar sight stirred something unexpected inside me.

Relief.

Nervousness.

Anticipation.

The farther we walked, the farther I moved from the life I knew.

Following the river north, we eventually reached the bridge.

As always, guards covered every section of it.

None of them were familiar.

Yet the moment their eyes landed on me, I knew they recognized me.

Their hostility wasn't hidden.

It sat openly on their faces.

Judging.

Accusing.

Hating.

A lump formed in my throat.

Not because their opinions hurt.

Because I was tired.

Tired of being looked at like a criminal.

Tired of being feared.

Tired of being blamed.

With any luck, none of it would matter much longer.

Maybe this would be the last time I ever saw them.

Maybe this would be the last time I ever stepped foot in the Obsidian Realm.

The thought settled warmly inside my chest.

We crossed the bridge.

The distance between me and the Obsidian Fang Pack slowly widened.

Waiting for sadness felt pointless.

It never came.

No grief.

No regret.

No longing.

Only relief.

Pure, quiet relief.

For the first time in a very long time, leaving that place behind felt like taking a full breath after nearly drowning.