Chapter Thirty-Two
Laila’s POV
The cold wind screamed through the narrow alleyway, carrying the terrifying, frantic rhythm of my own pulse in my ears.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Behind me, the sharp claws of two massive hounds skidded and scratched across the asphalt. Their low, guttural growls vibrated through the dark, a wet, ravenous sound that made every nerve ending in my body ignite with raw, primal panic.
My bare feet slammed against the jagged gravel lining the side street. Every step was sheer torture. Sharp rocks bit into my soles, slicing open fresh wounds, but the blinding fire in my legs couldn't compare to the agonizing, white-hot heat tearing through my palms. Blood dripped continuously from my shredded hands, leaving a slick, dark trail behind me in the night.
I can’t
