"So, he's accepted his mate, has he?" A deep, raspy voice caught Francine's attention, causing a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. She loathed the effect he had on her, or at least, she tried to convince herself she did. "Yes, he has," she replied, unable to handle the tumultuous emotions this man stirred within her. She began to drift towards the forest, seeking refuge from the chaos she found herself in.
"Francine, hold on," she heard him call out to her, but she chose to ignore him and started to sprint deeper into the forest's obscurity. She was so familiar with this forest that she could navigate it with her eyes closed. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her breaths came in short, ragged gasps as she pushed her body to its limits, needing to dispel the adrenaline and energy hi
