The warm sunlight kissed my skin as I stepped out of the pack house, my satchel heavy with the books and trinkets Merlow had entrusted to me. I needed a moment away, somewhere far from the prying eyes of the pack and the suffocating atmosphere that lingered within those walls.
Most of the pack had been kind enough, but I couldn't shake the unease I felt—especially after breakfast. Selene’s piercing green eyes had been burned into my mind, her presence unsettling.
I walked aimlessly through the meadows, letting my feet guide me. The golden grass swayed in the gentle breeze, and wildflowers painted the fields with splashes of purple and yellow. It was beautiful, peaceful, and for the first time in days, I felt a small weight lift from my chest.
I considered stopping by the lake to sit am
