Malia ran like the wind, her paws barely touching the forest floor as she weaved through thick trees and over tangled roots. Every muscle in her body worked in sync, driven by instinct, thrill—and the heat of the chase. She wasn’t just running for the fun of it. No, this was more than a game. Her heart thundered with the knowledge that if Dean caught her, everything would change. And if he didn’t… she might never stop running.
The wind shifted, and she caught a new scent in the air—damp, cool, clean. Water. Malia followed it, veering off the main trail and into a quieter part of the forest. The smell led her to a sudden break in the trees, where moonlight spilled over the still surface of a lake, hidden deep within the woods. The lake shimmered like glass under the pale silver glow, utter
