Without a second thought, Zalena had raced back through the bushes despite the desperate howls echoing behind her from her mate. She couldn't. She knew she couldn't. The only comforting thought in her head was that she didn't outright reject him, no, she'd have to be in her human form for that to take place and tell him that she rejected him as her mate. A quiet huff came from her as her vision blurred, causing her to get snagged on a branch, a yelp coming from her as it tore at her fur, no doubt a chunk of it was missing now as she sprinted to the stream.
She had thought she heard the distinct sound of branches snapping behind her as though he was following her. She swam across the stream again, shaking her fur out and taking off, she couldn't do this. Not so soon. She still had her dut
