The sun was high, casting the world in a golden haze, but it did nothing to warm the cold knot of tension inside me. I’d left the pack’s boundaries, walking purposefully into the woods where the silence felt absolute and untouched. The previous argument with Jenna still stung, and with no one to confide in or vent to, I found myself wrapping my arms tightly around myself, seeking some semblance of comfort.
I didn't want to think about the things she’d said or the things I’d said back. I just wanted a moment to breathe.
The forest was alive with the occasional rustling leaves and chirping of distant birds. For a moment, I thought I’d finally found a place where no one could bother me, where I could just exist without anyone else’s expectations or words hanging over me. But then a chill ra
