Christina's pov
The cool night air stung my lungs as I ran, cutting through the dense trees like a shadow. At first, I was running without direction. I had just wanted to get away from them all, but at a point, I perceived the welcoming territory. The smell of pine and earth drew me until I was deep into the woods; still, I didn't feel far enough.
I needed to get away from the stare, from all the murmurs, judgment, and fear—away from Marcel.
The soft earth under my paws dampened the sound of my frantic escape. I couldn't sense any movement behind me, meaning that I wasn't being followed, but I refused to stop just yet.
The towering trees closed in around me, gnarled branches forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The further I went, the more the air seemed to change, the fain
