CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The forest breathes around me, a symphony of whispers and rustles as I patrol the borders. My paws thud softly against the earth, but inside, my heart is a heavy drum, out of sync with the world. Ethan's scent has long since faded, and with it, a piece of my resolve. I push his image—those piercing blue eyes, the sandy brush of his fur—to the back of my mind. I can't afford distraction. Not now.
"Focus, Ava," I mutter to myself, shaking my head as if I could physically dislodge the thoughts of him. I've become Luna, and my pack needs me strong, not mooning over a rogue who vanished like mist under the morning sun.
The sun dips lower, casting elongated shadows between the trees, stretching like the gnawing feeling in my chest. I force myself to shift back, bones snap
