CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The forest whispers secrets, a language only we can understand. My feet crunch softly on the carpet of leaves as I make my way deeper into the woods, the place where the line between human and beast blurs, where my heart beats both with fear and longing. Alex's face haunts me—his brown hair that falls just right, those piercing blue eyes that seem to see straight through to my soul. He's back in that cabin, fighting for his life, and here I am, powerless.
But no, not powerless. Not anymore.
I pause in a clearing, bathed in dappled sunlight that filters through the ancient trees. This is where I transform the worry gnawing at my insides into something potent. My breath comes out in steady puffs as I close my eyes and focus on the energy coursing through my veins.
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