CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
My heart races as Alex and I slip away from the bonfire, the Pine pack's revelry fading behind us like a dream. The forest cradles us in its shadow, the canopy a tapestry of silver threads woven by the moonlight. Alex's hand is warm in mine, a contrast to the cool night air that wraps around my body. I breathe deeply, the scent of pine and earth grounding me as we move further into the woods.
"Are you alright?" Alex's voice is soft, yet it cuts through the silence with ease.
I give him a small smile, squeezing his hand. "Yeah, just—"
The words catch in my throat as my gaze drifts back to the clearing we left. I can still feel their eyes on me, the members of our pack who keep their distance. Whispers of magic and mystery tangle with my name whenever I pass by. It's no
