The forest was darker than I’d imagined. Deeper. Every shadow held potential threats, every sound a possible predator. Maya and I walked for hours, putting as much distance as possible between us and our territory.
“We need to stop,” Maya finally said. “You’re exhausted.”
I was beyond exhausted. The bond severance had drained me physically and emotionally. My legs trembled with each step. But stopping meant thinking, and thinking meant feeling, and feeling meant breaking completely.
“Just a little further,” I insisted.
“Aria.” Maya grabbed my arm, forcing me to halt. “You’re bleeding.”
I looked down. My feet had torn through my thin shoes, leaving bloody footprints in the dirt. I hadn’t even noticed. The pain in my chest was so overwhelming that physical injuries felt like nothing.
“
