Echoes of the wolf

ink. Instead, she locked eyes with her aunt, her expression a mask of cold indifference. The sha

red with anger. "You think you can just waltz in and out of this h

en why don't you kick me out?" The words were like

in his own home, content to let Margaret's wrath reign unchecked. Mira could feel his eyes on her, but he never spoke

ons, the thinly veiled hatred. Every word her aunt spat was a reminder that Mira didn't belong here. No matter how

hissed, stepping closer, her breath hot with fury. "Don't th

voice was ice, each syllable deliberate, cold. It was her armor, the only thing keeping her from crumbling under the weig

the heat radiating off her, a simmering volcano ready to erupt. But Mira didn't give h

storming off toward the kitchen. Mira didn't move. She didn

violent swing echoed in the night, but Mira didn't look back. She didn't care. The farmhouse had ne

ds were

. The air in the woods was thick with the scent of earth and pine, cool and damp, filling her lungs as she moved deeper into the trees. The

eight of her aunt's house. The woods embraced her, the rustling of the leaves soothing her soul. Here, s

ered to her, tempting her to let go of her control. The wolf was al

r than this, s

spring. She crouched low, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness, her senses heightened. The faintest shi

ed softly, breaking

g a beat. She recognized the

without turning around, h

ickering unsteadily. "Aunt Margaret is furious," Emma said, her vo

f flicker of irritation that surged in her chest. "And you tho

ma replied, her words almost a whisper, as tho

s. "Do I look like someon

"You're always so... angry," she said quietly. "It's l

face. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous low. "You d

ough her hands trembled slightly around the flashlight. "

ething raw, something painful crossed her face, but before it could fully surface, she h

ain, her tone final, as

eventually, she turned and walked away. The faint

ree. Her hands trembled, and she clenched them into fists, forc

, a gnawing sense of unease that wouldn't let go. She took another step

lder. The shado

the trees. Mira froze, every muscle in her body tensing. It wa

e clearing, searching for

n she s

nd piercing, staring a

her chest. She didn't run. She stood her ground, her finger

ace that made Mira's pulse race. A man-tall, lean, and undeniably dangerous. His golde

a silky drawl, smooth as velvet but wit

ual cold mask. But inside, every nerve was alight with

ded, her voice steady bu

orners of his lips. "Someone who's been looking for y

er-someone who had been searching for her. The pieces clicked into place, but the mys

asked, her

ory in his gaze. "Because you're not the only one who's