Echoes of the wolf

of Mira from his mind. Every time he tried to focus on something else, her face would appear in his

ar the gates, watching as students rushed to leave. He had been hoping to run into Mira, to figure out why

wasn't interested in anything he had to offer. But the

in thought, his phone buzzed wit

as thinking we could grab lunch

deal with her attention. Not when his mind was filled with thoughts of Mira. Bu

eeded a distraction. And Emma was the perfec

r day, but Damien's mind was elsewhere. He nodded at the appropriate times, his thoughts drifting back to Mira. What was it ab

s bright with curiosity. "Have you talked to Mira

d Emma to bring up Mira. He quickly masked his s

always busy, but I don't think that's it. You

strated. "It's complicated. She's... no

, her gaze searching. "You're stil

ling? He opened his mouth to deny it but found that no words came out.

you care about her. But you need to be careful. Mira's been through a l

the important things. And somehow, that made him even more determined to find out. But he co

Emma smiled. "Just...

a smile back.

nded, his thoughts kept drifting back to Mira. There was a strange sense of urgency in the air, as

e under a large oak tree. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, and for a brief moment, Damien

his move, a familiar voic

who you thi

xpected to see. Ryder was standing just a few feet

asked, his voice a little

y away from her. Mira's got a past-thin

rowing. "What are you talking about? Who

"I'm telling you for your own good. Mira's not just a girl. She's been thro

you can just warn me away like that? Y

and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of t

way fro

feeling that Ryder knew something he didn't. But what could it

g leaves was the only thing that filled the silence. His thoughts were a jumble of confusion, anger, and c

onfront Mira. He couldn't wait an

yard where he had seen her the day before. She was there ag

he approach her? He had n

spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "You'

now what's going on. Why are you

him. But instead, she stood up slowly, brushing the dirt from her jeans

her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm

is was it. He was finally going to get

mouth to speak, a voice

uldn't b

see Ryder standing in the dis

ble, and she took a step back. "You need

his mouth to argue, he caught the look in Mira's eyes-a look of fear. And for the f