9#09

9

The early morning light crept through the thick woods, bathing the cabin in a deceptively peaceful glow. I awakened with an unusual tranquility, the kind that follows an irrevocable choice. A week remained for me to break the connection, to gather my crushed hopes and reclaim my former life.

Kade had departed before daybreak, as was his recent habit, leaving only a faint trace of his wolf's scent in the air. His absence no longer felt like a painful void—it was a welcome reprieve. By noon, I found myself in the sleeping quarters, retrieving the rosy-hued garments Lila had "bestowed" upon me. Each piece felt like a searing reminder of who I had been before the deceptions were exposed.

As I tucked away the final gown, my cellular device vibrated on the bedside table. Lila's name appeared on the display. My inner wolf bristled.