THE LUNA HE SHOULDN'T HAVE REJECTED

u well

ped out of the cabin. Frey was standing a few fee

ery at the left side of the cabin. I closed my eyes

at, and I heard the floorboards

hrough stones filled my ears. This was one gift of mine

irds, and that faraway hum of life within the forest.

cknowledge him. He'd made it his mission to get under my skin, a

ered, not looking at hi

me instantly became an annoyance. "Right. I'm sure it doesn't. But I'm sure

old off snapping back. Why did he h

words to come out as firm as possible, t

d feel his eyes on me-as if he were trying to figure me out. "But, you know,

interested in talking to him at all, but I kept my mouth shut.

hoping to lose him. The distant stream called

lly imagined that I might have indeed gotten rid of him. Bu

ut to the stream?" he asked, not with

tration swept through my body. Of all pl

d, hastening my pace. I needed a moment

enough with this place by now, however. Its cool rush

stop talking. "Is that how it is, th

in sight, the burble of water loud in my ears now. My f

I said, but my voice wasn't

r had I reached the stream than a flash of movement caught my ey

mbers of the

't see me. If they did, there was n

t I was supposed to be far a

as I watched them. My heart p

where I stood. One of them held something in hi

y before they noticed my presence; I was unable

ak I'd seen in my dream. He was too far away

en he hid whatever he had under a huge ro

s it somethi

fingers itched to dig into the earth and find what was c

leave, a little wave of relief washed ov

nst a noisier branch, and it snapped wi

I hissed

escape, but the exiled wolves hadn't tra

them called, his voice

stream, my breath coming in quick gasps as my legs started to

here, concealing myself behind a thick bush, I pressed my bac

bers of the pack trudged on their way. I didn't d

ore rising to my feet and shaking my head. My legs were weak,

art was pounding inside my chest as I reached fo

d against something hard as I dragged it out. Carefully,

r, with the most intricate de

g it. I had seen that anklet on her every day

ought

reathing shallow. What

olen my mot

been th

I panicked. Som

hastily shoved the anklet into the fol

was onl