The forest floor felt cool beneath my paws as I ran, pushing myself faster than I'd ever gone before. My lungs burned with each breath, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop. Not when freedom tasted so sweet on my tongue.
I'd crossed the border of Silver Crescent territory minutes ago, the familiar scents of home fading behind me. The woods around me grew denser, the trees taller, the shadows deeper. My wolf recognized the change in territory—we were in Obsidian Claw land now.
Dangerous.
But not as dangerous as staying.
Whore.
Orion's voice, filled with contempt, echoed in my mind. The public humiliation stung worse than any physical blow. After everything—the lies, the abuse, the manipulation—this was what broke me. Being called a whore for simply talking to another man.
I slowed my pace, realizing I'd ventured deep into unfamiliar territory. My wolf whined anxiously. We needed to be careful now.
The snap of a twig behind me sent me whirling around, hackles raised.
