n't take

longer legs, a head start, a

irt to her knees and went

and left a hot, stinging line. She grabbed roots, rocks, anythi

ed low in

against it, breathi

Please

ed to a dull

t her hip. Once. Twice.

slowing. The screen lit

where

d me in my moms

guard just went d

he big

DONT G

b hovered ov

was

ne back in her poc

en. Elara clawed up the bank on her hands and knees. Mud soaked th

hen ligh

the road. No b

door open so hard it

er hand. One look at Elara's face and she d

did

ra

id that

e reading somebody else's diagnosis. "I

pressed into

sed the kitchen in three steps, pushed Elara down into a chair,

s no time, Se

ui

coming

t, I

ced. Her eyes stayed fixed on the front win

he stove ticked.

long breath ag

Still two. Angry a

up out of her before she could stop it. S

ispered. "When the bond br

king. Her eyes were wet, but her jaw was set like a trap. "Th

ed while M

ed throwing things in. Clean bandages. Willow bark. The li

eryone, and she smelled me. She said

stopped. Jus

crock, dug her arm in to the el

what ar

lls, rubber-banded. Twenties. Fifties. More

uffed the whole roll into the satchel. "I always

t takin

ke what I

it, I smelled it on his breath." Elara grabbed her sleeve. "

went

had seen only once, the night a pup was carri

ve him

walked her up

ment. Her lips moved without soun

ra

satchel. Her hands were shaking

" Elara swallowed. "Right before he let go, his ey

head sna

aid t

e. Nobody

rief, maybe. Or relief. It was go

y. "First sensible thing

the satchel, then a wool sweate

, to the river. Don't stop at the br

with

be st

eaving you

." Maeve buckled the satchel and shoved it into Elara's arms.

n't kno

eone's working out what that's worth." Maeve took Elara's face in both hands, rough and

s eyes

ra

erstand me,

es

. Her lips trembled. "Shoes off. Boots

the laces. Maeve knelt and tied them her

the second kno

toward the fro

d it a sec

Slow, heavy steps

o didn't ne

feet before Ela

arkness swallowed the room. Red moon

it. Huge. Broad

whispered. "We can

her across the kitchen by the wrist. "The pantry window. It opens onto the slope,

ps stopped

e kn

Almost

wood. "Healer Quinn? Luna's compliments.

shelves. She wrenched at the little window above the

ra

kno

Harder. The cups ju

you in there

hoved. It screeched open three inches. Five.

U

er shoulder. The window was barely wide enough. She got

be

protect it, and her hip

k. Gran,

athe

under a blow that rattled

d Elara's le

come wi

Don't you dar

door explo

hing heavy slammed into the kitchen tab

ve one l

-first. Mud slapped her cheek. The satchel thudded down beside

pantry window

m's voice.

e is

e said. "You

pa

ff. The sound of a wo

aid. "She's

door ba

the step

n the wet mint. Mud filled h

ld against the back of her neck. Carryi

ack shape against the doorwa

to the dark. Casual. Like they were chatting over a

ers sank int

, she said." A pause. "She did

nd. Short. Sharp. Then a thud, lik

not

rd the cottage. She caught her

u dare l

ead, like he'd he

e you

come down

r his head and dropped

s spine bowed. His shoulders split wider and wider, and

und. Every wolf in

ng to chase h

oing to