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Accepting Scott’s gesture, I gingerly leaned against him, using his shoulder for support as we walked deeper into the Silent Shadows' territory. The sun was already sinking into the horizon, sapping warmth from the humid air and leaving it with an icy chill instead. Long shadows stretched from the trees, reaching toward the village. I nearly winced when I escaped the

darkness and hit the last beams of sunlight. As we took to the main road, I realized that everyone had stopped to stare at me, watching in concern and curiosity. At first, it reminded me that I was an outsider. I didn’t really belong here. But they didn’t gawk at me as my own pack would have. They murmured, but I caught whispers of their words:

“Oh my, I hope she’s alright.”

“I wonder what did that to her?”

“She looks tired. I hope she came here to rest.”

I avoided their eyes, but their judgment didn’t burn me like I expected it to. Historically, being the center of attention never ended well for me.

We’d barely reached the walkway up to Lucas’ house when the door flung open, and the Silent Shadows Alpha burst outside. “Aria, there you are!”

Still in my wolf form, I shrank and tucked my tail between my legs, unsure of what to expect. Lucas gave me no time to acclimate to his company. He scooped me up, carrying my body back to his house in his arms.

Once inside, he laid me on a blanket and whipped out his cell phone. “Esther, are you busy? I need you to come to my place right away. Bring some clothes.” Then he looked to Scott, who was already transforming. “Where did you find her?”

Scott was all too quickly on his hands and knees, sitting up and breathing hard in the aftermath of his transformation. “On the eastern borders. She was unconscious.”

Lucas handed him some clothes, then turned his attention back to me, lightly rubbing the spot between my hunched shoulders. “You came here,” he said softly, surprised that I’d seek refuge in his territory. “After I heard about the attack, I went to your pack’s territory to check on you, but you weren’t there. Your scent was lost in the carnage. I was so worried the Rogues had taken you.”

Listening to him talk was like a dream. I was so exhausted I wasn’t sure if I was even truly there or just hallucinating in my final hours before death. Lucas spoke so gently to me, the cadence of his voice tinged with worry that was so genuine, so tender, it should have been reserved for somebody more special than me. This was the tone of voice one would use with their own mate. We were barely more than acquaintances. And yet he doted on me, bending down to kiss my temple and hold me close while fatigue drained the life out of me. He comforted me while we waited for Esther.

I must have fallen asleep again because before I knew it, the healer was kneeling beside me, gently coaxing me awake. “Aria, are you strong enough to shift back to your human form?”

Raising my weary head, I rumbled in confirmation. I would try.

Pain blossomed through me as I urged the transformation to begin. A whimper crawled out of my throat as I lay limp on the ground, my body twitching and writhing. My wounds that had clotted and dried suddenly ripped open again, spilling blood onto Lucas’ floor, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was more concerned that I transformed completely. When I was human, I was cradled in his arms as he stroked my hair, hushing the agonized pants that left my lips.

In the few minutes I laid there, naked and vulnerable, I felt Lucas’ warmth against my bare skin and felt safer than I ever had. Unprecedented affection consumed me, and I was incredibly grateful to be there with him. But it didn’t last long.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he said against my ear.

It should have made me feel even warmer, but instead, it left me with a foreboding sense of shame.

Given everything I had lost I knew it was only a matter of time before I ruined this too. I couldn’t fall into the trap of having feelings for Lucas. He would realize how unworthy I was, and I didn’t think my soul could handle any more rejection. I was better off not feeling anything.

“Aria, tell me, why did you choose to come here instead of going back home?” asked Lucas.

I peered up at him but didn’t know what to say. “Are they still mistreating you?”

My eyes fell.

“Did they hurt you?”

His question was a knife jabbing into my chest. I swallowed, unable to look back up at him. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

“Aria, I can tell you’re not fine,” insisted Lucas.

But when he reached for my arm, I pulled away. Bitterness plagued my tongue. He didn’t understand that just talking to me doomed him to suffer

from my negligence and selfishness, like Oswald and Mara. I didn’t want him to suffer because of me.

Lucas sighed, relenting for now.

I numbed myself to the emotions that followed Lucas helping me get dressed. While Esther placed her hands on me and nurtured my wounds, I stared past her and Lucas and Scott, focusing on the texture of the wall. The ache in my heart resonated through me—it couldn’t be mended by Esther’s healing magic. It felt so heavy I thought that I would sink right into the couch and disappear. I wanted to. The last images I had of my pack kept flashing in my mind, reminding me of how little I meant to them and how little I would eventually mean to Lucas. Everybody abandoned me in the end because I was never good enough. I wasn’t sure what I had done to endear Lucas to me, but it felt like I’d deceived him, and eventually, he’d find out just how nefarious I was. I didn’t deserve his help. I didn’t deserve any of this.

Once the healing was finished, Lucas draped a blanket over me and stepped away. I lay there, simmering, while I overheard him talking to Esther in the other room.

“Do you know what could be wrong with her?” he asked quietly.

“She’s showing signs of depression,” said Esther. “That’s not surprising, considering how poorly her packmates are treating her. Being touch-starved has weakened her body, so fighting those rogues took a lot of energy, and her injuries aren’t healing as well as they could be.”

Lucas was silent for a moment, thinking. “What can I do to help?”

“At this point, I’m not sure if there’s anything you can do. Her pack has rejected her. Her bond with them is failing. If she loses her bond with her pack, her body may just give out.”

Lucas growled. “I won’t let that happen.”

“There is an alternative… but it would be up to her to make it work.”

Their voices blurred into an inaudible murmur. A small curiosity within me begged to know what they were saying, but my apathy overwhelmed any attempt I might have made to listen. Whatever Esther’s alternative was it was doomed to fail. So why bother?

I should just let my bond with my pack wilt away. They would be happier. And in the end, it would be easier on Lucas.

I closed my eyes, wishing that I could hurry up and fade away to save everyone the trouble of having to deal with me.