I barely slept that night.
Every time another howl came from the forest, I tightened my grip on the knife and stared at the cabin door.
Something about those sounds frightened me.
I had survived Blackridge. I had survived being rejected by the settlement. I had survived walking through the forest while carrying a child.
But those howls were different. They made me feel like I was being watched.
When morning finally came, I packed my things.
I didn’t wait.
I wrapped Mara’s cloak around me, picked up my bag, and stepped outside.
The forest looked peaceful again.
That almost made it worse.
I looked back at the cabin.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “But I can’t stay here.”
I had no idea what had made the cabin’s previous owner leave, and I wasn’t interested in finding out.
I walked dee
