Ten Years Prior
Celia sat on the edge of the small lake, watching the water ripple out from the stones she threw. She loved this spot. The lake was not far into the woods from her house, close enough that no one ever came by. It was too near her family’s place for people to wander, but still deep enough in pack territory that patrols and warriors never bothered with it.
Whenever the weather was nice and she didn’t have to help her mom in the kitchen, she would come out here. Most days, she was alone with her thoughts and the water. But sometimes she was lucky enough to get visitors.
She heard feet crashing through the underbrush and her heart leapt. Finally Lucas broke through the clearing, messy brown hair falling into his eyes again. He still wore his school clothes, though his shirt
