The right decision?

Karina.

The sound of the wind mixed in with the rushing of my blood, overwhelming my senses to the brink.

People. Noises. I stumbled across everything, uncaring of the decorations. It was too much.

I remembered their faces, right before I turned unconscious. The malicious grins they had as they advanced into me.

“Rogues like you are only good for one thing."

My body crashed onto the bark. I let my hands reach out to hold it tightly as I forced breaths out of me.

This wasn't the first time it happened, and it was far from being the last.

But first, I had to breathe.

Scraping my wrist against the rough tree bark, I let the rhythm sway me while every exhale I let out. Slowly, the rushing feeling wanted down. The continuous drum in my chest slowed and the voices in my head waned with reassurances from Germaine filling me.

I wasn't there. I was safe, in a pack full of people like me. A pack that cared.

I would never be there again.

“Karina!”

My breath hitched at the voice, mixing with the