23

Raya stumbled through the dense underbrush of the forest, her heart pounding in her chest. The woods were alive with the sounds of the dusk chorus, the rustle of leaves, and the distant hoot of an owl. Her fear was palpable, threatening to consume her at any moment. She clutched the piece of paper tightly in her hand, desperately hoping that its contents would reach their intended recipient.

She followed the path that Penelope had shown her, but in her rush, she stumbled into a shallow ditch, barely managing to muffle her cry of surprise. She quickly righted herself, her eyes darting around as she tried to assess her surroundings. In the distance, she could see the guards, their voices carrying in the still air.

"Can you believe it?" One of the guards chuckled. "Penelope, caught sleeping with Alpha Liam. What a joke!"

Raya did her best to hold her breath and remain silent, her heart pounding as she crouched in the shadows. She could hear the guards laughing and making crude jokes about