Chapter 17

Scotland—a rare and beautiful land where everything felt different. The atmosphere was calmer, the pace of life slower. I marveled at the serenity that hung in the air, from the misty mornings to the quaint cobblestone streets. It was nothing like the bustling, fast-paced chaos of America. Here, it felt like everyone had an unspoken agreement to be patient—with life, with each other.

As our car cruised through the city, I watched in awe as a driver waited for a little girl to cross the street, even though he had the right of way. I smiled, appreciating the kindness as we drove by. We were leaving the city, heading towards our pack’s territory, which Jake said was far from any human settlements. I found myself glancing at him in curiosity. I didn’t understand why we had to live so far from civilization—humans weren’t really a threat to us.

“Why do we have to live so far from people?” I asked, leaning closer to him as the car bounced along the road.

Jake’s answer was brief, but direct