46

I had tried once to talk Mom out of visiting with Bryn, declaring that making nice with Bryn wouldn’t matter in the end because she wasn’t staying once she’d served her purpose. But of course, Mom had ignored me.

I guess she must get something out of these morning meetings with Bryn if she kept coming. I knew better than to continue debating the issue with her, so I allowed the morning chats and meal drop-offs to continue, even though I knew it was pointless.

Outside, the air was crisp and cool, and the sky was pale blue with splotches of gray clouds spread out along the horizon. Ideal weather for a morning run. I began at a jog, heading into the forest, my breath puffing out as white steam in front of me as I fell into a rhythm. The forest seemed to open up for me as I moved deeper along the path that I, and so many other wolves before me, had worn into the ground.

I upped my pace as I went deeper into the forest. I could almost close my eyes—I knew the path so well. When I went on