Chapter 2

Over the next few days, Patrick barely left my side, monitoring my every move. But all I wanted was to get away.

Especially at night, when I fell asleep, I’d always see Cynthia’s eyes staring at me, curved into a chilling grin.

It left me unable to sleep a wink all night.

For me, those days felt like a never-ending nightmare, dread and restlessness weighed on my chest, squeezing the breath out of me time and again.

In the end, since I’d given no sign of acting out these past days, Patrick finally relaxed his vigil a little.

“Ayla, I need to step out for a while. Wait for me at home,” he said, looking at me.

At his words, I put on an unusually compliant act and replied at once, “Patrick, you should go now. Don’t worry, I’ll stay here quietly and wait for you.”

My reaction finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and left quickly.

But as I watched his back, a deeper wave of panic surged in my chest.

Just as he walked farther away, I saw Cynthia turn her head and flash me a smile, one sharp with malice and provocation, sending a cold shiver through my entire body.

I pretended not to see her, when Patrick glanced back, I still had a smile on my face, even waving at him obediently.

Seeing that, he relaxed completely and hurried off.

The second he was gone, I immediately gathered my belongings, ready to make my escape.

I’d always known I was different from others.

This ability must have come from my mother — she’d been the Guardian of the Soul Sanctuary.

It was the holy ground of the Starcrest Pack, where all records of ancestral spirits, preserved echoes, and stored amulets were kept, and she’d overseen it all.

She used to say my eyes were just like hers when she was young, catch sight of what others couldn’t.

I didn’t understand that as a child, not until one day, when I stood at the stone gate of the Sanctuary and saw a man smiling at me.

But in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

That night, my mother addressed me solemnly for the first time, “Ayla, those who can see souls either learn to master them…or get devoured by them.”

Later, I stayed by her side and learned much about souls and amulets.

I knew clearly — if I could just get back to my pack’s territory, I’d be safe.

I got in a taxi, booked a plane ticket, and called my brother Kellan, asking him to pick me up at the airport.

He didn’t ask any questions and agreed at once.

The whole way there, I was on edge with nervousness, afraid Patrick would sense something was wrong.

It wasn’t until the taxi dropped me off at the airport that I let out a small sigh of relief.

After checking in, I finally began to relax a little while waiting for my flight.

When the boarding announcement came, I grabbed my luggage and boarded the plane right away.

When I landed, I saw Kellan already waiting for me, waving in my direction.

In that moment, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders finally lifted.

“Ayla, what happened? Why did you return so suddenly?” Kellan asked.

“Kellan, I need your protection!” I said, looking straight at him.

Since our parents died, he’d been the only one who truly cared about me, and I knew he’d keep me safe.

Hearing my words, Kellan stared in surprise for a second, then pressed quickly, “What exactly happened?”

“Patrick is trying to kill me!” I met his gaze. “If he takes me back, I’ll definitely die at his hands!”

Kellan’s expression darkened. He said at once, “Don’t be afraid, Ayla. No one, no matter who, will ever take you away from the pack.”

His promise finally calmed my racing heart.

When we returned to the pack, Kellan took me to our old house.

I hadn’t been back since our parents died, but it was still clean.

Kellan told me he’d come by to dust off the place now and then, so it stayed in order.

“Get some rest,” he said to me. “You don’t have to worry, here, everyone in the pack is one of our own.”