Chapter 383

Rose’s POV

The wolf’s words kept echoing in my mind as I trudged through the forest, Elise’s fragile body was on my back.

“Leave her behind or she will die.” I couldn’t shake the heaviness of those words.

The words kept echoing, threatening to consume me with doubt and guilt. But no matter what that wolf said—I couldn’t leave Elise. Not now, not ever.

But as I walked, a new thought crept into my mind, one I’d been trying to avoid. I had left Elise once before.

Just a few minutes ago, I had gone to find water, leaving her alone and vulnerable. And when I came back…

I felt a lump in my throat as the memory surged forward.

When I’d returned, water sloshing in the container I’d managed to find, I saw her lying there, barely moving.

Panic had caught my heart as I dropped to my knees beside her.

Her breathing was shallow, her face pale, and for a moment, I thought I had lost her.

“Elise!” I cried, shaking her gently, tryin