Chapter 63

This isn’t how I expected it to be. The forest was cold and damp; it had rained in the morning, making the path muddy and slick. The horses had a difficult time walking, and we had to take brief breaks so the guards and horses could rest. Male lion shifters were not fond of long travels. The six guards Will had assigned me to travel with were contractors, known for smuggling goods and living creatures in and out of anywhere.

“You’ll be safe with them. They’re discreet; no one would know. Stay safe,” Will had told me as we said our final goodbyes. There was a hidden pathway beneath the wine cellar. He had woken me at the crack of dawn, my things neatly packed, a sad smile on his face. I wanted him to tell me to stay. I waited as he took hold of my hand and the small bag in his other hand. I waited as we snuck through the corridor. I waited until the path ended, and the lion shifters appeared. He never did.