The air outside was crisp and carried the faint scent of pine and earth, but it did little to calm my nerves. I had to get out of the pack house. Sitting there and letting my thoughts spiral endlessly about Esmeralda was doing me no good. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Every time I inhaled, I imagined her scent.
It wasn’t fair.
My feet crunched against the gravel as I walked toward the training grounds, hoping some fresh air and movement would clear my head. Instead, I felt a familiar presence.
"Michelle," a deep voice called out from behind me.
I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was—Jake. The tone of his voice was laced with that self-assured arrogance I used to find charming but now made my skin crawl.
"What do you want, Jake?" I asked, keeping my tone as neutral a
