Samantha shook her head, setting the tray gently down on the small table. “It’s nothing, my lady,” she whispered, her voice hoarse as though she had been crying for hours.
Rina stood, her brows knitting with concern. She approached and placed a gentle hand on Samantha’s arm. “Nothing? Your face says otherwise. Tell me—who did this to you?”
At first, Samantha shook her head stubbornly, as though protecting some terrible secret. But when Rina pressed again, her tone urgent and motherly, Samantha’s shoulders began to tremble. She buried her face into her palms, sobbing.
“I… I was told to leave,” she cried brokenly. “My Luna... please... please permit me. I want to go to a faraway pack. Because my life is no longer safe here. I… I didn’t want to trouble you with this, Luna. I thought it bet
