Chapter 25

• Denver, Colorado, stretched out before me like a city of unknown possibilities. The pulsing of human life, the sounds, and the smells were overwhelming after the tranquility of the pack. It was my second foray into the world of humans, the first shared with Hunter when our souls intertwined in a night of love.
• Walking as a human, in that fragile and clumsy form, was a completely new experience for me. I felt vulnerable, not just because of my injured leg, but mainly because of the growing belly that indicated my condition—a burden I carried with the promise and pain of what had been lost. My leg hurt, but not as much as my heart. Each step, each unfamiliar street, was a reminder of what I had left behind, the pack I once called home, and the wolf that meant everything to me. Hours passed as I wandered through the bustling streets. The pain in my leg increased with each step.
• Exhausted, I allowed myself to rest on a random bench. Beside me, an older lady was animatedly talking to something in her ear. Her curious gaze met mine a few times until she couldn't resist and approached.