CHAPTER 57 - Down South

Lyra I walked to a secluded clearing past the Quad, far away from prying eyes. It was early morning, and few wolves were about. The grass was still damp with dew, and the air smelled fresh and crisp. Birds chirped in the trees, their songs echoing through the quiet forest. I reveled in the quietness and solitude. It was a welcome change from the constant buzz of activity at the university. I took a deep breath, letting the peacefulness wash over me. For a moment, I could forget about all my worries and just be. As I tied my shoe laces on a fallen log, my thoughts drifted back to Ryan in my dorm room and the way Whitney's face had looked after catching us together. Her initial shock quickly turned into a sheepish smile when she realized what she had just walked in on. With our hair mussed and my lip gloss covering Ryan's mouth, what else could she think? "Oh! I'm so sorry," she said, her cheeks turning pink. "I didn't mean to interrupt." I felt my own face flush with embarrassme