CHAPTER 38 - Just a Taste

Ryan After my run in with Lyra, I couldn't shake the unease that had settled in my gut. The doubts gnawed at me, a constant itch I couldn't scratch. It was almost time for my birthday. The announcement of the Luna trials. I should fee excited about finally getting a mate, but the idea filled me with nothing but sadness… and dread. Restless, I found myself wandering the woods, the cool shade of the trees offering a a break from my thoughts. The scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils, grounding me in the present. As I walked, a familiar scent caught my attention. Sweet summer honey and a field of wildflowers. Lyra. She was here, in the woods, alone. I followed her scent, moving silently through the underbrush. When I caught sight of her, my breath hitched. She was walking along the path, her golden hair catching the end of the sun's rays. filtering through the leaves. She carried a pile of books clutched to her chest. Green eyes red and puffy. She looked lost in thought, her