Aakifahlynn lay on the bank and hugged herself, a go-to move on her part now that it helps her with her coping. By the night's end, she had wailed freely and cried for hours on end, becoming a snotty nose mess.

Every time she got lost in her mind and grief, her body automatically reacted to comfort herself at that critical moment.

"I fed you a poison that weakened your wolf."

"And when you continue to strain your body using magic, it did the rest of the work for me..." Aakifahlyn gagged at the memory of him kissing her cheek again, so tender and endearing.

The more Aakifahlynn ventured down...