Hanna bit her lip hard, a growing anxiety tightening in her chest. Her heart was torn between pressing forward or turning back. Every step felt heavy and uncertain. The moment she cleared the row of trees, she ducked back into hiding. Even the whisper of wind brushing her ears was enough to send a tremor of fear through her entire body.

  She peeked again from between the trees, her eyes scanning every corner, making sure no one was watching. She drew in a long breath, as deep as she could, then let it out slowly. She needed to steady her pounding heart before it burst.

  Certain the area around the house was truly silent, Hanna made her move.

  She ran swiftly. Each step made her heart race faster. When she reached the clothesline, her hands moved quickly—snatching the clothes and jacket hanging there. Out of necessity, she took some of the money she carried and tucked it neatly into the line as payment.

  But before she could leave, her gaze fell on a pair of boots beside the house, set out as if to dry.

  Hanna froze. Doubt clenched her heart at the thought of stealing them.

  “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” she whispered again and again, barely audible.

  Without waiting any longer, she grabbed the boots and ran as fast as she could. In her haste she stumbled several times, crashing to the ground. Still, she scrambled up and kept running.

  When Hanna reached the cover of the trees in the forest, she threw herself down, hiding in silence. From between the trunks, she saw a woman step out of the small house, wearing only a bikini.

  Hanna held her breath, watching without moving.

  “Fuck!” the woman suddenly shouted, her eyes darting to the empty clothesline. “Fuck!” she cried again when she saw the boots were gone too.

  The woman looked around, searching for the unseen culprit.

  “Fuck you! Asshole!” she barked angrily.

  Hanna shrank lower behind the tree. “I’m sorry,” she whispered softly, only to herself.

  The woman turned to go back inside, but stopped. Her eyes fell on the clothesline post. She picked up something tucked there. Then she looked toward the forest, her voice gentler.

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  “Hey… if you need more clothes, there are plenty inside… if you’re hungry, I can cook for you.”

  Hanna stayed silent.

  A moment later, a man wearing only shorts appeared in the doorway.

  “Why were you screaming?” he asked.

  The woman startled for a second. In a quick motion, she slipped the money into her underwear.

  “It’s nothing,” she said casually.

  The man glanced at the clothesline. “Hey… where are your clothes?”

  “Someone stole them.”

  “What!” He stepped forward, but the woman shoved him back inside and slammed the door shut.

  Hanna wasted no time. Her breath still ragged, she quickly pulled the clothes over her body.

  ______

  Meanwhile, at the edge of the riverbank, Marcus and Marco stood frozen. Their eyes swept sharply across every inch of ground, but confusion showed clearly on their faces. The girl’s scent, so strong moments ago, had vanished.

  “It’s impossible she jumped or swam across,” Marco muttered, breaking the silence.

  Marcus didn’t answer. He watched the raging current crashing against the boulders below. Seeing the river’s width, logic agreed with Marco—rapids that fierce promised only death to anyone brave enough to dive in. Even in their werewolf forms, they might not cross that distance in a single leap.

  “We search there,” Marcus said curtly, pointing to the right, choosing instinct over standing helpless at the cliff.

  ________

  Hanna straightened her clothes before pulling on the boots, which felt slightly loose on her feet. Before closing her bag, she took out the envelope of money. Her attention shifted when a small folded paper slipped out from between the bills.

  She grabbed it quickly and opened it.

  “Mahathan?” The name slipped from her lips, unfamiliar. Without thinking, she folded the note and tucked it into her jeans pocket with a few dollar bills. She had to leave immediately; the hunters would not stop until they found her trail.

  Hanna started running again, this time toward a path not far away.

  Her steps felt heavy and awkward because of the mismatched boots, forcing her to struggle for balance. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she pushed forward, her breath growing shorter.

  After several minutes, she finally saw the end of the narrow path connecting to a wide main road under the fading evening light.

  Hanna froze for a moment, her face blank without any joy. Her eyes darted left and right, weighing her options before she followed her instinct to the left. She walked quickly, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

  The sunlight slanted lower, warning that the sun would soon sink below the horizon. On the empty road without a single vehicle, Hanna kept walking alone.

  The evening silence was suddenly shattered by a piercing siren. Hanna flinched and turned. A police car stopped right beside her, forcing her to halt.

  “Hey, where are you headed?” the officer asked from inside.

  “I’m going to the nearest town,” Hanna replied shortly.

  The officer stared at her face with a long, sharp look. “I’ve never seen you around here before.”

  “I’m from Silverpine,” Hanna said.

  “Oh, Silverpine. So what are you doing here?”

  “Visiting my aunt,” Hanna answered, her voice trembling slightly.

  The officer glanced at the back seat as if thinking. “You coming from Paige’s house?”

  “Yes,” Hanna said, though her heart pounded harder.

  “Why didn’t she drive you to town?”

  The question stole her voice. Her mind went blank, unable to find a believable answer.

  “Never mind. Get in. I’ll give you a ride to town,” the officer said, ending the suffocating silence.