I couldn’t smell our bodyguard by the time I had finished my run. Hazel was deep inside grieving over the loss of her mate, the loss of Lapis, the loss of everything she had loved. I wanted to grieve too I wanted nothing more than to point my nose to the moon and howl until I was hoarse. But I couldn’t do that now that Hazel needed me. She’s always been the stronger of us, I know that.
A strange scent tickled my nose. I wrinkled it and glanced around the forest brush. I wasn’t sure what it was, it was unique and yet familiar. I sniffed again as I tried to track it down. Axel was forgotten as I threw myself into my task. Anything to keep my mind off what was happening in that mansion now that we were gone.
The scent went under berry bushes, through a small stream, over a fallen log, and
