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“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he says.

“I told you to leave her alone,” I hiss.

“So she can keep bothering you?” Ezra shoots back. “I told you at the border, Aya. I’m not hearing that shit. I want her to leave you alone.”

I jab a finger into his chest. “I can handle Charity on my own.”

“Oh, really?” Ezra raises his voice. “Because the last time you told me you had it handled, it turned out to be a lie, and you were right back where you started.” He leans down into my face. “Maybe if House of Zorah had protected you, I wouldn’t have to.”

My wolf snarls. Dad is laid up with a bad back from working on our cabin. Does Ezra really want to stand here and say my pack failed me?

Kade moves to come between us. “Now hold on.”

I growl at her without taking my eyes off Ezra. He just pissed me off real bad, and I want him to feel the same pain. “By morning, all of Wintermoon is going to say Aya Bailey’s namesake got her dragon to burn down a witch’s shed,” I spit. “You just gave them a reason.”

He sucks in a sharp breath and stares at me like he can’t believe I said that. He curls his lip. “Well, maybe you should stop living up to the namesake.”

Everyone in the clearing falls quiet, and so do I. My wolf sinks down in submission. I press my lips together and fight back my tears while my eyes burn. Ezra’s scent sours, and I can smell when he realizes he really fucked up.

“Out of everyone in Wintermoon, I was hoping…” My voice cracks. “I was hoping you wouldn’t think that way about me.” A tear rolls down my cheek.

“Now hold on,” Kade tries again.

I growl at her again, and she steps back. “Words cut deeper than any blade ever sharpened,” Josiah muses.

I turn to him. “I love you dearly, Uncle Jo.”

He reads my scent, and his smile falls. He snaps his mouth shut without me saying a word.

When I face Ezra again, he steps forward with his hand out. “I didn’t mean that.”

“You forget that I’m a shifter,” I tell him. “You did. And you just broke me.” I wipe my cheek. “You win, Ezra.”

I turn around and head for the forest. At the edge of the clearing, I stop and look to Charity. “I’m sorry. This will never happen again.”

Behind me, Ezra tries to follow, but this time Josiah grabs his arm. “No. Let her go. You have a fire to help put out.”

I expect fury in Charity’s scent, but all I smell is remorse. I laugh while I cry and disappear into the trees. Charity actually feels bad for me. How pitiful am I?

I walk through the forest and don’t bother running at all. Eventually, I find my shoes in the dirt and slip them back on. I watch the night sky through the pines until the fire smoke finally clears.

I want to go back to House of Zorah, but I know Ezra will show up and cause my pack more problems. Dad doesn’t need a dragon banging on his door tonight.

Instead, I walk to Ash Clan. Once I cross the territory line, it’s as if the dragons know. The women bow their heads to me. The men nod and press a fist to their chests as I pass. I wipe my face and keep my head high, even when I walk by Valek sitting out front of his cabin. He looks at me with soft eyes and says nothing.

Then I break when Hazel comes down from her porch. I smell her honeysuckle. “Aya, are you okay?”

I burst into tears and fall into her arms. I can’t stop sobbing. Hazel doesn’t ask another question. She wraps me up tight and rocks where we stand. “It’s okay, Aya. It’s okay.”

“I know it’s a lot to ask,” I choke out, “but can I please sleep at your place tonight?”

Hazel squeezes me harder. “Yes, Aya. Whatever you need.”

She steers me toward the steps. That’s when I spot Ezra in the sky. His large wings beat the air as he lowers himself in front of Hazel and Dominic’s cabin.

“Aya,” he calls.

Hazel glares back at him over her shoulder. Ezra groans and pulls his wings in. He doesn’t stop her when she takes me inside.