Ivy pushed herself up slowly.

Her chest rose and fell hard.

The pain was still there, sharp and loud, but she did not let it slow her. She wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand and lifted her head.

Ren was standing across from her.

Barely.

His posture was wrong now. His shoulders slumped. His breathing was rough, uneven, like his lungs were fighting him. His claws were still long, still dark, but they shook.

Ivy watched him carefully.

“You pushed your wolf too far,” she ...