  Maya&#39;s POV
  When that young werewolf girl named Celena looked at me with those hollow, almost resolute eyes and said, “I want you to help suppress the wolf inside me. Its thoughts are interfering with mine,” I swear my jaw nearly dropped.
  Merlin&#39;s beard! Suppress the wolf&#39;s mind? That&nbsp;was... that&nbsp;was&nbsp;like asking someone to chop off their own arm just because it occasionally flails uncontrollably! The wolf was an inseparable part of a werewolf&#39;s soul—its instinct, its power, its an amplifier of emotion. Suppress it? What&#39;s the difference between that and strangling your own soul?
  I stared at her pale little face, those once-bright eyes now filled only with exhaustion and struggle. A wave of immense sympathy washed over me. What torment must this poor child be enduring?
  “Dear Celena,” I tried to make my voice sound gentle yet firm, “I&#39;m sorry

  Celena&#39;s POV
  Rose&#39;s words pierced my heavy despair like moonlight. Maya had rejected me, but Rose... she said she had a way! And she looked so confident, so lively. She was a good witch, having healed many in the pack before, well-liked by everyone. I trusted her.
  My heart beat a little faster with this new hope. Maybe... maybe I could truly escape this damn wolf instinct that always pushed me toward Jacob.
  I followed Rose to the small room where they prepared the ritual. I watched her rummage through dried herbs, oddly colored stones, and a jumble of small animal carcasses. I watched her prepare with eager anticipation, feeling my breath lighten slightly.
  Just as Rose was fiddling with those items, muttering incantations, and preparing earnestly, the door slammed open.
  Maya stood in the doorway, her face ashen. She shot Rose a fierce glare, then dragged her out witho

  Celena&#39;s POV
  &nbsp;
  Fuck. This felt&nbsp;awful.
  Standing before Jacob, staring at his pale face, those blue eyes brimming with pain and guilt that threatened to spill over. That damned Wolf inside me, that part I couldn&#39;t shake off, was excitedly wagging its tail, making a low whining sound, and desperately trying to rub against it. &nbsp;It didn&#39;t care about Brett&#39;s death or my sadness. It only recognized&nbsp;that so-called &quot;destined mate&quot;, the murderer who killed Brett. 
  Get closer to him, it whispered in my mind, with a primal, blind hunger. He is ours. Forgive him.
  Forgive him? Never.
  I fought the urge with every ounce of strength, digging my nails deep into my palms until crescent-shaped gashes drew fresh blood. My reason, my rage, my grief screamed in protest. He was unforgivable. Never forgiven.
  I spun away, fleeing that suffocating atmos

Maya&#39;s POV
  When that young werewolf girl named Celena looked at me with those hollow, almost resolute eyes and said, “I want you to help suppress the wolf inside me. Its thoughts are interfering with mine,” I swear my jaw nearly dropped.
  Merlin&#39;s beard! Suppress the wolf&#39;s mind? That&nbsp;was... that&nbsp;was&nbsp;like asking someone to chop off their own arm just because it occasionally flails uncontrollably! The wolf was an inseparable part of a werewolf&#39;s soul—its instinct, its power, its an amplifier of emotion. Suppress it? What&#39;s the difference between that and strangling your own soul?
  I stared at her pale little face, those once-bright eyes now filled only with exhaustion and struggle. A wave of immense sympathy washed over me. What torment must this poor child be enduring?
  “Dear Celena,” I tried to make my voice sound gentle yet firm, “I&#39;m sorry, but I cannot do this. The soul... even for us witches, it is too complex and sacred. Forcibly su

Chapter 192