~ JAYAH ~
Reckless. She'd been reckless.
Jayah crouched behind a tree, silently cursing herself as two guards spoke quietly nearby, both their instincts alarmed, though she'd stayed downwind so they hadn't caught her scent yet.
She'd hurried. Taken risks. Let her wolf run, despite knowing the animal would choose conflict over care. And now she'd lost several minutes while the guards discussed what had raised the hackles on their necks and whether they should leave their posts to patrol further.
To her relief, after another few minutes the two decided to take turns patrolling—and one of them darted off to search in the opposite direction.
Praying they wouldn't stumble on her trail, the moment the remaining Guard's back was turned, she shifted to her wolf and darted into the underbrush and toward the cave.
