Chapter 208

Chapter 208

He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed again, feaning back slightly. “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me what happened.”

he said gently. “I understand your aged to protect whoever helped you. I’m just grateful to them for sing your life.”

I hesitated, his words hitting closer than I’d expected. He knew I wasn’t being fully honest.

“How do you know I’m lying?” I asked, my tone cautious.

Clay’s gaze met mine, his pale blue eyes steady and calm. “Because your scent didn’t lead to the settlement,” he said simply. “You ran straight from the pole to the main road and hitched a ride. Either you got to the road naked, or someone helped you-untied you, gave you clothes, food, money, and showed you which way to go. For someone who’s never left the South before, finding your way West wasn’t a coincidence. You had help

His words left no room for argument. He was too sharp to deceive, and I realized there was no point in trying to twist the truth any further. He wasn’t accusing me–he was just stating what he already knew.