le, and the silence at dinner said more than words ever could. I went to bed

uch

iet like a siren. I jolted upright and scrambled to get ready, tugging on jeans

she asked as I sprinted toward the door.

muttered ar

ding in, laying low, and not drawing attention. I let her words wash o

mine was waiti

ed, waving like we w

eally?" I r

Deal with it. We'

stence. I wasn't bad at it, bu

y mother called after me before

y quiet, don't be myself,"

ut detention until lunchtime rolled around-and wi

Ezra strolled into my scienc

at me. "

and bolted from the room. I trudg

asked, amusement d

Should I be thr

with me. Tha

and led me

ur stuf

but he beat me to it, tw

know everyone'

ke to be prepared,"

challenged, pointing to

ed and

ht me. I may have.

narrowed

't buy your parents' s

mach c

you left your old pac

did hit the Alpha's daug

k and motioned for me to f

s and into the faculty win

fice here?" I a

ed help, and I've

melled overwhelmingly like him.

ight?" h

my head.

lked in with a pizza box

" Ezra

etention ever," I mutte

er be writing l

this

gie?" Ezra

Shirley," Mateo r

My mother

. "She'll ea

ining Angie und

hy I sent her," M

a bit, then Ezra lea

, "why did your family reall

ready said you didn'

gain," he said, voice low.

ta blood, right? Strong lineage. Any

weat bead at

'm not?" I

sharpened.

o you

. And because I can smell strength

ecret wasn't something

" Mateo said, more as a q

n," Ezra reminded

nted. I wasn't sure h

n. "So tell me, Katya...

ened. The room

sked, barely keeping th

toward mine, but

"You can go. But this

ipped out, heart poundi