A P

was a doll being d

mansion that looked more like a fortress. I was shoved into a cramp

straining at the seams. It was a deliberate humiliation. The makeup an equally cruel joke, a th

ed smirks. One of them yanked my hair so hard my eyes watered.

pen and my cousin

bridesmaid dress was a shimmering silver that co

ith fake sympathy. "Are you alright? You look a

at despite being wolfless and scarred, an ancient contract had tied

box. "I brought you someth

t caught the light. "It's a blessing powder. My mother

rom the novel. The weapon meant to e

I stood, my movements clumsy, my face a mask of gratitud

ched for a hug. As I did, my foot "c

rolled fall that I had practiced a thousand

body a dead weight,

fell toward her. My hand, seemingly flailing for balan

echoed in th

ul little box flew from her grasp, t

dly, glittering cloud that settled almost entirely over Molly's

in less than

only stunned silence.

r skin. A pained whimper escaped her lips, quickl

urns! My fac

ed tracks through the powder. The scream she let out

o the floor. I stared at her, my eyes

cried, my voice shaking

rd. They froze when they saw Molly writhing on the floor, angr

geon" took over, even through t

ting through the panic. "Get col

trast to my "frightened" demeanor. But in the

o the room, drawn by the screams. She saw her daught

es scanning the room and landing on

a tiny amount of the powder on the back of it. A few small r

ictim. "It was the blessing powder Molly bro

he perfect piece of evidence. Molly, incoherent with p

ident. Molly Melton, in her eagerness, had

utter chaos. Molly was half-carried, half-dragged

o on. I was helped to my feet, my shoulders shaking, m

wncast eyes, a cold, triump

only the