ie light on the walls and floor. The scent of burning wood and despair filled the air. 14
heart raced as she struggled to keep up with the burning heat that seared her lungs with every breath. The pain in her legs was unbearable, her
was lost in the inferno. A sudden gust of heat blasted her from behind, forcing her to stumble forward. Through the haze, she saw a doorway le
figures of her parents. Their faces were full of pain,
sprinted toward her. They reached her in an instant, their strong hands grasping her shoulders and
there!" she cried out, her
e werewolf firefighters, their eyes re
few hours for the fire to be completely extinguished. The werewolf firefighters were able to save some of the neighboring hou
tely for any sign of hope. The chief firefighter knelt down to m
soft, almost gentle, but the weight of his words was crushing. Lireal felt her heart sink, her vision blurring with fresh tears. She wanted to scre
ck at her accusingly: 7:00 AM. Her heart pounded in her chest as the images from the nightmare faded slowly from her mind. It was the same dream she'd bee
and her cousin Willow. Lireal had to leave her original pack, the Starcrest pack, after
r. In their small town, everyone knew the girl who lost her parents in a fire t
but instead, she was cruel and vindictive, always finding ways to make Lireal's life miserable. As for her uncle Richard, he was cold and treated Lireal like a maid. L
rror, she felt ugly and disheveled. Lireal was skinny, her dark hair always messy, and her brow
red the kitchen, she saw her aunt Nova and Willow. Willow, with her black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin, was sitting on a stool, her back straight as an arrow.
nt Nova greeted her warmly
" She took a seat at the breakfast bar, her hands trembling slig
watched her cousin, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Willow had everything: popularity, beauty, and
t work, Lireal thought
ast unfinished. She grabbed her handbag as she exited th
school together, since you
ed. "And I'll say this again! There is no way in hell she can e
y, I'll walk. It's not a fa
ired. "I can always drive you,
unt to worry. After finishing her breakfast, she gathered her belongings and put o
le, knowing that they would only make fun of her or ignore her. She wished she had friends, someo
tal gazes pierce through her as she walked past, her shoulders hunched inward. Her steps slowed as she neared her first class, History. With a deep breath, she forced herself