a's

other asks through the door,

s I walk down the stairs. I can hear the Packs hum and murmur from a distance; the gathering is already

tapping his foot impatiently.

's just me. The pack is already gathered near the large clearing, where lanterns hang from the trees, casting a

t like eve

ard the gathering. My mother walks beside me, her hand res

e whispers that will follow. Instead, I focus on the crunch of gravel under my feet, the

n feel their stares, and my heart beats loudly. I keep my head down, hoping

packs are easy to spot, dressed in fibre clothes and holding themselves with an air of authority. A

crowd, my foot hits something. I stumbled forward and tried to hold my bala

eating up as all eyes are fixed on me. My heart beats, and I don't know what to

looking directly at me. He steps forward, and the c

mer, trying to explain and escape the

y from one of the neighbouring packs, my foot coming down hard on his toe. He lets out

g the murmurs. He grabs my arm, pulling me away fr

gain, but he's not listening. He's already

please," my mother pleads, t

eyes could burn a whole house down. "This isn't t

re of it." My father says respectf

rom the gathering, but then he sighs, releasing my arm. "Fine. But

d still racing. "Yes,

ast stern look be

y?" My mother asks

is still racing, and I feel like I'

o my eyes, encouragingly. "This is important, Talia. M

humour right now. I'm too tired, too shaken. Bu

ed. But I know the whispers will follow me for the rest of the night. I c

draw more attention to myself. But it's impossible to disappear entirely. Every time I pass someone, their

atedly, wondering how I could have been so careless and clumsy. But

hing from behind. I turn, expecting another round of snide commen

he says

rying to smile, b

lowly as if he's afrai

lie. "Just

ve to stay. No one would've blame

ing away. "But... I d

he asks,

to put it into words. "Because I'm tired

that."

range, like the world has slowed down, giving me a chance to breathe. The

ing but hear the panicked

g to Jackson with the hope that he ca

nting to see through the crow

through. I can see the Alpha standing near the centre, speaking with one of the dignitaries. Th