na'

didn't have the courage to face him. My eyes were swollen from cr

inally looked up at him. His eyes softened with

. He reached out and placed a gentle, calloused hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don'

was a little girl again. "It hurts so much, Father," I sobbed, my words muffled against his shirt. "Last night... he marked me, kissed me, sai

for too long on your own." His voice was steady, but I could hear the anger simmering underneath. "I was out in the woods last night, checking the borde

ears kept coming. "But he rejected me, Father. Publicly. Everyone laughed.

f his? It's going to bring consequences to the whole pack. Fate doesn't accept something like that so easily. The bond between you and Andrew is still

ng the pull and I could still feel it but admitting it meant more pain. "I don't care about the bond," I muttered, my voice shaky. "H

the leadership, invites unrest from the spirits, maybe even from rival packs who sense the discord. I've seen it before in my years, bonds like this don't brea

ds had cut too deep, but my throat was dry from crying. I just no

not alone in this. Call on me if you need anything." With that, he turned and left, t

dn't move at first, but then Clara's voice ca

and some bread. She set it down on the rickety table and turned to me, her eyes widening when she saw my puffy

staring at the food without touching it.

ting, even if I have to feed you myself. Look at you, you're shak

r stop. "Fine. But only a little." I took a sm

tying you, saying it's unfair what Andrew did. Others... well, they're mocking you, calling you weak or whatever. B

e spoon down, tears pricking my eyes again. "I just want t

y would only give them more reasons to laugh. You're better than that. Stay and show them

about pack news to distract me, but eventually, she nodded off in the chair by the table later at night, her head lolling to the side, soft snores filling the room.

my mind. I headed to the training grounds, pulling my hood up. But as soon as I got there, I felt every e

sleek ponytail. She was surrounded by her usual group of girls, laughing and stretching. When she spotted me, her lips cur

of nowhere, striding over with his usual stoic expression, his arms in his pockets. He stopped beside me as he wh

ld care. He was Andrew's right-hand man, alwa

I didn't say more, my vo

She stopped right in front of me, her voice loud enough for everyone nearby t