Chapter 4

A week before the Open Assessment, the training grounds closed for the sacred hunt festival.

Everyone else was out feasting. Or cramming in last-minute sparring at private dens.

I was still at the meat shop.

One afternoon, Silas showed up.

He shifted back to human form right outside the front door. Still breathing hard from the run.

He leaned against the doorframe and waved me over.

"Maeve, come here."

I didn't look up.

He frowned, walked over. "I'm talking to you."

He reached for my hand, saw the dried blood under my nails, and pulled back.

"Go wash up. You're coming with me."

"Where?"

"Lyla wants to visit the coastal pack. You're coming too."

I straightened up. "I'm not going."

"Throwing a tantrum again?" He clicked his tongue. "I came all the way here to get you. Don't be ungrateful."

"I said no."

"Why?"

"I need to train."

"Train?" He laughed like I'd told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. "You could skip training entirely and still crush half the candidates."

He paused, then added, "Come on. Think of it as a break. Lyla said she wants to make peace with you."

"There's nothing to make peace over."

Silas ran out of patience. "Maeve, I'm asking you one last time. Are you coming or not?"

"No."

He stared at me for a few seconds. Then he smiled.

"Fine. Have it your way."

He pulled a leather pouch from his belt and threw it at my feet.

Gold coins scattered across the dirty floor.

"That's your wages for the month. I already paid your boss. Take it and stay out of my sight."

I looked at the coins on the ground. Didn't move.

"Not enough?" He tossed another pouch. "How about now?"

Old Frank, the shop owner, came out from the back. He saw the scene and rushed over.

"Alpha Kensington, what's going on here? Let's all calm down."

Silas didn't even glance at him. He kept his eyes locked on me.

"Pick it up."

I still didn't move.

Lyla climbed down from the carriage behind him.

She hurried to Silas's side, tugging his arm. "Silas, stop. You're scaring her."

She crouched down, picking up the coins one by one.

"Maeve, please don't be mad at Silas. He's just doing this because of me."

She held the gold out to me, tears shining in her eyes. "Please come with us. I don't want to be the reason you two are fighting."

I looked at her. Then at Silas.

There was no guilt on Silas's face. Not even a flicker.

He thought he was doing me a favor.

He thought he had the right to decide everything for me. Including my dignity.

I stepped around them both and walked into the back room.

Silas's voice followed me, dripping with contempt. "See? That's her problem. Give her an inch and she spits in your face."

Then the sound of paws hitting dirt as he shifted and ran. Gone.

Frank came in, sighing. "Kid, don't take it to heart. That's just how he is."

He picked up the coins from the floor and pressed them into my hand. "Keep it. Your situation at home, you need the money."

I held the gold. It still smelled like Lyla's rose oil.

I walked to the basin, turned on the pump, and scrubbed my hands over and over.

Until my skin turned raw and red. Then I stopped.

That night, my father showed up again.

He took the gold. Smashed the drying racks and the salting barrels.

I sent word to the pack enforcers.

They came and dragged him away. Again.

On his way out, he jabbed his finger in my face. "You ungrateful little bitch! Reporting your own father to the enforcers! You'll rot in the earth!"

I watched them haul him down the road.

My heart was perfectly still.

So this is what it feels like. When everyone in your life turns their back on you.