CA'S

thy thing out

at my parents. His disgust was palpable. I

forward, his chest

ne, boy," my f

e Beta's son. My father was just a low-

if proximity to me might contaminate him. The crowd pres

d pity. Some sho

oment-waiting to see the half-

d my bones ground together. Her human warmth

She grabbed my arm, her eyes blazing. I

ok my

murmured, my voice

happeni

the square, silencing th

ted. The Alph

d and eyes like cold flint. He looked at m

ate," Jack stated, puffing out

ng to the darkest corner of my soul.

g to look up at the Alp

ith this... mutt?" the Al

nswered decisivel

pletely. Pain exploded through my chest, white-hot and merciless

Moon Goddess? Why give me a ma

place for the cros

hit me harder th

il

ol. He pushed past t

is are you dismis

"You brought this animal into our clan. She is neither human nor wolf.

ughter!" my f

ered, his voice dropping to a lethal gro

the time I fought marauders at the Flintwood Sugar Plan

I wasn't "pure,

SEN

nst the wharf, joltin

but the pain remai

rything I owned in the world. A few clo

the isolation had let them fester. Every night, I dreamed of Jack's s

the rotting w

n gem of the South Pacific. T

hollow shells, reclaimed by creeping

aptain had said. "Fi

mind. His advice reminded me not to e

a refuge for the rejected and the exiled, but not all of them

and the street I followed north

west to the Belmont pack. I hoped they would accept me

different. I hoped they wouldn't c

st live alone in

n. I needed to find shelter before dark. The captain's final words echoed in

minutes when the hair on th

nsed something strang

eft didn't just ru

merged from

smeared across their chests. They didn't look like

ked like

circled me. I

fte

heir eyes were yellow and wild, and their

ng my path. He looked me up and do

is lips. "Look what the t

he blade was small, but it was all I had. My wolf rose

. He tilted his head, trying

er, inhaling deeply. "

, growls rumbling

reed,"

oo many teeth. "Even better. No pack

ched f

gunshot cracked