a's

y voice trembling. "I did not

blazer and then back at me. H

ed. "Do you even underst

a mistake. I

hat this is? This was a designer piece. It was specially

out at first. I had never seen

to bring another jacket. Please do not be

simple? Guests from other packs are here. The ceremony is abo

my head. "

t changed nothing. Then I heard

was

es went to Leon's blazer, then to the spilled drinks o

you done?"

ts turned

not do it on purpose. I was not looki

u wretched bitch. You want to

d. "That is

d ruining my dress and now, you are targeting

I am not jealous of you.

that? You are always looking at things that do not

was carrying drinks and I was not paying attention. I bumped into him by accident.

will fix everything? Look at him. Look at his

it is important. That is why I

defense. He only stood

voice that made

going o

my fa

n. My mother followed behind him. She was

she did. She spilled drinks all over Leon's enga

wet blazer, then at me. Hi

an embarrass

th. "Father, please

"You have tried to ruin your

ase believe me. I was clumsy, tha

We raised you all these years as our own

wn daughter. That lie hur

. I did not do this on purpose. I did not

anything more, his

ray fell from my hands and crashed onto the ground. My cheek

stepped in. Tears spilled down my face

p lying. I know very well

and to my che

will decide your punishment later. Do not

me. I wanted someone to say it had only been a

o one

ked a

kindness in his eyes. Then he look

s came ov

away," Leo

fore I could speak. Their hands were rough and they dragged me acr

now. "Please, let me wal

as the guards dragged me past them. Some s

used a

gagement n

ys brings

No one said it had only been a small accident. No one looked at

uter gates and let go of me so

back," one of

shut be

. The lights from the ceremony still glowed in the dist

ere was onl

coming. My cheek still stung from

for a cab. So I

the house on foot. It was dark and mostly empty. Trees lined bo

s around myself

ening, helping everyone get ready, carrying trays, setting tables, running from one task

music from the ceremony. I imagined Leon and Talia d

ng another blazer, clean and perfect again, his hand resting on her waist

s was not the first time I had been blamed for something. I should have been used to it

ange pain start

er. I pressed a hand over my heart and kept moving. But the

owed

this?" I

. I gasped and bent forward. My knees trembled.

s my eighteenth birthday. I stopped

else. It had always been easy to forget my birthday because n

as so hard that I cried out. My body folde

shook violently. The pain moved through my spine, my legs and

pered. "How

hifting. My bones cracked and stretched. M

at once, i

ing felt different. I felt lighter and s

fr

it

brown....not bla

eard of anyone with a white wo

th me, I thought in panic.

voice fill

o, A

nt s

was calm a

ou?" I ask

d. I am your wolf. I

the fear insid

, I re

ly. I have waited

sounded pleased

stirred inside m

ut then answe

ya take

ath my paws. Every scent became sharper. I could smell the earth, trees, flowers and

rees closed around us. The earth was cool beneath my paws. For

I heard shoutin

happening? Wher

looked back through the trees. Sever

, Talia, the Alp

wildly. What wer

fur, they would mock me. Or worse. They would call me strange and cursed

I told

he edge of the trees and crouched low

y stopped in the middle of the road an

id you leave our engagement ceremony halfway? Why a

and without looking a

His eyes looked wild. "She must be nearby,"

rned slowly toward me....towa

ment, Maya sti

a

exploded

a

ed me of pine trees after rain, cool night air and ced

o

ould not b

this be

walking tow

e. If they see your white fur, they will know.

beyed

t later, I was human again, crouched barefoot behind the

ere to run...n

e came closer. Then he pushed through th

For one long, terrible moment

n a hoarse voic

not br

nnot b

I knew that the wors