ra

n the wood. His sharp, aged eyes shifted from the crumpled five-dollar bill to my face

the bill one last time, then

though my heart was still racing from the thrill of the sale. "That leaves a three-dolla

and gently pushed the five-dollar bill back toward me. "Keep it, Elara.

buy enough grain to last us a month. But my newly awakened White Wolf brist

our supplies, and your reputation to make that sale. If I take it all, I'm a charity ca

lowly, a profound, melancholic warmth filled his eyes. He wasn't just loo

ouldn't quite place. "Your grandmother, Agatha... she had that exact

cash register. He pulled out two crisp one-dollar bill

aid, a genuine smile finally breaking

the coin cool and grounding aga

oss the Bloodmoon Pack's central market. The air was cooling, carrying the scent of roas

traight to the butcher's stall. The metalli

ndquarter," I told the burly Warrior b

as I handed over the coin. He wrapped a heavy, dark red sla

ing a trophy. It was the first fresh

rd the quiet, dilapidated fringes of the Omega quarters. As I rounded the final bend

side him, little Jett was practically vibrating with nervous energy. The moment t

on his scrawny legs. He crashed into my

worry. "Where have you been? Mom is pacing a hole i

flared. His eyes dropped to the heavy brown pap

aac breathed, hi

n my chest. I held the package out to him. "I sold my fi

ss. He stared at the blood seeping through the paper, completely speec

red, treating me like I had ju

Jett's hand. "Come on. L

rom a worried brother to a fiercely proud protector, and togeth