A

ally began settling i

assigned to share a room with her. Nina had been so thrilled about it that she spent half

. I was ex

A roof over my head. A source of income. And most importantly, the kitchen wa

running into the Beta o

felt like

, work hard, and prove I was useful enou

e being directed to the kitchen at sunrise. Staff hurried in and out carrying bas

s cha

ramatically, nudging my shoulder. "If Head Chef Samara no

choked ou

he older kitchen workers shoved

uty. Go uproot lettuce and cabbage

ediately. "Why i

uch," the woman snapped

muttered complaints under he

rough the back gate of the pack and continued down a narrow

ng to memorize the route to p

I started noticing

rmal g

l sta

strange expressions on their faces. A woman standing beside a fruit stall nearly dropped t

h twisted

to pull my hoodie over my face-only to

hoo

ately crept

htly forward, trying my best to hide my

ina frowned

y, Nina stop

bumped

ring at a man standing near a butcher's stall. He hadn't ev

hand on her hi

oudly. "Why are you staring at a young gi

d, clearly cau

I

narrowing her eyes at him. "If you have something to say, the

een Nina and me bef

he muttered. "She

t in sharply befo

t again and began draggi

my heartbeat pounding pa

il leading toward the lower gardens. The climb was steep and exhausting

tched across the field, swaying

basket onto the ground. "If I ever become

ted. Dirt stained my fingers while the cold earth clung beneath my nails, but honestly, I pref

e full, Nina immedia

quickly following after her as we rush

*

from sight, a tall shadow st

e man tilted his head slowly, his paint

s voice low enough to send chil

ok, he appeare

as he lifted a hand to the side of his

linked calmly. "I

ce before Ryker's voice

you?" he as

arkness ahead. "In town," he replied. "She appeared to

ed laugh through the mind-link. "Then

by pack security and told that sh