ing sun cast a golden glow over the trees, and the air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. She heard the ru

mantha's silver-blonde hair from her face. "

to cause trouble. Serene says I don't belong

"Listen to me, my sweet girl. You do belong. You may not have been b

"Then why does everyone t

don't understand. And Serene... she's young,

hed her fists.

ted softly. "She fears you. Because

ghtening. "But I don't want to

bout refusing to let others define your worth. You need to stop hiding in the shadows, sweetheart. Go

ed. She wasn't sure if anyone would ever accept h

ad to

thered there, some sparring, others simply talking. As she hesitated on the edge of

ting its prey. "Look who decided to crawl out of

erself to remain calm. She wouldn't give Se

't belong?" Serene pressed, a

respond, a new voice c

more than you

ng girl with long, dark auburn hair a

l

ed by many. Alex never bothered with the petty gossip or cruel games Serene play

lease, Alex. Why do yo

tearing down others to make myself feel important." Sh

Samantha's chest, a str

t to waste your time on her, go ahead. But don't come

ene stormed off, dragging he

cted a confrontation, but she hadn't

d to her.

ed. "Why did

ed. "And because Serene has always wanted to be

"You don't have to d

. "I know. But that

ntha realized she had fo

ifferent. For the first t

eals. It didn't take long for the pack to notice. Whispers followed th

, Seren

the girl she had once idolized, chose Sama

't going to

antha was making her way back to her home when sh

ore she hit the ground. When she turned, she saw

nk just because Alex is protecting you, you're

d. "I've never taken

ed. "First my home, then my family's lo

nd. "Maybe if you weren't so busy trying to push

nt, it looked like she might hit Samantha, bu

That's

orming toward them, his usually

rotect her. Always taking her side over mine. Is it because she's m

"You're acting like a

"I hate you both," she hissed before st

akily. She had a ba

uldn't le

. she might not