rain pounded me, but I felt nothing-just those cr

l because of a stupid pack title, "fairest she-wolf," won when my raw, unfiltered photo outshone her polished one. She'd rallied her pack to torment

sent rich wolves to chase me, plotting to let wealth corrupt me before abandoning me to despair. She never broke me, not fully, e

hen Rowan

gles. When he learned about my grandma, who needed constant medicine, he didn't judge me. He helped in ways I could accept-small, thoughtful gestures that made life bea

ler and stayed by her side for a full day and night. When I got there, exhausted,

whispered, *This is the one. Trust hi

steady, kind, even fighting h

think the Whitmore pack would let an orphan like her join their sacred bond? Just hired a c

years, and she n

thinks Rowan's h

, stupid

ars mixing with the downpour

aughing wildly, letting

ing. It was Grandma's caretaker. "El

ehicle sped by, horns blaring, lights flashing. I was about to run to the hospital when a rugged Land Rove

rim news: "Respiratory failure. There's no s

frail hand. She forced a smile. "Elena. don't cry. I'

choking on sobs,

eakly. "Where's Rowa

I dialed Rowan's number, over and over. Ea

. She's slipping away. Please come-

aiting. Just one

I'm beg

that moment, the lies, the betrayal-none of it mattered. I just neede

ghtly. "Grandma, Rowan's probably caught up with someth

so happy.

her eyes locked on mine. "E

her gaze fading wit

lm, then collapsed, sobb

affairs, still waiting for a reply from Rowan that never came. In a q

by coming back early, but I'm

ng flowers, his sweaty face grinning softly. Another shot captured t

ter laugh and sh

d Grandma's ashes back to the h

an abortion for

pack-wide healer mission wi

, shocked. "Weren't you ab

flat. "Not anymore.

he didn't press. "You're just in time for the deadli

Go

e day I was suppose

was going to give them a