ZA'

xpected-not because I slept, but be

city. Maya's smug grin. Diana's silence. They circled in my min

e suitcase and yanked the zipper closed

a war drum. This building was supposed to be a home. A sanctuary

eave it all behind, a voice like b

ion. About time you figur

a

my spine

e a cat who thought she'd won

She wasn't worth i

ouldn't l

ss," she sneered. "A Luna who can't fight for her

aught. My b

ned s

ed her my suitcase without a wor

e were

you. The woman who thought it was acceptable to crawl into a marriage that was

mouth, but I

You don't get to spe

rds slice th

se. No one believes you actually fought. You were a distraction at best-a well-p

, stunned. Her

o

s could be verbal too-and mine wer

over, another voice

to the future

re

cou

it, a sneer curling his lips as he move

I share with Maya is real. Strong. Yo

sed my

ek. A connection built on lies

e. Maya risked her life for this pack. You? You cowered b

g the words hit and sli

voice sharp. "Fine. But you'll pay

yes w

ou had came from me. From my victories. You lived in

he sa

gratefu

hat filthy,

lf st

ing inside

slapped him hard across the face. The sound cracked thro

g, but it fe

d, satisfied. "Give the t

e, his eyes flaring, his fists

give him

e sound of my heels striking the tile t

Maya shrieked, but her voice was

walked out of that h

he Crescent Moon Pack faded in the rearview

began to shift-tall trees, de

ver Moo

o

t of wet earth filled the car.

the memor

Fire. S

d home. The structure stood half-collapsed,

ut, slow an

use, were the graves. My mo

my vision as I

ons that lasted hours. My mother cooking under the stars. Her

st, his voice booming as he coache

o

entangled in another pack's politics, blind

, grief crashing i

k me. Each tear

whispered. "We'll make

s calm. Stea

believ

e graves, letting the

, I

last thi

ached into my bag an

ne person I

i

twice before

," I

e you? We just got wo

t that for now. I need y

ere

gdom. First fl

esitation. "Of

and sank into t

g to the L

ke Derek pay for

n that

ast one of them regr