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
/1/123382/coverbig.jpg?v=11ec1c3c9a54777904f67ac1b300277d&imageMogr2/format/webp)