Marked By Fate

orn gloves. Long hours of drills until my arms ached and my legs buckled. I w

y time I ever felt

He wasn't on patrol, which meant we

to. The silence between us had long since become com

he porch light flicked on. The door swung open

dy!

h

ng me with a hug and then rushing to dad before I could even recover. She did this every night, like clockwork. Her joy n

We proba

wooden spoon in her hand, a smile on her face despite the flour

" she said. "You're

about how she'd made a paper wolf mask today and wanted to wear it tomorrow

stepped into the house and l

n. One of the kitchen cabinet doors hung slightly crooked. But it was ours. Every

w, they co

s safe. And that was more

om, telling Dad that dinner would be ready in half an hour.

lian helped Rhea pick up a trail of toy

ies. No fine clothes. No mone

s

fiercely, even if s

o fight, even if the wor

ug me every day like I ma

ould repl

give me what

. it wasn

t was

love

rt, my hair tied back in a braid-and met Dad out back. The night air had chilled. The stars w

uch-a patch of dirt surrounded by trees-but it had enoug

en I arrived. He looked up an

training. No unnecessary

I pushed past it. I was used to ignoring pain

rills, footwork, combinations. He struck slow at first,

took a hit to the sho

he said

et my footing

hit to his ribs.

in approval

ept

and

ock. Dodge

ung to my skin. My braid st

little while, I

't wol

n't b

in motion. A girl

thing hard, heartbeat thudding in my ears. Dad sat acr

ting faster

ave