HIDDEN HOWL

IN

ielding and heavy. I sat on the edge of my bed, phone clenched in m

red back at me, stark

on Ceremony tomorrow. This is your duty, Tri

d left behind. My aunt had sent it an hour ago, but I hadn't dared to respond. To answer would mean to ack

should I go back?' The question echoed inside me, clawing through memories I'd tried to forget. Returni

enty-three years, as if the weight of my past had aged me in ways time couldn't. My fingers tightened around my phone, almost hoping

p, I had been the odd one-the girl who hadn't shifted, the daughter of a human father, barely considered a wolf. I remembered the mockery in my cousin

ould I return to a place th

d floor cold beneath her feet, and moved closer to the mirror. Looking at myself, I almost saw two versions: the girl who had

d metal absently. My aunt had once told me it belonged to my mother, the only thing my paren

?" I whispered to myself, the w

wn at the screen to see Cara flashing up at me. Cara, my best friend,

ly answered, putting

ull of excitement. "I had to check in

e bitterness seeped through. "I'm not exactly eager to go parade myself in f

it's important. You know how serious the Accession Ceremony

They don't want me there, Cara. The whole pack has made it p

ange. People grow up. Besides, your cousins are taking their places by the triplets' sides a

by everyone. I could practically see them now, all dressed up, fawning over the triplets. I could see their pride,

a place there, too. You have a right to be t

why she'd stayed my friend all these years. But I could still feel the weight of the humiliation I'd buried so deep. Going b

ts tormented me all those years, my own family barely looked at me, and the whole pack watched it happen. They

't care what they think. That their opinions don't define you. Come ba

k through-an ache I hadn't felt in a long time. An ache to face them all, to let t

'll be able to watch your cousins flail around trying to i

e tension, to make even the darkest situations seem a little less heavy

ghed, "you know you're

ed me as I said them, a quiet determination settling in my chest. I'd go back, and I'd face them all

"I'll reserve a seat for you in the gran

rt pounding as I took in the reality of what I'd

up, catching my reflection in the mirror once more. I could see the worry in my eyes

Maybe it was just the faintest hint of courag