Chapter 28

• I sat in the library, soaking up the quiet. The room smelling of old books and wood polish, a scent that calmed my nerves. Alaric had told me I was free to do whatever I wanted now, but I still felt uneasy. The freedom was new and strange, like a pair of shoes that didn’t quite fit. Everyone around the mansion knew about my new status, and the air buzzed with their whispers. Larissa had made sure to update me on the latest gossip.
• She had stopped me earlier, her eyes clued to my outfit. "Wow, a crop top?" she said, reaching out to touch the hem of my blouse. "It’s been ages since I’ve seen one of these around here. You know none of the she-wolves wear anything like this. Too… human." She shook her head, amusement in her eyes but a hint of something else too, maybe envy.
• "Yeah, well, it’s not like I picked it out myself," I replied, tugging at the hem nervously.