Skye’s POV

I woke the next morning with swollen, red eyes.

I needed to leave. Today.

The thought gave me a surge of energy. To hell with the Breeder. I wasn’t going to stay here and keep taking insults from Leon and Maya.

First, I needed to eat. I had barely touched the food at the banquet last night.

As I went downstairs, a strange, nauseating smell reached my nose. I followed it to the kitchen and found Mom there.

“Good morning, Mom,” I said as I stepped into the room.

She jumped slightly and turned around quickly, pushing something into a drawer.

“Oh! Skye, you startled me.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Do you smell that? It’s kind of… gross.”

Her eyes shifted to the side.

“Oh, that. I found some rotten eggs while making cookies this morning. I had to throw them out,” she said softly. She placed a steaming mug of apple cinnamon tea and a plate of gingerbread cookies in front of me. They were shaped like wolves, bears, and rabbits. “I made your favorites.”

The cookies were still warm, fresh from the oven. I picked up a little wolf-shaped one. My throat tightened.

It was obvious Mom hadn’t slept. The shadows under her eyes told the story. While I cried myself to sleep, she had stayed up baking my childhood favorites. Guilt stirred inside me, battling with my resolve to leave.

The cookies were still warm, fresh from the oven. I picked up a little wolf-shaped one. My throat tightened.

It was obvious Mom hadn’t slept. The shadows under her eyes told the story. While I cried myself to sleep, she had stayed up baking my childhood favorites. Guilt stirred inside me, battling with my resolve to leave.

Then she sat down beside me and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Skye… I think maybe you should consider Alpha Maxwell’s proposal from last night.”

The cookie slipped from my hand.

“Mom,” I said, my voice sharp with disbelief, “how could you even say that? I thought you were the one person who truly understood me.”

She looked startled, flustered.

“I only said it because I want what’s best for you,” she rushed to explain. “Sometimes, when you love someone, you have to make sacrifices. And you’re not alone, Skye. You still have us… don’t you?”

I bit down on my lip, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Even if everyone thinks I’m selfish, I can’t share my love with someone I don’t choose. I won’t.”

Mom quickly reached out to soothe me, her voice softening.

“Okay… okay. I’m not forcing you. I just want you to be happy. That’s all I care about.”

I nodded silently, the words lodged in my throat.

I was halfway through my second cookie when a familiar voice rang out through the open kitchen window, tearing the moment apart.

“Ethan! Training’s about to start. Everyone’s waiting for you!” Maya’s voice was sharp and commanding.

Heavy footsteps came down the stairs. Ethan rushed into the room but paused when he saw me at the table. Uncertainty crossed his face.

“Skye, I—” he began, taking a step toward me.

“Ethan, hurry up!” Maya’s voice cut through again.

Our eyes met. I saw guilt, worry, and something like regret. But he looked toward the window, toward the waiting pack, toward his Alpha.

“I’ve got to go,” he said, stepping back. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify