第2章

Ever since I moved into this basement, my eczema had never gotten better.

My fur had fallen out completely because of the rashes.

I had become a laughingstock in the pack.

To save money, I couldn't even bring myself to see a doctor.

All I could do was buy some cheap ointment and make do.

I suddenly remembered all those nights when the itching kept me awake.

Alexander, lying right next to me, would click his tongue in irritation.

"Can't you just deal with it? I have work tomorrow. How am I supposed to sleep with you scratching like that?"

But the thing was, I never used to have eczema.

My old place had been clean and warm.

I sold it to help pay off his debts and moved into this dark, damp basement.

He had promised he would buy me a bigger, nicer house someday.

But I was the only one who remembered those promises.

I had never realized that eczema could hurt this much when it flared up.

It hurt so badly that I finally broke down in tears.

...

I didn't touch a single pack of the instant ramen Alexander had left me.

After five years of eating nothing but instant ramen, the mere smell was enough to make me nauseous.

On my birthday, I went to the most expensive restaurant in pack territory.

I ordered a steak that cost over a thousand dollars.

During the worst stretches of scrimping and starving, I had even dreamed about food like this.

The moment it arrived, I couldn't wait to take a bite.

So this was what real food tasted like.

All those times before, I had held back my cravings for the sake of Alexander's empty promise.

I ate ravenously, the rich flavors mixing with my salty tears, and even when I was stuffed I couldn't bring myself to stop.

My stomach lurched, and I had to rush to the bathroom and throw everything up.

I slumped weakly onto the floor.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

After years of going without, my body couldn't even handle a decent meal.

My phone buzzed. A message from Savannah.

"My boyfriend is going to propose tonight. I need you to go test him first."

"Make sure you look presentable."

I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug bloody crescents into my palms.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to my feet.

I sat down at my battered vanity and started putting on makeup.

The sharp chemical smell of the cheap cosmetics hit my nose, and I sneezed.

My skin was sensitive and needed gentle care.

But to save money, I had been using dollar-store makeup.

Breakouts came and went and came again, leaving behind a mess of scars.

When Savannah saw me, she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Not a bad face, but what's with all the acne scars?"

I blinked hard against the sting in my eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill over.

I pulled out my phone and ordered a set of La Mer skincare.

A second later, Alexander called.

I froze for a moment.

For one foolish instant, a pathetic flicker of hope rose in my chest.

Had he changed his mind? Was he regretting this?

But the next second, Alexander's furious voice shattered that fantasy.