Chapter 2

I studied ballet for 12 years.

I started when I was seven, and I often trained until my toes bled.

At 19, I won gold at the national competition. My teacher said I had real talent and urged me to train abroad.

But then Isaac told me, "Linda, a Luna doesn't need to be a ballet dancer. I need you to learn HR and finance so you can help me run the pack's businesses."

For the first time, one thing felt completely clear: Isaac needed me.

I put my ballet shoes at the bottom of the closet and threw myself into the hollow role of Luna.

And just like that, four years went by.

On Thursday evening, Isaac picked me up so we could approve the venue decorations.

When I came downstairs, Chloe was sitting on the couch with a velvet box in her lap.

My mother was helping her with the clasp of a necklace.

"Linda." Chloe looked up and smiled at me. "Isn't this necklace pretty? Isaac wants me to wear it to the party."

I looked at the wolf's-head pendant around her neck. It was the same necklace she'd chosen two days earlier, when Isaac let her pick first.

Isaac was standing in the doorway to the living room with his car keys in his hand.

He looked at me and opened his mouth, ready to explain.

I said it for him. "I don't have a wolf. I'm not strong enough. That necklace is perfect for Chloe."

He frowned. "Linda—"

"Let's go," I said, cutting him off as I opened the car door. "We have a tasting today too."

In the car, everything was the same as always.

Chloe's shawl was on the passenger seat, and the seatback was tilted to the angle she liked.

I opened the back door and got in. Isaac looked at me in the rearview mirror.

I used to love sitting up front next to him.

"She really loves that necklace," he said. "But I'm having your gift remade. I mean it."

"Okay."

"Trust me."

"Mm-hm."

"Linda." At a red light, Isaac turned and reached back for my hand.

He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand, the way he always did when he wanted to calm me down.

When I didn't answer, he lowered his voice. "Don't be like this. I'm not used to you being like this."

I still didn't say anything.

The light turned green, and the car behind us honked.

Isaac turned back to the road. "Chloe has the strongest wolf in your family. Part of the reason I let her have her way is for your sake. Staying on her good side makes things easier for you at home. Do you understand?"

Then he added, "You always make such a big deal out of little things—"

I met his eyes in the rearview mirror. "They're not small to me."

He stopped talking.

I kept looking out the window. The plane trees along the road were bare.

Everything out there looked dead.

I didn't want to speak to him. When we got home, I slammed the car door and went straight inside.

He followed me in.

My mother saw us and stopped me. "Linda, what are you doing?"

"Nothing." I kept walking.

Her voice rose. "Linda Allen, stop right there! Do you have any idea how this makes you look?"

I stopped and turned around to face her.

"Your bonding ceremony is next Saturday. What is the rest of the pack going to think?" my mother shouted. "You're a grown woman, and you still don't know how to behave. You're nothing like Chloe!"

That struck a nerve, and my eyes burned.

"Mrs. Allen, Linda's just nervous before the ceremony," Isaac said.

My mother gave him an approving look. "Alpha Kane, I'm so sorry. We've spoiled her."

Then she turned on me again. "If you don't give her a proper apology, get out of my house!"

Everything went quiet for a second.

I kept my chin up and stared at them.

Everyone in that room looked like a stranger.

Isaac came over and patted my shoulder.

"Go to your room for now, Linda. Don't make your parents angry."

He followed me all the way to my bedroom. When I still said nothing, he sat beside me and tried to put an arm around my shoulders.

"Linda, don't take what she said to heart."

I turned away from him.

His hand stopped where it was.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by Chloe's voice. "Isaac, can I go over the show details with you one more time?"

I looked at Isaac.

He hesitated. Then he kissed the top of my head, got up, and went to the door anyway.

"Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'll pick up the custom diamond ring I ordered for you."

The door closed.

Their footsteps faded down the hall.

I scoffed and bent down to pull my dusty ballet shoes from the bottom of the closet.

I texted Jess again.

"Any news from the company?"

My screen lit up almost immediately with a reply from Jess.

"You're in! Swan Lake, next Sunday. I just emailed you the details."

I didn't want to stay in this place for one more minute.