Chapter 1

By sunset, I finally gave up waiting for Mom and Dad.

I texted Mom to say I was heading home.

An hour later, she sent back a voice message.

My brother was shouting in the background, almost drowning her out.

“Okay. You’re on your own for dinner. I’m taking Connor to buy training boots.”

I’d been away at boarding school since I was fifteen. I hadn’t been home once.

So when I opened the front door, I felt strangely nervous.

The house was dark. No one was there to meet me.

Dad’s patrol jacket hung by the door. Under it were Connor’s boots and Jasmine’s new purple heels.

There were no slippers for me, so I took off my shoes and walked inside in my socks.

I hadn’t eaten for hours.

In the fridge, I found a container of roast chicken.

A note on the plastic wrap read: Connor’s. Don’t touch.

I gave a bitter smile and shut the fridge. Then I boiled some pasta and mixed it with the last of the tomato sauce in a pan.

I was halfway through eating when the front door opened.

Jasmine came in first, carrying her new ballet shoes, and hurried straight to her room.

Connor followed, playing with a brand-new tactical knife. He glanced at me as he passed the table.

“Oh, hey, Abby. You’re back.”

Then he went to his room too.

Mom came in last with the shopping bags. She paused when she saw me at the table.

“Oh, you’re here? Why didn’t you call? Your dad could’ve picked you up.”

“I texted you.”

“Right. I forgot. I’ve been busy with Connor.”

She set down the bags. Inside were my Conner’s new training boots.

I didn’t bother asking whether she’d missed my text or forgotten about me.

“Mom, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about while I’m here.”

She was looking at her phone. She didn’t look up.

“What is it? Go ahead.”

I hesitated. “I’d rather wait until Dad gets home.”

“He has patrol reports to finish tonight. He might be late. Just tell me.”

“We can talk later, then. It’s important.”

She gave a distracted “Mm-hmm” and went to Connor’s room without asking anything else.

Through the door, I heard her say, “Connor, I got your new boots. Are you wearing them to training tomorrow?”

His answer was muffled.

“Which brand?”

Mom gave a little laugh, eager to please him.

“The ones you wanted. I had to try three stores.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I stood at the sink, gripping the sponge.

She’d gone to all that trouble to get the right boots for his training. Yet she’d completely forgotten the awakening ceremony I would only have once in my life.

Dad got home at ten thirty.

He looked surprised to see me.

“You’re back. How long are you staying?”

I thought for a moment. “I haven’t decided.”

He nodded and went straight to his bedroom without another question.

I stood in the living room with a tight feeling in my chest.

Today had been my awakening ceremony. I was eighteen. Neither of them had explained why they’d missed it. Neither had asked what kind of wolf I’d awakened.

I hadn’t been home in three years. All they wanted to know was when I’d leave.

My suitcase was still by the door. No one had helped me with it or made up a bed for me.

I pulled out a dusty foldout couch in the corner of the living room and lay down.

My phone lit up. The training captain had posted in Silverfrost Pack’s new warrior group chat.

“Abby Merrick, your room is ready. Let me know when you’ll arrive, and I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up.”

My eyes stung as I read it.

Someone who had never even met me was making sure I’d have a ride.

My own parents had sent me to boarding school at fifteen and never visited.

They hadn’t even shown up for my awakening.

I pulled the blanket up and buried my face in the pillow. The stale dust irritated my nose. I couldn’t stop crying.

It was a long time before I finally wiped my eyes.

Silently, I spoke to my wolf.

“This is the last time I cry over this family. We have a new life waiting for us.”