EIGHTY-FOUR

My friend came out of her room sometime before lunch. I'd eaten her breakfast at that point and had to prepare something else.

"Good morning," she said, yawning. Her eyes were tired and puffy, her colour dull. She'd taken a bath and changed into the clothes she came in with.

"Morning." I put my teacup down, inviting her to sit beside me. "How are you doing?" I asked. She shrugged.

"I'm sorry I broke down yesterday," she said with a tired smile. "I overreacted but I'm fine now. I didn't complete my shift yesterday. I have to leave now so that I'm not late again." She shook her head.

"You're volunteering. Why are you working so many hours as a volunteer?" She looked away. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I – Do you know how far my reputation has sunk in the pack?" I watched her expression as she said that. I could only imagine what she was suffering at this point.

She'd gone from the daughter of respected betas to the only good egg in her family. Her parents abandoned the pack and h