Chapter 2

Some time passed.

The phone in my pocket would not stop buzzing.

I looked at Theo's name on the screen, hesitated, and answered.

"Clara, why did it take you so long to pick up?

"Susanna is starting the preparatory program in Hill City. The dorm is crowded, and she can't stand living with that many people.

"You earned the highest score in the pack. Your scholarship must be generous, right?

"Use it to rent her a luxury studio so she can live comfortably."

I washed my face. Cold water ran over my skin, calming me a little.

"There's no money. I spent it."

His voice dropped. "What could you possibly have spent it on, Clara? The pack scholarship is generous, and the Academy already covers your tuition and living expenses. If you're going to lie, at least invent something believable."

He was always like that, as though I were obliged to do as he said.

His voice softened slightly. "Susanna has always been frail. How can anyone feel comfortable with her living among that many people?

"You're coming anyway. Rent somewhere decent and share it with her so you can look after her."

I dried my hands and answered calmly, "There's no money. I spent it."

"Stop making a scene. What could you have spent it on? Fine, you refused your parents, but now I'm asking and you're still saying no?"

A trace of anger entered Theo's voice. "How can you be this selfish? Susanna has been crying every day because she only made the preparatory program.

"As her sister, you won't even contribute that much?"

My voice stayed flat. "Shouldn't she be happy?

"Wasn't she thrilled about getting into the Academy a few days ago? Why is she crying now?"

I was beginning to get annoyed.

"And when all of you took her to see the city, did any of you think of me?

"You only remembered me when you saw the size of my scholarship?"

He was quiet for a while.

"We kept it from you for your own good.

"I know better than anyone what you're capable of. You were always going to get in. If you arrived together, Susanna would feel inferior beside you, and what if she started a fight? Letting her come first was for your sake too.

"You're strong enough that arriving a few days late won't hurt you. Stop making such a fuss."

I listened, and the last ripple of hurt inside me went still.

So being capable and scoring well was also something I had done wrong.

Nobody celebrated my coming first. They wanted to take the scholarship I had earned as well.

"I'm hanging up. My answer is still the same.

"I don't have the money."

I ended the call before he could finish whatever he wanted to say next.

I went back to my room and started packing.

I opened the letter and studied the two campus options: Hill City and Moon City.

Hill City lay in the northern heartland of the pack, where the Alpha King lived.

The Alpha King had built Moon City in a remote region for the wolves who lived there.

It had none of Hill City's prosperity.

Theo and Susanna weren't there either.

When I finished packing, there were five days left before classes began.

As I packed, my mother sent another image through the link.

It showed Susanna bouncing with delight, her arms full of new clothes.

"It took some doing to cheer her up. Send me your scholarship money now. Housing here is expensive, and I'll find a place for the two of you."

I didn't reply and turned off link notifications.