In trouble.

A small smile stayed on my face the entire walk home. 

For the first time in a long while, hope had found its way into my heart. It felt so unfamiliar that I almost forgot what was waiting for me at home, until the moment I stepped through the front door and my smile instantly disappeared.

​Ebisha stood in the hallway with her arms tightly folded across her chest, waiting for me. Before I could utter a single word, her palm crashed against the very same cheek Alvin had struck earlier. 

Pain shot through my face, sending me stumbling backward.

​"How dare you ruin Abigail's party!" she screamed.

​I opened my mouth to defend myself, gasping out, "I didn't—" but my words were cut short as her foot slammed heavily into my stomach. 

I rolled over from the force, desperately gasping for air.

​"You ungrateful girl!" Ebisha hissed, glaring down at me as though I were something filthy beneath her shoe. 

"You went there throwing yourself at every man you saw, and then you tried to seduce the Alpha's son!"

​My eyes widened in shock. "What...?"

​"Don't lie to me!" she snapped. "Abigail told me everything.” 

​Of course she had. It wasn't the first time my foster sister had lied about me, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

​"You never learn, do you?" Ebisha sneered. "Now get into the kitchen." She pointed sharply toward a sink overflowing with dirty dishes. "Wash every single one of those. After that, iron all of our clothes. We have an event in two days, and I expect everything to be perfect."

​I lowered my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yes, ma'am."

​"And one more thing," she added, her gaze settling with deep disgust on the few silver strands peeking out from beneath my scarf. "Cover that ugly hair of yours when we leave for the event. Don't embarrass Wilson. That man has done more for you than anyone else ever would." She stepped closer until we were only inches apart, her voice dropping to a low. 

"You owe him your life."

​"I know," I whispered. It was the only answer she ever wanted to hear. 

​Keeping my head bowed, I walked toward the kitchen. 

The sting in my cheek hadn't faded, and neither had the heavy ache in my heart. But hidden deep inside the pocket of my worn dress was my phone. 

On that cracked screen was a scholarship confirmation, a tiny spark of hope that no one in this house knew about. 

For the first time in my life, something belonged entirely to me.

​I hurried into the kitchen before Ebisha could find another reason to punish me. 

As I scrubbed the mountain of dirty dishes, my mind continuously wandered back to the email. My entrance examination was in two days—the exact same day as the pack event.

​I rinsed the soap from my hands, my heart sinking as reality set in. I can't write the exam, I thought despairingly.

​"You can," Laurel's voice echoed sharply in my mind. "This is exactly why I don't like you, Lucia. You're weak, not just physically, but mentally too."

​I winced at her harsh words, which stung just as they always did.

​"And you want to major in Psychology?" she scoffed. "How are you supposed to understand other people's minds when you give up before you've even tried? The pack event is at night. Finish your chores, leave early, and tell them one of your old dresses tore and you need to get it mended."

​I frowned, internally replying, But... they didn't even buy me a dress.

​Laurel snorted. "Exactly. You'll be wearing one of your old rags anyway. That's the perfect excuse."

​A slow smile spread across my face. For once, Laurel actually had a brilliant plan.

​Over the next two days, I was incredibly careful. I stayed quiet, worked hard, and kept my head down, refusing to give Ebisha or Abigail any reason to stop me. 

On the morning of the examination, I finally asked for permission to take one of my old dresses into town.

​Before leaving the territory, I stopped by the small pack library to borrow a few books.

​"Reading again?"

​I turned around to find Beta Wilson smiling warmly at me, his eyes softening as he looked at the volumes in my hands. "You've always loved studying."

​I almost told him right then and there. I felt a sudden, urge to confess that I had applied for a scholarship and that today could change my entire future.

​"Don't," Laurel warned immediately. "He may care about you, but if he knows, the rest of his family will know too. They'll never let you leave."

​Swallowing my excitement, I forced a quiet smile. "I just wanted something to read," I said softly.

​Beta Wilson patted my head gently. "Keep reading, dear. Knowledge is something no one can ever take away from you."

​I watched him walk away. He had never treated me cruelly, but he had never stopped his family from hurting me either. 

Sometimes, kindness without action still leaves people to suffer.

​When I returned to the house to grab my things, Ebisha looked me up and down with a sneer. "So, you're really planning to wear one of those old dresses? I won't waste my money buying clothes for someone like you."

​"I just want to get it mended," I replied softly.

​She waved me away dismissively. "Fine. Go. But be back on time. And don't forget to cover that ugly silver hair."

​"Yes, ma'am," I said, hurrying out before she could change her mind.

​The moment I reached town, I climbed onto the first bus heading toward the neighboring pack.

 As the scenery shifted outside the window, my heart beat faster with every passing mile. 

I had never traveled this far from home. After nearly an hour, the bus finally pulled into the sprawling university district.

​When I stepped off, I froze in awe. 

The campus stretched as far as the eye could see, boasting elegant stone buildings framed by towering green trees.

 Students filled the walkways, laughing and chatting with friends as they hurried to class. Werewolves, humans, and even a few other supernatural beings walked side by side without an ounce of fear. 

It was nothing like my pack. Everything here felt alive, beautiful, and profoundly free. Tightening my grip on my bag, I wondered for the very first time what it would feel like to truly belong somewhere, and I actually believed I had a chance to find out.

​I found my assigned examination hall without any trouble and arrived just in time. 

The test wasn't easy, but I answered every question to the best of my ability. When I finally handed in my paper, I released a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I hope I pass. No... I have to pass.

This scholarship was my only ticket to freedom.

​Pulling my scarf tighter around my head to shield my silver hair from the strong afternoon wind, I left the university and started walking toward the bus stop. 

As I walked, a quiet, defeated voice caught my attention.

​"I don't think I passed," a young man was saying, his shoulders slumped in despair. "I couldn't even finish the exam." His friend tried to offer some comfort, but the boy only shook his head.

​Without thinking, I walked over to them. "Hi," I said softly.

​The two of them looked up in surprise as I continued, "I... couldn't help overhearing. I know you think you probably failed, and I understand that feeling all too well." For a moment, I saw my own struggles reflected in him.

 "It's okay to feel disappointed. It's okay to feel sad when things don't go the way you hoped. But don't let one moment convince you that you're a failure. Whether you passed or not, this exam doesn't decide your worth. Learn from today, keep moving forward, and keep believing in yourself. Sometimes life surprises us when we least expect it."

​The young man listened quietly, and a small, genuine smile slowly spread across his face. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I really needed to hear that."

​"I'm glad," I replied, smiling back.

​A few other students nearby had overheard our conversation. "She's right," one of them chimed in, while another admitted, "That actually made me feel a lot better too." 

Before long, several applicants began encouraging one another, effectively lifting the gloomy atmosphere.

​Watching them smile made my heart feel strangely warm. Maybe my words really did matter.

​Inside my mind, Laurel chuckled. "Not bad, little psychologist."

​I laughed softly to myself.

​"Don't let it get to your head," she added quickly.

​Still smiling, I quickened my pace toward the bus station. But the moment I arrived, my smile completely faded.

 The parking area was entirely empty. Confused, I looked around before frantically checking the time on my cracked phone screen.

​My heart dropped into my stomach. The final bus of the day had already left.

​I stared blankly at the deserted station. The neighboring pack was hours away from home on foot, and there were no taxis in sight, no buses, and no familiar faces. 

I was completely stranded, and I was in massive trouble.