VERA'S POV
The weight of Samuel's taunts lingered in my mind long after he disappeared. His words had hit a nerve, one I hated to admit existed in the first place. Maybe he was right—I didn’t belong here. But it didn’t mean I couldn’t carve out a space for myself, even if it killed me.
As the morning rolled on, I tried to shake off my mood by busying myself around the pack grounds, lending a hand and helping in any way I could. But no matter where I went, I could feel the eyes of the White Shadow Pack members on me. Some were curious, others cautious, and a few outright hostile. It was the hostility that stung the most, even if I tried to pretend it didn’t.
I kept walking, letting my feet lead me aimlessly until I found myself at the edge of the training grounds. The sound of voices and
