I dragged myself out of bed, every bone in my body aching from the night before. Sleep had given me no peace, only fear and questions that refused to leave my head. The green strands in my hair mocked me every time I moved, glowing faintly when the sunlight slipped through the thin curtains.
Still, no matter how I felt, I knew I had to join the kitchen for breakfast duty. If I missed, the whispers would grow louder. Helen would use it against me. And Alpha Johnson… I didn’t even want to think about what he would do if I disobeyed.
I forced myself toward the bathroom, my legs dragging. My reflection in the mirror caught me off guard. My skin looked pale, my eyes sunken. The green hair shimmered as if alive, as if mocking my weakness.
I clenched my jaw and turned away quickly.
The bathtu
