Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 6: Grace: Revoked Privileges

The way everything changes so quickly, like I never existed as Alpha's daughter, is shocking. In a week, all my privileges have been stripped away. Even things I didn't realize were a privilege.

Like clothes.

A private bathroom.

Even my name.

"Hey!"

Yeah, that's my new name.

"Hey! You!"

Stopping mid-step, I turn, only to find myself wanting to be swallowed whole. Seriously, a sinkhole opening up right beneath me would be heaven right now.

It's Rafe's mate.

The sight of her approaching sends a jolt through my system, my heart lurching painfully in my chest. She's even more stunning up close, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a silken waterfall, those piercing green eyes pure poison as they watch me.

"Remember me?" Her voice drips with honeyed venom.

She's not alone. A few she-wolves follow along behind her. Some are faces I recognize; part of the pack. The others are strangers.

"I..." My voice catches in my throat, barely a whisper. "Yes."

nonexistent these days. It's nothing to lower my gaze to the ground in

I kidding? It's

I made such a

in my clothes; clothes that fit. Instead, I'm in an oversized t-shirt with holes in the hem and jeans that

shaking her head in mock sympathy. "Your alpha's little pet has been reduced to this. A fake daughter, trying to weasel her way

she's twisted facts around make me want to snap back, to defend myself, but what's the point? I'm nothing now. No

Keeping my voice level and calm is the

"Want? Oh, darling. I already have everything I want." Her smile widens, revealing perfect white teeth. "Rafe, the pack, the future. It's

It's all the wolves can talk about; the successful mateship of our pack to

dad's the Alpha of Forest

I'm just Rafe's castaway,

it's her birthright, makes my blood boil. But there's nothing I can do. She's won, and

reaching out to twirl a strand of my greasy hair around her finger. Baths are also a privilege I've had to give up; there's never enough hot water.

touch, my skin crawling. "I never

my lips, silencing me. "It doesn't matter now, does it? You're where you belong.

home, each one a fresh wound. I blink back tears, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Despite telling myself that I wouldn't rise to the occasion, she got it out of me anyway. And

against my ear, "Rafe told me all about you. How you clung to him,

thought of him laughing at me behind my back, mocking my feelings... The same person who once declared his love to the moon. Who swore he'd keep

I whisper, but it sounds weak and

there's still a part of me in denial about the

her venom, it's a beautiful sound. "Oh, sweetie. Did you really think he cared for you? A human? He was just amusing himself." She circles me again. "A little game to pass the time until he found his true mate.

possessive way she says it

clothes wouldn't be so elegant with my vomit all over her. I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms, breathing in sharp, shallow

I throw up on her, I'm just going to have to