Chapter 112

Vivian

I was not eating this.

I stared at the gray-green slop on the plastic tray, eyebrows raised, nostrils flaring. It was supposed to be stew, or soup, or whatever excuse they were calling food this week, but it smelled like damp socks and sadness. I was used to caviar and the finest cuts of meat on the continent. No one could expect me to eat this. I was better than this.

“No thank you,” I said with a forced smile, placing the tray firmly back on the counter. “This is inedible.”

The volunteer behind the counter, some woman with too many kids and too little patience, frowned at me. “ Not eating again? You're not gonna be able to keep your strength up like this.”

“Then bring me something edible."

"It is edible. And if you don't like it, you can continue not to eat."

She took the tray back and stared at me, waiting for me to move.

"I want to speak to the manager."

"I am the manager. And this isn't some fancy restaurant."

"I didn’t realize this was a prison,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Do you serve the rats better food, or is that just for the donors and fat sows like you?”

That earned me a few gasps from the people in line behind me. The volunteer’s jaw clenched.

“You’re done here.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve been nothing but trouble since you got here. You fight with the staff. You complain about the food. You break curfew. You start drama with the other women. You’re out.”

“You can’t—”

“We can,” she said, motioning to one of the security staff. “Your stuff’s been boxed and placed in storage. It’ll stay there for thirty days. You’ll get access again once you’ve got a forwarding address and pay for the storage fee. Until then, you’re barred from the premises. If you attempt to enter again, you'll be arrested and then you really will be in prison.”

Two women flanked me. I could have pushed past them if I wanted to. I could have made a scene. But they look like they were ready to toss me in the most undignified manner possible, and I wasn't going to be that person.

And it wouldn’t help.

"You know who my father is?"

One of them smiled. " I know he left you here. I was here when you were checked in."

She gestured ahead of her. " Would you like to walk out of here with the rest of your dignity, or shall I carry you?"

I gritted my teeth and walked out without another word, my coat wrapped tight around me as I stepped into the wet gray light of the morning.

I didn't have to be here. It was just nice to be there, to be somewhere where I didn't have to pay, but I could afford a better life. And I'd make sure that Dominic reimbursed me for all of this trouble.

By the time I reached the edge of the nicer part of town, I had blisters forming on my heels and a dull ache behind my eyes.

Still, I smiled when I saw the building.

It was all steel and glass, classy and discreet, just a few blocks from the museum and a ten-minute walk from the train line.

It was exactly where I should be living.

I walked up to the leasing desk with practiced confidence and leaned forward, letting the neckline of my coat shift just enough to draw the young clerk’s attention.

“I’d like to view one of the two-bedrooms.”

The man blinked, fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Uh…name?”

“Vivian Brightclaw.”

He paused.

Frowned.

I watched the flicker of recognition spark in his eyes.

" You'll need to pay a deposit for viewing. You'll get it back after you've viewed it and no damage has been done to this unit. However, just to save you time, we’re unable to extend a lease to you without a credit clearance and proof of employment."

"What?"

"Your records indicate. That you've been put on the watch list. This is standard protocol in Brightclaw."

"I am the standard protocol in Brightclaw."

He smiled thinly. "Perhaps you'd like to call the alpha and have this taken care of?"

I sneered. “I can pay upfront.”

“That would be first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit of a month. Without the credit clearance, I'm afraid you wouldn't be eligible for any sort of grace. With regards to payment. And you would be evicted upon your first non-payment.” I.

“Fine,” I said, biting the inside of my cheek.

He named the amount.

I did the math.

That would empty my account, and it still wouldn't be more.

Still better than that rat trap they call the Shelter.

I nodded. “I’ll bring the funds tomorrow. I’ll expect the unit to be ready.”

The man hesitated. “It’ll be on hold for twenty-four hours. After that—”

“I said I’ll bring the funds,” I snapped, spinning on my heel and leaving before he could say another word.

I made my way to the nearest café and slipped into a seat in the back. Pulled out the little envelope I’d been keeping with him. No way I was going to trust those degenerates around my more expensive things. Inside were scraps of my former life.

And one glimmering hope.

A diamond pendant on a delicate white gold chain.

A gift from an older lover. He'd been one of the smart ones who never wanted to be named. Probably married now. Rich. Still hiding.

But he owed me.

I stared at the stone. It would be enough to cover the apartment, barely. If I could convince one of the jewelry shops to buy it without asking too many questions.

After that?

Well.

I had numbers. Contacts. Former flings.

Someone would give me what I wanted.

Someone always did.

I clutched the pendant tightly.

If Renee thought she was winning, she hadn’t seen anything yet.

Renee

I felt good.

Light.

Even after all the crap that had happened lately, I was lighter.

Maybe it was the air. Or the fact that I hadn’t gotten a single threatening message in days. Or that I’d finally finished a project at work that didn’t involve someone sabotaging my desk or my food.

Or maybe it was the text from Neil: You ready? My mom’s making tea.

I replied back quickly. Always. Is she making pastries too?

Probably. But I'll ask. Any preferences?

I can always go for one of your mom's cinnamon rolls.

We met up after my last class and drove out of the city limits to his mother’s townhouse. It was so odd to be coming back here knowing that I was supposed to be living just next door. Luckily, whoever had moved in next door seemed friendly enough because they waved at us as we pulled up. Before heading back inside their house. I wondered how much they were paying in rent.

Neil’s mom was waiting on the porch, looking just as cozy and cheerful as ever. Today she was splattered with different hues of paint. Though sometimes I wondered if it was painted all. Maybe it was potion ingredients.

She smiled as soon as she saw me.

“There you are,” she said. “Come in, darling. We’ll get started right away.”

She took me by the hand and led me inside where the kettle was already steaming and a circle of candles glowed faintly on the floor.

It was quiet.

Warm.

The purification and seeking spell wasn’t flashy like the ones I’d read about. There were no blinding lights or chants in tongues. Just tea. Salt. Smoke.

She set me down. Took my hands over the circle and had me place them in a bowl of water and a bowl of salt. The world swirled around me. I didn't even get to make out exactly what she was saying. But then it was done.

And silent.

I felt different. Too different. Something inside me had loosened, cracked and broke free. The air shifted. My heart pounded.

And then the panic set in.

“Renee?” Neil was beside me in an instant. “What’s wrong?”

“I—” My chest clenched. “I don’t know. Something’s happening.”

My hands trembled. My skin prickled like it didn’t quite fit right anymore. The room was too loud. Too sharp. I could hear the ants outside, for goddess’ sake.

Neil grabbed my hands, grounding me. “Look at me. Just breathe.”

“I can’t—I feel—Neil—”

He didn’t flinch, cupping my face.

" I need you to breathe, okay?"

I tried, but my breathing wouldn't come. It felt like my chest was at once too big and too small. My lungs felt frozen and burning all at once. My skin was rippling. Like it was made out of water and glitching like a TV screen.

"What's happening to me?"

"Let's get you to the couch."

I blinked at him. “What?”

"It's okay. Just follow my breathing for now."

“The purification clears all connections you have to things, that includes any sort of bonds that might have been placed on you. Your magic’s free. Your wolf is waking up. You're shifting.”