My mama was the prized she-wolf of the Rutledge pack, snatched by traders sixteen years ago while watching fireworks in the streets.
Mr. Rutledge and his mate had only Mama as their pup, and they aged overnight from grief.
Now, even if Mama were a beggar, as long as she was alive, that was enough.
I looked at the old she-wolf who looked so much like me and called out, "Grandma."
Her eyes welled up as she pulled me into her arms, sighing, "Poor pup, you've been through too much."
When my mama, the long-lost daughter of the Rutledge pack, returned home, the great pack buzzed with gossip, though no one knew what she looked like now.
I didn't mind-I was happy, playing with maids and making friends my age.
But then Grandma took Mama to a spring feast on behalf of an invitation from Mrs. Waverly.
There, I saw Yvonne and. Jameson again.
Yvonne's belly was round and heavy, cradled in Jameson's arms as she smiled shyly, charming the pack's highborn she-wolves.
"Well, if it ain't Katherine, the she-wolf who stole hearts across the sprawling pack of Joravia!" someone in the crowd gasped.
Jameson spotted us, and every wolf's eyes turned to him.
Everyone in Joravia knew Jameson and Mama had a past, yet here he was, clinging to another she-wolf.
As if his secret had been laid bare, Jameson stormed over, red with shame and rage. He ignored Mama and slapped me hard across the face.
My ears rang. Mama stepped forward to confront him, but he bellowed, "Katherine, I thought no one bought you out. Shouldn't you be slaving away in the labor den?"
"Or did you change your mind, crawling back to be my lesser mate?"
He spat on the ground, covering his nose. "Too bad. I think you're filthy."
The crowd roared with laughter. Guards from the General's pack closed in to drag Mama and me away.
Mama fought back. "Who gave you the nerve? I'm-"
"Katherine," Yvonne cut in, "we don't hold the past against you, but this is a place of honor. You being here. it's not right."
"Yvonne's got a big heart," one she-wolf sneered. "If some club she-wolf came sniffing around my mate, I'd drown her in the river myself."
"Yvonne's from a refined pack," another added. "She probably doesn't know how low these she-wolves will stoop to get what they want. Better deal with her quick."
Yvonne, rubbing her belly, smiled gently. "She hasn't done anything wrong. Maybe she just misses Jameson too much."
"But you were like Mama once!" I blurted. "You're not some minor official's daughter. You-"
Before I could finish, a foul rag was stuffed in my mouth.
Jameson tied it tight, not even glancing at me. "This little mongrel's full of lies. Tie her up and toss her in the pond."
He turned to Mama. "Since you can't raise your pup right, I'll do it for you."
The pond wasn't deep, but it came up to my chin.
Gagged, I could only cry and look at Mama.
"Jameson, she's your own flesh and blood!" Mama roared.
He sneered. "Katherine, you're the one who told me not to regret my choice."
"My life's good now. Why'd you bring that useless pup here to upset my mate?"
He leaned close to Mama's ear, his voice low.
"Or is it that you're too proud to handle being used by others, so you'd rather hand over the pup in your belly for Yvonne's cure?"
"You're dreaming," Mama shot back. "I won't keep this pup, but I'd never give it to a beast like you!"
Her words stunned Jameson for a moment, but Yvonne quickly wound herself around him, soft and sweet.
"They're a lone she-wolf and her pup with nowhere to go. If you don't mind, they could work as servants in our manor. We'd pay them fair wages. How's that?"
The crowd murmured their approval.
Jameson hugged Yvonne tightly, his voice thick with emotion. "Binding with a kind-hearted mate like you is the best thing I've ever done."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the maid who'd been with Mama was gone.
Mrs. Waverly glanced at a list handed to her by a servant, frowning. "The Rutledge pack's true daughter is here? Where is she?"
