Josie
For a long moment, I couldn't even breathe. The entire dining hall felt like it had frozen over — heavy, cold, and suffocating. The elders' words rang in my head long after they'd stopped speaking.
A rogue.
They wanted to turn me into a rogue.
I forced myself to stand, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. "What exactly have I done wrong?" My voice came out steadier than I expected, though my insides were shaking. "Michelle is gone. She's not part of this pack anymore. So tell me—what have I done?"
Elder Seraphine's face twisted with disdain. "Your existence is an offense enough. You bring storms wherever you go."
I laughed bitterly. "That's not an answer."
She ignored me, turning to the Alphas instead. "You three would risk your pack for this girl? For this… creature?"
Kiel's growl was low, deep, and warning. "You will not speak about her like that."
