The Alpha Rejected Her at Midnight, Then the Land Chose Her novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Quarry

"Where's Junie?" Rowena said.

She stood at the top of the quarry road with her blanket knotted at her shoulder and her chest heaving.

"Safe. For now." Vivian turned the silver knife in the lantern light. "Did you come alone? I said alone."

"I'm alone."

"Good girl."

The rim of the quarry lit up.

Wolves rose out of the dark on three sides, grey and brown and black, twenty of them with their heads low. They were Crowe cousins and hunting-lodge men.

Rowena had broken bread with half of them.

"Don't mind them," Vivian said. "They're only here so you'll listen."

"Vivian, give me my friend."

"In a moment. First I want you to ask me what you're dying to ask."

Rowena said nothing.

Vivian smiled, patient and warm.

"Go on. Ask why."

"Why?"

"Because you were supposed to be a cook," Vivian said. "A sad little cook in a clinic apron who never shifted. That's all you had to be."

"My father saw your mother's face on you the day you turned seventeen. He came home shaking."

"He told me what you were. He told me what to put in your cider."

Rowena felt something go cold and still in her chest.

"The cider."

"Dullroot, from the lodge. We use it to keep captured wolves from changing. Every day for a year, a little in your cup. It kept your wolf down."

"It nearly worked. I'm sorry, it really was a close thing."

"You braided my hair."

"I did, and you were so happy." Vivian's voice dropped. "I told you not to be afraid. I meant that. I'm not a monster, Ro. I only needed you to say Accepted."

"Accepted," Rowena said.

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