Chapter 121


    It was much more difficult than I’d been expecting. I’d already gotten stuck twice,


    Susie was a patient teacher though, and kept a level head. She only giggled a bit when I’d fallen onto


    my backside, and notughed outright. Plus, she helped me up right after.


    Nearby, the wolves Night and Silver were watching. Mark was still trying to convince them to join me


    inside the castle too, but they had at leastmitted to keeping a close eye on us outside of it. They


    also exined that if we called for them, they woulde running.


    Honestly, it was more than I expected, and I was incredibly grateful to them


    In our breaks, Elva went to Night for hugs. Hepped at her face with his big tongue, making her


    giggle.


    Susie, curiously, spent most of her break time chatting with Mark. They weren’t flirting exactly, that


    would have been against the rules, but they both seemed a bit bashful, almost like they wanted to.


    I imagined Susie’s family might not be too fond of her ending up in a romance with a Beta, I bet she


    would be happy though.


    I decided to pretend I didn’t notice anything, and let whatever would happen, happen, Or vice versa.


    I


    As I went to greet Silver, I sunk once more into the grass. Then I threw up my hands in a show of


    frustration that was only half put–on.


    Elvaughed. Susie hid her face with her hands. Mark hurried over to set me upright again.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    “Can’t I just wear ts?” I asked.


    Susie shook her head. “That would be against the Queen’s rules.”


    I’d already broken the Queen’s rules once, with my too–short glove length during the First Ball. I had no


    desire to repeat that experience.


    “Put your weight on your toes,” Susie said.


    “All day?”


    She shrugged.


    Groaning, I sunk back down to the ground, this time only so I could kick off the damned shoes. If I


    would


    have to walk around on my toes all day for the garden party, I at least wanted to befortable now.


    I stretched my toes in the grass and sighed at the relief.


    10


    +15 BONUS


    Silver came closer and I scratched her behind the ears.


    “She agrees that those shoes are foolish,” Susie said, tranting the wolf for me.


    “d we agree.”


    Someday, with my wolf returned, I’d return her and talk to Silver myself. I’d tell her how grateful I was


    for


    all that she’d done for me, protecting me from the boar, and now protecting Elva and I from anyone who


    might want to do us harm.


    atum the favor.


    Wolf or no, she was a good friend to me, I wished I could return


    She leaned her weight into me, almost like she understood.


    A bitter, after Silver had flopped down into the grass beside me, Elva came up to my side.


    “Mommy,” she began than hesitated. She sometimes did this before asking what she considered an


    important question. T


    “Yes, honey?”


    She tugged at the hem of her shirt with both hands. She watched as it folded and unfolded, and asked,


    Who’s my daddy?”


    My whole body froze. “Uh…”


    Oh, no. I had always known that someday I would have to tell her the truth, but I never imagined it


    would


    be this soon.


    How could I possibly exin this to a three–year–old? Or was it better to simply lie? I had lied by


    omission so far, allowing her to believe I was her birth mother.


    “1… well, you see…”


    I nced around but Susie and Mark looked as lost as I was. They were no help at all.


    “Um… if you… er…” I didn’t even know where to begin.


    Elva merely continued tugging at her shirt. “Can I pick a daddy?”


    I swallowed hard. “Uh… who did you have in mind?”


    She looked up at me, her eyes wide and honest. As innocent as could be.


    1 want Nickss to be my daddy.”