Chapter 22
The Weight of the Pack
The harsh words of the pack worker stung Qjana Locke, her Healing Wolf whimpering within.
“Fine, I’m leaving!” she snapped, summoning a transport sled.
With nowhere else to go, the driver impatiently kept asking for her destination. Finally, she mumbled, “Lanxiang Burrow.”
She needed to contact her old den-master about renewing her lease.
Luckily, the den hadn’t been claimed.
Back at Lanxiang, her entire family was waiting at the entrance, their clothes worn but clean.
Qiana felt a surge of disgust, wanting to flee, but the driver began unloading her belongings.
“Qiana! Repay us!” her parents surrounded the sled before she could escape.
Grandparents and siblings swarmed, grabbing her possessions.
Cheap items were discarded; valuable furs and garments were stuffed into rough sacks.
“Stop it! These are mine! Don’t touch them!”
Her pleas were ignored; her belongings were ripped open, their contents scattered on the ground.
A crowd gathered, whispering and pointing. Her family showed no shame, loudly proclaiming, “Our pup stole our savings!
What’s wrong with us reclaiming some?”
Unsatisfied, they demanded she clean the den, prepare meals, and launder everyone’s clothing. If she refused, they threatened to expose her misdeeds throughout the whole pack.
Desperate to avoid humiliation, she complied. Their anger didn’t subside; they demanded she find work and repay them.
She spent her days hunting for work and her nights enduring chores and verbal abuse. She deteriorated rapidly, appearing years older, her face pale and gaunt, her body weak.
This drove her to the brink.
Desperation led her to seek Benjamin and Adam’s forgiveness. She knelt outside Riverview Den, pleading, “Mr. Benjamin! Mr. Adam! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have hurt Lanie! I know I was wrong…”
She repeated her pleas, begging for their pardon.
But the den was empty. Benjamin and Adam had relocated to their ancestral home. Riverview Den was vacant.
But the pack guard had been informed of Qiana’s plight.
“Ignore her. Let her kneel. She’ll learn her lesson,” Benjamin’s voice was cold and devoid of emotion. His Guardian Wolf sensed Qiana’s distress but remained unwavering. His responsibility to the pack outweighed his sympathy.
The guard hung up, patrolling the area to prevent Qiana from entering. After all, her attire clearly indicated she wasn’t of high standing.
