Years passed, and I endured, out of loyalty to the matriarch who had been my only source of kindness. I even turned down an offer to study among foreign packs, fearing it would disappoint her.
But no matter what I achieved, I could never occupy the place in Lorenz’s heart reserved for Emily. I was only a shadow, a substitute for the mate he had lost.
That night, after another argument, a quiet determination settled in me. My mentor’s voice echoed in my mind: “The scholarship is yours if you take it. Italy waits for you, Toni.”
It wasn’t just an opportunity—it was a lifeline, a door finally opening after years trapped in a life that was never truly mine. I resolved to walk through it, leaving behind everything that had bound me.
The next morning, over breakfast, Lorenz barely acknowledged me, his attention glued to the small glowing screen of his communicator. The previous night’s tension seemed to have evaporated from his mind.
I cleared my throat, steadying myself to speak a truth I had long carried.
“Lorenz,” I began softly, “what would you think if I pursued a master’s in Italy?”