Chapter 10
Janne’s POV
swung the sword again, feeling the weight of the blade as it sliced through the air. My target, a worn and slightly battered dummy, stood right in front of me. I sometimes imagined it had a face and right now, it had several. Collins, the face of my parents when they argued. Today, their voices what they thought was best for me. I didn’t need to see them. I could still hear them clear enough from the training yard
“You think I want her to become some helpless wolf?” my father’s voice echoed in my head like some bad record,
She needs to learn to move in in peace and be happy,” my mother replied sternly. “You think it’s easy for her to be in all this pain over some mant There will be others! She needs to drop that idea and get over him. Plus marrying a good man will secure her future.”
Marrying again huh? The thought made my stomach twists in hard, tight knots, I could understand that my mother couldn’t see my one wish–19 fuck up Collins so badly. The one thing that went on over and over in my head. But she was too caught up in her own thoughts on what she thought was best. Debating over my life like I wasn’t even in the room. I wanted to storm in while yelling I was fine and that they’d just close the topic.
I took a deep breath and focused on the dummy again. “I can’t become what they want,” I muttered to myself, imagining every jab and slash was aimed at their voices. “I want to even get married again. I want to tear that bastard apart!”
The sword clashed against the dummy with a satisfying thud. “If only it was that easy.” I sighed.
Another strike echoed in the yard, the dummy swaying slightly but holding its ground. My thoughts clouded as I remembered my brother, my elder brother, Nathan. He was the one meant to take over, the one who would become alpha. “How I wished I could become one” My plans woul have been so much easier to carry out
The dummy felt the brunt of my anger as I slashed down again, harder this time. “Nathan gets the throne, and I get a wedding dress?” 1 spat out the words, feeling the heat of my anger bubble. I wished I could change things
“Joanne! What is that racket?” my mother’s voice called from the door.
1 froze, caught mid–swing. “Just practicing, Mom!” I called back, my voice slightly higher than it should have been. They didn’t need to worry abour me, I was fine Just a little angry.
My mind raced back to their argument again. “It’s just not fair!” I mumbled to the empty yard. “Why can’t I just become an alpha and make all this shir easier Why do I have to wait?”
The dummy silently mocked me, standing there without budging an inch. My fingers tightened around the sword, my breath quickened. “These stupid traditions are dumb!” I cried, slashing at the dummy with all my might. “If 1 could be alpha, 1 could take control. I could lead the pack”
I kicked the dummy, sending it toppling over onto the grass. “Stupid traditions!” I hissed, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “Why do I have to play nice Why do I have to conform!”
In my mind, I was already on the battlefield with my enemy, leading and having all of them at my friggin mercy
“You want revenge on everyone who has doubted you.” I whispered to myself, pushing my hair back angrily. “All I do is train while you sit there, telling me what marriage should welcome. It’s not just about love.” but there was no way! could say all that to mother. She would be so upset
“Joannel” My mother’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts once more. “Get in here darling. We need to talk!”
I clenched my fists in frustration. “What now?” I mumbled, dragging my feet toward the house. The last thing I wanted to do was sit and listen. I just wanted to make my point clear to them. “A marriage won’t fucking do anything for me!”
“Calmly Jo. There will be no yelling” I quietly mumbled to myself.
But dain’t they realize! My parents, all their arguing had only made things worse. Each word they exchanged held a weight that crushed me a more. As I entered the house, the tension hung like a storm cloud.
Jounne, we need to discuss your future,” my father said, his eyes trained on me.
“I koer,” I replied, feeling the leat rise in my cheeks. “You want me to marry someone-
“That’s not the only option, my mother interrupted, trying to sound soothing. “We just want what’s best for you.”
“Best for me?” I echoed, my voice rising. “Don’t you get it? What’s best for me isn’t sitting around waiting for goddess knows what!”
“Joanne, it’s not that umple,” my mother chimed iii from behind me.
“Yeah! Why not? You’re going to be in charge anyway!” I threw my y hands up in despair. “I can fight, I’m strong! I deserve to take charge, but no! You don’t see ine! All you care about is keeping the precious tradition intact Mom, please, has it ever occurred to you that I’m not interested in getting married again?”
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Chapter 10
“Joanne” my mother said softly, her voice lilting. “Weren’t you taugh
taught to respect your heritage.”
“Respect?” I laughed bitterly, a spark of defiance igniting within me. “I want to be respected for who I am! Not just for who I might marry!”
I stomped back towards the yard, feeling their gazes on my backs as I left. I would feel guilty about yelling later but it was too much.
As I stepped outside, I glanced over at the fallen dummy.
“I will find a way.” I whispered to myself, gripping the sword tightly.
“Come hell or high water.
