Chapter 73

Lorelei I chewed thoughtfully on my rib bone while watching Alpha Keith seated across from me. Without a word, he peeled a shrimp and placed it in a small bowl, sliding it toward me before wiping his hands on a napkin and returning to his own meal. The simple gesture froze me in place. I stared at the perfectly peeled shrimp, memories flooding back unbidden. In the Frostfang Pack, I'd watched as my family cheerfully peeled shrimp for Winnie, their laughter warm and inclusive. When I'd voiced my desire for the same treatment,Alpha Yancey had struck me with a spoon, leaving my forehead swollen and my dinner bowl overturned. After that night, they'd forbidden me from eating at the family table altogether. Even after my rebirth, I couldn't comprehend why my former self had tolerated such treatment, why I'd desperately sought approval from people who viewed me as less than nothing. Now, without any pleading on my part, Alpha Keith had simply peeled shrimp for me—a small gesture that spoke v