#Chapter 98: Do It Yourself

For a brief moment, Caleb’s entire face goes slack with shock. In that instant, I feel vindicated, like maybe he’ll learn something now. However, in the next second, his face hardens instead. His words like ice, he says, “What did you just say to me?” Any other day, maybe I would have backed down. The Alpha is intimidating when he’s pissed off. Even now, I feel a tremor of fear zip down my spine. But fear isn’t the only thing I feel. A kindling of defiance has always simmered inside of my soul, ever since my disgrace. It comes forward now and then, usually to get me in trouble, before I can suppress it once more to keep the peace. Right now, that defiance burns like a bonfire. Maybe it’s the near-freedom that comes from being in this place. Maybe it’s the confidence that Caleb can’t kill me here, unless he wants to leave himself entirely servant-less. I imagine he’d be dead in two days, not knowing how to pour his own ice water. Whatever the cause, the defiance is there, b