Chapter 16 

~Valeria ~ Wide eyes stare at me. How did I just do that? “V—Valeria…” My father doesn’t look away from me as he helps Mother up. I glance at my hands. “You are strong… you—” “How?” I whisper. Father studies me as though I’m both a miracle and a threat. “A… a late bloomer perhaps? You are a true werewolf after all,” he says, sounding very unsure. That makes no sense. I’ve never heard of something like this happening. You’re either a true werewolf and get this strength when you gain your wolf soul, or you don’t. Simple as that. In any case, I’m strong now. I look into Mother’s eyes. “You will not touch me again. I will fight you, Meryl. I will no longer call you Mother. You don’t deserve that title because you’ve never been a mother to me.” “You are a monster!” she shouts. “Meryl! Enough!” Father raises his voice. “We all need to calm down.” I laugh, low and bitter. “I’m the monster? I’ve been the one afraid of you all this time. I’m not the monster. But now I will be if that’s what it