Chapter 15: The Weight of Secrets

"Anna!"

When Maia's upbeat voice cut through the fog of fatigue covering my thoughts, my heart leaped. She shocked me, the cold handle cutting into my palm, and I realized how tightly I'd been holding the bucket of soapy water. I tried to hide the wave of feelings roiling inside of me by forcing a smile.

"Hey," I said, keeping a steady tone.

"How are you doing?" Maia tilted her head in question. Her green eyes, full of worry, looked over my face. "You've spent the entire day off."

I lied and looked away, saying, "I'm fine. Just worn out."

Tired was not even close to explaining it. Ever since Lucas had noticed the mark on my wrist, I had been nervous. The unsolved questions hung between us like a chain, and I could still feel his eyes cutting into me. As quickly as I could, I rolled my sleeve down, but the harm was already done. He saw it.

And he was fully aware that I was different.

As I scrubbed, the cold council hall's stone floor bit my knees. The smell of pine disinfectant mixed with the metallic scent of blood that had been left behind from an earlier pack fight. I tried to immerse myself in the boredom of the activity by focusing on the repetitive actions. But it felt like nails on a chalkboard every time the brush scraped the floor.

I heard a voice drawl, "You missed a spot."

My hold on the brush tightened as I froze. Amelia.

Over me, Oliver's Luna stood with a sly smile on her lips. Her clothing was flawless and her golden hair was done perfectly. In the filth of the council hall, she had no place here. No, her main purpose was to remind me of my position.

I dropped my head. I said, trying to seem as uninterested as possible, "I'll get to it."

Her voice faded to a whisper as she knelt. "I see you're still acting like the submissive little servant. Ever ponder why you weren't given a meaningful position inside the pack?"

I didn't answer. She was hoping for an answer.

Amelia's perfume was overwhelming as she leaned closer. "Some of us are just made to crawl on the ground, I guess. It fits you."

I clinched my teeth, but I kept my head down. At least I'd deny her the pleasure of seeing her words cut deep into me.

"She's not worth it," Maia whispered softly next to me.

Amelia brushed dirt from her dress and straightened. She laughed mockingly and responded, "You're right, Maia. She is absolutely worthless."

I breathed a deep sigh of relief when she finally turned to go.

The hours passed slowly. Cleaning floors, draining buckets, and obtaining materials all blended into one. However, the strain remained. The breath seemed to have been drawn out of the room every time Lucas and I looked at each other in the hall, which he has already done three times.

I could tell he was watching me even though his face was unreadable.

I was at my breaking point by the fourth time. "What's wrong with him?" I screamed in a low voice at Maia.

She turned her eyes to the doorway where Lucas had just vanished. "Perhaps he's just interested."

"In What?"

With a shrug, Maia's playful smile faltered. "You know, you haven't been the same since."

I winced. She was referring to Leo. I said, "I'm fine," but it sounded hollow to me as well.

"Anna, you don't have to bear this alone," she added softly.

I didn't answer. I couldn't share some things, although Maia meant well. Not with her. Not with anybody.

My hands were sore from the washing, and my muscles hurt by the time we called it a day. Outside, the sun was setting below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of scarlet and gold.

"Are you sure you can walk home by yourself?" As we stepped outdoors, Maia asked.

I gave a nod. "I'll be all right. Go take a rest."

Her forehead was wrinkled as she paused. "Anna, you'll be alright. Remember that."

As I walked down the dirt road to my home, her words stuck with me. The smell of damp dirt and wood filled the chilly evening air. The woodland murmured in the background, and the shadows were long and gloomy.

I stopped when I got to the door, my fingers lingering over the lock. It didn't feel quite right. My heartbeat quickened and the hair on the back of my neck pricked.

I looked around, but there was nobody on the path behind me. The leaves of the trees rustled like whispers as they moved gently in the breeze. The uneasiness continued, though.

I pulled the door open and went inside after shaking it off. With the last of the sunshine slipping through the gaps in the wooden shutters, the little house was barely illuminated. I put my bucket down and took a deep breath before sinking onto the chair by the table.

However, the silence was short-lived.

A small warmth crept across my flesh, causing the mark on my wrist to start tingling. I stared at the bright symbol as I drew back my sleeve. Now that it was brighter, its lines pulsed slightly as if they had their own life.

"Who are you?" I traced the lines with my thumb and said.

The mark didn’t answer, but it didn’t have to. Its existence was sufficient reason. It wasn't over, whatever was going on with me.

Lucas had also witnessed it.

A howl from a wolf in the distance broke the silence and made me shudder. With the day's burden weighing heavy on me, I closed my eyes.

Leo had left. Lucas was watching me. And now, this mark

Even though I had no idea what it meant, I knew I couldn't ignore it. No more.