Chapter 3
Six years ago, my adoptive brother, Graham Montgomery, got drunk, caused a wreck, and fled the scene.
My parents and my younger brother Tommy begged me,
"Graham's not well, Caleb. He can't handle prison. Will you take the fall for him?"
I didn't agree.
But one night, in the dead of darkness, they handed me over to the enforcers' car themselves.
My fiancée, Victoria Langston, the untouchable financial titan of Uldrath Town, had it all arranged.
She said, "Caleb Montgomery, when you get out, I'll form a sacred bond with you. These Six years. just bear with it."
Six years later.
"Caleb, you're out. Live well, and don't look back."
I limped out of Graymoor Prison.
A obsidian-black Rolls-Royce Phantom idled by the curb
As the window rolled down, Victoria's striking, icy features came into view.
"Caleb."
Six years, and she hadn't changed a bit.
I ducked my head, climbing into the car.
The rearview mirror showed a gaunt, scarred face staring back.
"These Six years. you've suffered," she said, gripping my bony hand. "I'll keep my promise. We'll be eternally bound."
I looked at her, seeing my hollow reflection in her eyes, and slowly pulled my hand away, uninterested. "Yeah."
Six years.
It was enough to see Victoria and my family for who they were.
They didn't love me. And I no longer wanted to be bound to her.
Sensing my distance, Victoria scrambled to explain.
"Graham heard you're back today. It brought up the crash from Six years ago, and his depression's acting up. Your parents and Tommy are at the hospital with him."
I listened in silence, closing my eyes.
When I was two, I got lost in a mall.
My mother, Margaret, desperate for her pup, adopted Graham from an orphanage because he looked like me.
But when they found me at fifteen, they didn't love me.
Everything was about Graham. Six years ago, they even made me take the fall for his crime. Compared to Graham, I was the outsider, the unwanted pup.
An hour later, we pulled up to the Montgomery estate.
Only the butler and staff were there, their eyes dripping with disdain when they saw me. To them, I wasn't the Montgomery pack's alpha pup-my parents only had love for Graham.
"Victoria," the butler, Edgar Winslow, greeted her with a bow before glancing at me.
"Caleb, Margaret says you're to keep a low profile. Don't bring shame to the Montgomery pack."
Shame? I took the fall for Graham's crime, and *I'm* the shame?
I'd given up expecting anything from them the night they handed me to the enforcers Six years ago. "Got it," I muttered.
As I headed inside, Victoria's phone rang.
After hanging up, she turned to me. "Caleb, Graham's had another episode. He needs me. I'll check on him. You rest up, and I'll see you tomorrow."
She left without a backward glance.
I limped to the storage room I called home, pushed open the door, and choked on the dust. Too exhausted to care, I collapsed onto the bed.
That night, half-asleep, I overheard my younger brother Tommy in the living room. "Dad, Mom, Graham's condition is bad. What if we send Caleb somewhere else? Seeing him back here's making Graham worse."
My father sighed, silent.
My mother spoke up. "He's still a Montgomery pup. If we kick him out, what will the pack think?"
"Then what? Graham can't stay in the healer's den forever," Tommy pressed.
My father finally spoke.
"When Graham's back, Caleb stays out of sight. He keeps to his room."
Their words stung, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
Then my phone buzzed.
A secret email.
"Caleb, congratulations on your acceptance to the Great Pack's Classified Research Academy. Upon accepting this role, you'll depart in Nine days with our science wolves to Derandor for research. Your identity will remain confidential, and for years, you cannot contact the outside world."
I read every rule carefully, then signed my name-Caleb-without hesitation.
Six years ago, I'd already been accepted to the Academy.
But before I could decide, my own parents threw me to the enforcers. In prison, I saw the truth.
I applied again.
Soon after sending the email, a reply came.
"Nine days from now, a car will pick you up at 11 p.m. sharp."
Nine days.
I closed my eyes again.
Just Nine more days, and I'd leave this pack that never loved me for good.
Chapter 4
Six years ago, my adoptive brother, Graham Montgomery, got drunk, caused a wreck, and fled the scene.
My parents and my younger brother Tommy begged me,
"Graham's not well, Caleb. He can't handle prison. Will you take the fall for him?"
I didn't agree.
But one night, in the dead of darkness, they handed me over to the enforcers' car themselves.
My fiancée, Victoria Langston, the untouchable financial titan of Uldrath Town, had it all arranged.
She said, "Caleb Montgomery, when you get out, I'll form a sacred bond with you. These Six years. just bear with it."
Six years later.
"Caleb, you're out. Live well, and don't look back."
I limped out of Graymoor Prison.
A obsidian-black Rolls-Royce Phantom idled by the curb
As the window rolled down, Victoria's striking, icy features came into view.
"Caleb."
Six years, and she hadn't changed a bit.
I ducked my head, climbing into the car.
The rearview mirror showed a gaunt, scarred face staring back.
"These Six years. you've suffered," she said, gripping my bony hand. "I'll keep my promise. We'll be eternally bound."
I looked at her, seeing my hollow reflection in her eyes, and slowly pulled my hand away, uninterested. "Yeah."
Six years.
It was enough to see Victoria and my family for who they were.
They didn't love me. And I no longer wanted to be bound to her.
Sensing my distance, Victoria scrambled to explain.
"Graham heard you're back today. It brought up the crash from Six years ago, and his depression's acting up. Your parents and Tommy are at the hospital with him."
I listened in silence, closing my eyes.
When I was two, I got lost in a mall.
My mother, Margaret, desperate for her pup, adopted Graham from an orphanage because he looked like me.
But when they found me at fifteen, they didn't love me.
Everything was about Graham. Six years ago, they even made me take the fall for his crime. Compared to Graham, I was the outsider, the unwanted pup.
An hour later, we pulled up to the Montgomery estate.
Only the butler and staff were there, their eyes dripping with disdain when they saw me. To them, I wasn't the Montgomery pack's alpha pup-my parents only had love for Graham.
"Victoria," the butler, Edgar Winslow, greeted her with a bow before glancing at me.
"Caleb, Margaret says you're to keep a low profile. Don't bring shame to the Montgomery pack."
Shame? I took the fall for Graham's crime, and *I'm* the shame?
I'd given up expecting anything from them the night they handed me to the enforcers Six years ago. "Got it," I muttered.
As I headed inside, Victoria's phone rang.
After hanging up, she turned to me. "Caleb, Graham's had another episode. He needs me. I'll check on him. You rest up, and I'll see you tomorrow."
She left without a backward glance.
I limped to the storage room I called home, pushed open the door, and choked on the dust. Too exhausted to care, I collapsed onto the bed.
That night, half-asleep, I overheard my younger brother Tommy in the living room. "Dad, Mom, Graham's condition is bad. What if we send Caleb somewhere else? Seeing him back here's making Graham worse."
My father sighed, silent.
My mother spoke up. "He's still a Montgomery pup. If we kick him out, what will the pack think?"
"Then what? Graham can't stay in the healer's den forever," Tommy pressed.
My father finally spoke.
"When Graham's back, Caleb stays out of sight. He keeps to his room."
Their words stung, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
Then my phone buzzed.
A secret email.
"Caleb, congratulations on your acceptance to the Great Pack's Classified Research Academy. Upon accepting this role, you'll depart in Nine days with our science wolves to Derandor for research. Your identity will remain confidential, and for years, you cannot contact the outside world."
I read every rule carefully, then signed my name-Caleb-without hesitation.
Six years ago, I'd already been accepted to the Academy.
But before I could decide, my own parents threw me to the enforcers. In prison, I saw the truth.
I applied again.
Soon after sending the email, a reply came.
"Nine days from now, a car will pick you up at 11 p.m. sharp."
Nine days.
I closed my eyes again.
Just Nine more days, and I'd leave this pack that never loved me for good.
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