Chapter 111 – Orphan Gang

Ella

“Cora tell me what happened.” I demand, crossing my skinny arms over my chest. I’m eight years old, glaring down at my surrogate sister with a stern expression. It’s always been this way between us. She’s a year older, but I’ve always had the dominant personality.

“It was nothing.” She insists, averting her gaze from my own.

“You’re lying.” I counter stubbornly. “I can always tell, you know.”

“No, you think you always know.” Cora answers sullenly, though we both know I’m right. I can read my sister like a book.

“Would you just tell me?” I press, sighing with exasperation.

“Fine, it’s not even a big deal, it was just some of the big kids being jerks.” She explains gravely.

“Which ones?” I respond immediately. “Point them out.” It could be anyone, considering the fact that even children our own age tend to be bigger than us. It seems like the orphanage physician labels us undersized and undernourished every year, though nothing ever changes.

Reluctantly, Cora points toward a familiar gang of kids, ranging from age eleven to fourteen. The ringleader is a beefy thirteen year old who always wears a cruel leer, as if he’s ever on the lookout for someone to bully to tears – just for the fun of it. “You see, there’s nothing we can do about it – they run this place.”

“I beg to differ.” I answer, tilting my chin up defiantly. “We don’t have to be bigger than them – just smarter. Now tell me what they said to you?”

her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They called me a worthless gutter rat and said no one would ever adopt me

us going is the hope that we

know how it is. Parents only ever want the babies. I mean you

I’m not gonna leave you for anything.” I vow. I’d like to see any grown

all the outcasts.” This isn’t the first time she’s said this to me. I do have a way of taking the most skittish and rejected of our peers under my wing, but it’s not as

outcast.” I remind her. “Why else do you think the big kids are so mean. They’re mad that no one ever picked them and they take it out on us cuz they think we

going to let them off the hook?” She

course not, I’m just gonna remind them that we’re in

pearly grin. “And if

to the bullies in question. Cora trails along behind me, whispering anxiously about what

didn’t anyone ever teach you to pick on someone your own size?” I call while we’re still

laugh when they see I’m the one who spoke. The ringleader rises to his feet, then scoffs, “Even if they did, that

back. “You shouldn’t be mean to Cora just cuz you’re unhappy. That isn’t fair

“A scrawny little thing like you? You’re even more useless than she is.”

is rising up inside me, something powerful and fearless. I snarl and pounce, scrabbling up the older boy’s body and attacking him tooth and nail. He screams and flails his arms. “What – hey! Get her off me! What is this!” I don’t relent. Hands grab for me, but I

strange my behavior had been that day. Normal human girls don’t act like that

the corners of

being scrappy enough to take on the big

tense shoulders. His words sink into my mind slowly, but I gradually recognize the truth in them – not only the wolfish group I formed, but the fact I was able to wrangle the other

all makes sense now.” I muse aloud. “I was able to beat him because I’m a wolf… I mean I’m sure I wouldn’t have been any match for a pup that wasn’t dormant, but the human kids still weren’t as strong. I never understood how

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