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?”

ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They called me a worthless gutter rat and said no one would ever adopt me cuz I’m

us going is the hope that we

and you know how it is. Parents only ever want the babies. I mean you might have a

but I’m not gonna leave you for anything.” I vow. I’d like to see any grown up try to take me away from

a hesitant smile.“You adopt 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 if I can

that no one ever picked them and they take it

going to let them off

in this together.” I answer reasonably,

a pearly grin. “And if they don’t

in question. Cora trails along behind me, whispering anxiously about what a bad idea this is.

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

they see I’m the one who spoke. The ringleader rises

for brains.” I bite back. “You shouldn’t be mean to Cora

intent. “A scrawny little

first I stumble back, but something 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.

back to the present, I realize how strange my behavior had been that day.

that?” Sinclair asks, the corners

Cora tells it, that’s the day I became the de facto leader of the orphanage, just by being scrappy enough to take on the

observes, massaging my tense shoulders. His words sink into my mind slowly, but I gradually recognize the truth in them

able to beat him because I’m a wolf… I mean I’m sure I wouldn’t have been any

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