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?”

I almost can’t hear her speak. She stares at the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They

wanted or unconditionally loved, and the only thing that keeps us going is the

completely disheartened. “I mean, maybe they have a point. We’re getting old now, and you know how it is. Parents only ever want the

I want parents just as badly as you do, 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 the

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 just stand by and let them be mistreated, or leave them to fend for

mean. They’re mad that no one ever picked them and they take

that mean you’re going to let them off

course not, I’m just gonna remind them that we’re in this together.” I

pearly grin. “And

trails along

your own size?” I call while we’re still

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

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

what are you gonna do about it, brat?” He stalks forward, looming over my small body with malicious intent. “A scrawny little thing like you? You’re even more useless than she is.” He reaches out and shoves me, both of his hands

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 dig my nails into his flesh, biting and

had been that day. Normal human girls don’t act

asks, the corners of his mouth quirking

being scrappy enough to take on the big kids. When it was over I tended his wounds, and

gradually recognize the truth in them – not only the

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.

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