Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 22

**Briony's POV**

For a split second, I wanted to bolt, but my wolf knew better. We were surrounded. Running would just make everything worse.

I stayed in wolf form, my silver-blue fur catching the firelight. Noah's question hung between us - "When did your wolf wake up?" - demanding an answer I didn't want to give.

*The night you guys celebrated your shifts,* I finally told Maxwell through our mind link. *After everyone had left.*

Maxwell relayed my answer to the others, his face carefully neutral. "She says it happened the night of our shift celebration."

Layla's eyes widened. She glanced between the guys and me, trying to piece things together.

"Wait, you were only fourteen then," Christopher said, running a hand through his hair. "That's not supposed to happen..."

My wolf scraped at the dirt impatiently. *Wasn't exactly my choice. Some shit just happens.*

After Maxwell translated, Noah's voice got louder with each word. "You went through your first shift alone? Do you have any clue how dangerous that is? Why the hell didn't you tell someone? Why didn't you come to me?"

My wolf had enough. She bared her teeth - not threatening, just frustrated - as my thoughts shot through the link.

*Come to you? Seriously? You were all too busy partying that night. I wasn't even invited. You guys were the golden boys, and I was just... nothing.*

Benjamin took a step forward, moonlight catching his eyes. "It wasn't just that night though, was it? We've been ignoring you for years."

My wolf nodded slowly, something dimming in her gaze.

Maxwell's voice dropped. "Why did your wolf come early? It was protecting you from something, wasn't it?"

"Wolves only emerge early if the person's life is in danger," Christopher added, leaning into the firelight. "That's the only trigger strong enough."

Noah jumped up, his pupils shrinking to dots. "You almost died?!"

My wolf backed up, head lowering - an instinctive move that answered his question better than words could.

"Bri," Ethan whispered, using my real name for once. "What happened that was bad enough to force your wolf out early?"

Layla came beside me, her hand gentle on my fur. "This is about those scars, isn't it?"

*Something inside me started cracking. I'd gotten so good at blocking those memories, but now everyone was waiting for answers, and my wolf was nudging me toward the truth.*

*Time to stop hiding,* my wolf said. *They need to get it. Not for pity points - for actual change.*

I closed my eyes, letting the buried memories surface. When I opened them, I'd made my choice.

*Need something to wear,* I sent briefly.

The guys reacted instantly. They stripped off their shirts, and Christopher's ended up in front of me. I grabbed it with my teeth and disappeared behind a massive pine.

Shifting back hurt less than my first time, but still enough to make me grit my teeth. Bones popped and reshaped while my fur melted away, leaving me naked in the cold night.

I pulled Christopher's shirt on. It hung like a tent on me. Taking a deep breath, I walked back to the fire, picking a spot where I could watch everyone's faces.

I felt weirdly disconnected, like I was about to tell someone else's story. I dusted off my legs and stood up.

"Few years back, I stopped some seniors from bullying this seventh-grade girl," I said, voice steady. "After that, I became their favorite punching bag."

Maxwell's hands balled into fists. Benjamin's jaw locked tight. I kept going.

"Started with stupid stuff - hiding homework, dumping crap in my backpack, spreading rumors. Got worse pretty fast though."

"Hold up," Layla cut in. "You're the Beta's kid. Why didn't anyone step in?"

I gave a half-smile that felt like a grimace. "That's exactly why I was perfect. High-status kids picking on low-status kids? Normal pack BS. But taking down the Beta's daughter? That's instant street cred."

"Why not tell your dad?" Christopher asked, frowning.

"I tried," I said, staring at the flames. "He told me if I was too weak to handle my own problems, that was on me. Said real Beta blood wouldn't let itself become a victim."

Noah's face twisted - he'd heard our father say similar crap before.

"Everything exploded end of eighth grade," I continued, voice dropping. "Night of your shifting celebration. Everyone was at the main house partying. I was told to stay in my room."

My throat tightened as I swallowed.

"Should've listened, but I'd stepped in earlier that day when they were messing with a younger kid. After school, they were waiting by the old warehouse."

I closed my eyes, memories flooding back. "They brought silver chains, whips, silver powder. Tied me to the pipes and took turns... until my back was just... raw meat. Then they..."

I couldn't finish. My chest seized up like that chain was back around me.

"Then they poured that mixture into your wounds," Benjamin finished, his voice deadly quiet, eyes flashing silver.

I nodded. "Dumped me here in Silver Pines after. Said if I was strong enough to live, I should thank the Moon Goddess. If not... well, I deserved it."

Maxwell looked around at the trees, voice shaking. "Here? This exact spot?"

"This is why you came here tonight," Christopher said, realization dawning. "You shifted here the first time."

I took a breath before continuing.

"I was here two days. My wolf forced herself out, helped me shift, taught me to heal. We figured out hunting together, all the new senses. When I could finally move, I snuck home and told my dad I'd crashed at a friend's. He hadn't even noticed I was gone."

"All this time," Noah's voice cracked, "you've been dealing with this alone? Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

I met his eyes directly. "Tell who exactly? The father who couldn't stand me? My brother who was too busy with his high-status friends? The future leaders always preaching 'only the strong survive'?"

"But Griffin - " Christopher started.

"He figured some stuff out later," I admitted. "Him and Luna Isabella helped where they could. But they knew going public would just make everything worse."

"Who did this?" Benjamin's voice was pure ice. "Give me names."

I shook my head hard. "No. This isn't about revenge. I need you to understand what happens when you guys push all that 'survival of the fittest' crap and worship status."

I looked at each of them.

"Every low-status kid getting tormented, every victim too scared to speak up, every child nobody sees. As future leaders, you need to fix this broken system."

I stood up, brushing off my legs. "But I'm done waiting for things to change. First chance I get, I'm leaving Polaris to find somewhere I actually belong."

"Let me go," I said quietly, turning toward home.

Nobody tried to stop me.

My footsteps faded down the forest path, leaving just the crackling fire and their heavy breathing behind.

Noah finally broke the silence: "Did we really just let all this happen? What the hell kind of people are we?"