Maddie was mad.
Yes, no pun intended.
Madeline King was extremely angry. Being set aside completely, trying to hush up her existence, shoving her in a residential catholic school, and ignoring her till she asked them for an allowance... Family did not do that. But unfortunately that was the hand she was dealt.
Maddie King was pretty sure her mother loved her. But she was also a reminder of a horrific period of her mother's life, and was expected to be quiet, remain not seen and not heard, and she'll be treated decently in return. By being treated decently, meant she'll be able to get an education, have a roof and food and clothes, and even an allowance. The one unbridled source of love and warmth in her young life was her elderly grandfather. Great uncle to be precise, but who cared about technicalities.
A fragile, wheelchair bound man, he still didn't allow his age to diminish his humor and treated her with a genuine affection and kindness that she clung to. She suspected that the best treatment she received was due to his influence. If it was up to her father (step father, technically, she refused to call him Dad) she would have been packed off to a finishing school in Switzerland. Her great uncle, Charles Roux had faked a heart attack and threw a tantrum demanding that his favourite granddaughter stay close because he wanted her company in his twilight years.
And so they had compromised. She was packed off to a boarding school that was a lot closer. Atleast, in their eyes, Washington was better than Switzerland. She could travel down to Portland on her off school days and her exeats (why didn't her school just call them an exit?) from campus were outlined.
Much better.
But it didn't help her anger. A slow burning anger that was fueled with every passing day of no communication. When they did reach out to her, it was either to check on her performance, her needs, like an allowance, or to make sure she stayed out of trouble. Or maybe holidays. This helped her realize something early on. That there were two ways in which a girl told get attention. She could provoke it, or inspire it.
Provocation gives way to anger. And inspiring attention leads to envy, which is but grudging admiration. Pretty clear what to choose.
A twelve year old Madeline King realized this, and methodically transformed herself into a woman who stood on her own feet, and was impossible to ignore. But beneath all the high veneer still simmered the anger of the young girl on the sidelines.
Madeline King harnessed her anger, just as strongly as she cared for those who stood by her side. Like her Grandpa. Her mother. Her tutor and friend who pulled her out of her slump and taught her to give when she felt she had nothing, and what sacrifices are. And that godawful loner of a wolf who taught her about relationships.