I felt like I was struck in the chest by the allegation. I had assumed that I could tolerate the rumors and the sidelong stares, but I hadn't anticipated being accused of treachery.
Initially, there were whispers and soft chatter that ceased as soon as I walked in. People I used to call friends would avoid eye contact with me, and our gap widened daily. Although I had sensed the mistrust was building, I never thought it would become this bad.
I kept telling myself that the whispers would fade like ominous clouds carried by the wind and that it was all Alec's falsehoods. But I felt in my heart that things had changed. Alec has discovered a method to instill uncertainty in our people's emotions as well as their heads.
When I visited the training fields one morning, it was the last straw. A few members of the pack gathered together, their faces grim as they gazed at me, mistrust deeper than usual in their eyes.
