I dragged myself out of bed, every bone in my body aching from the night before. Sleep had given me no peace, only fear and questions that refused to leave my head. The green strands in my hair mocked me every time I moved, glowing faintly when the sunlight slipped through the thin curtains.

Still, no matter how I felt, I knew I had to join the kitchen for breakfast duty. If I missed, the whispers would grow louder. Helen would use it against me. And Alpha Johnson… I didn’t even want to ...