CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Pine Pack's assembly room buzzes with the low hum of conversation as I stand beside Mark, my heart still fluttering from his earlier words of praise.
Now, Gem, brown hair pulled into a tight ponytail that matches her equally tight expression, circles around us like a predator denied its prey. Her brown eyes flash with a malice she thinks is hidden, but I sense the jealousy that simmers beneath. It's been a couple months since I became Mark's bride, and still, she acts as if I've stolen a prize that was meant for her.
"Quite the star you're turning out to be," Gem says, her voice carrying an edge sharper than any claw or fang. "But let's not forget who you were before, Isla."
She leans closer, a snake masquerading as a friend, and I stiffen. Mark's hand finds the
