Possibilities

My parents are delighted to see me.

They take me in their arms, we walk into the house in high spirit. “Mercedes! Zane came to tell us that you were missing and he couldn't find you. He was so defeated, looked so helpless. You really need to talk to him to reassure him you are safe," my mother insists. I stiffen, my father, who still has his arm around my waist, notices that immediately. He looks at me from under his glasses.

“He confessed that he hurt you by urging you to fill in a deal with a stranger,” my father explained. “He's really desperate. You two have never been apart for so long and he fears that you cannot take care of yourself, you need him.”

Now a shock goes through me. Unwittingly, Zane exposed my weakness.

Indeed, I cannot live without his care. That’s the actual situation now. But that is about to change. I will no longer be confident because of Zane, but for Zane. And I only have six weeks to get to that point. “Dad, can I train here in the pack too? I want to learn