Alison’s POV
I sat back on the porch, trying to stifle a laugh as Andrew and I wrapped up our lesson for the day. The air was warm, filled with the scent of freshly cut grass, and I felt light, free for once. The last few weeks had been grueling as Andrew pushed me to catch up on subjects I’d never had the chance to study before. But with each lesson, I felt myself grow a little stronger, a little smarter, and today, I felt downright accomplished.
Andrew chuckled beside me, leaning back as he rubbed his temples. “You’re doing better than you give yourself credit for, Alison. Really. It’s rare to see someone this dedicated.”
I shook my head, still smiling. “You mean desperate, right? I can’t exactly afford to waste the opportunity Xander’s given me.”
Before Andrew could respond, a shadow fell across the porch. I looked up and felt my stomach twist. Caitlyn stood before us, her gaze cold and sharp as it raked over me. Andrew greeted her politely, but she ignored him, fixing her eyes on me with a smirk that made my skin prickle.
“Well, well,” she drawled, her voice dripping with disdain. “Look at you, sitting here, thinking you’re someone important just because Xander took pity on a little stray.”
I clenched my fists, feeling my anger rise, but I forced a calm smile. “Just finished up a lesson, actually. Xander thinks learning is important for everyone in the pack, even ‘strays’ like me.”
She sneered. “Please. As if you’re capable of learning anything. What a waste of time and money trying to teach a local monkey. You’re nothing but a charity case, Alison.”
A cold, sharp pain stabbed at my chest, but I pushed it down. I wasn’t going to let her get to me. I took a steadying breath and looked her straight in the eyes. “Actually, Caitlyn, there’s an old Persian proverb that says, ‘He who does not know, and knows that he doesn’t know, can be taught; teach him.’ Maybe you could learn a thing or two from it.”
Her face darkened, her smile twisting into something colder. “Oh, you think you’re clever, don’t you? But if you think learning will make you a worthy Luna, you’re more delusional than I thought. It takes class, sophistication and qualities you would never understand.”
I scoffed, meeting her glare head-on. “Sophistication and class? Is that what you call it? Funny, because from where I’m standing, all that ‘class’ hasn’t gotten you anywhere if you’re competing with a ‘classless slave’ like me for Xander’s attention.”
Her face flushed, and for a second, I thought she might actually slap me. But then she straightened, casting a sidelong glance at Andrew, who was watching our exchange in awkward silence. She forced herself to hold back, her hands shaking ever so slightly at her sides.
“Mark my words, Alison,” she hissed, her voice dropping to a low, venomous whisper. “You’re going to regret ever crossing me.”
And with that, she spun on her heel and stalked away, her footsteps echoing across the stone walkway. I watched her go, barely able to contain the surge of triumph bubbling inside me. I’d stood my ground, faced her taunts head-on, and for once, she hadn’t won.
As her figure disappeared through the doorway, Andrew let out a low whistle beside me, shaking his head in admiration. “That was… quite the showdown. And that proverb… where did you learn that because, we haven’t gotten around to such?”
I shrugged, my face breaking into a smile. “well I’ve been reading some of the books in Xander’s library at my leisure. He has a whole section on ancient philosophy and proverbs. Figured I might as well make use of it.”
Andrew nodded, clearly impressed. “Good for you. Knowledge is power, Alison. You keep that up, and no one will be able to use your background against you ever again.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting the moment. He pulls it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen and frowned. “Sorry, I have to run. I have another scheduled lesson with someone else and it starts soon. Keep up the good work, though, I’m impressed.”
With that, he waved at me and headed off, leaving me alone on the porch. I took a deep breath, letting the satisfaction of the moment settle in. For once, I had stood up for myself without cowering or doubting my worth. Caitlyn’s words had stung, but they had not broken me this time and would never break me again.
But as I walked back into the house, a nagging feeling crept up from the pit of my stomach. I’d gotten under Caitlyn’s skin, sure, but I couldn’t shake the sense that this wasn’t over… not by a long shot.