Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

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We pass a group sitting around a rough wooden table, sorting something that looks like herbs. One of them

nods at Quin.

“Mornin’.”

“Morning,” she replies easily. “Aria, this is Olive. She is in charge of our apothecary stores.”

“Hello Aria, nice to see you again.”

I vaguely remember her from the pack meeting, but then again, I met so many people I can’t say for certain

I remember most of thier names.

“Same here,” I reply, as we continue walking.

Normal.

So normal it almost makes my chest ache.

“What do you do all day?” I ask. “I mean… is there, like, a schedule? Jobs?”

Mara nods. “Yeah. Everyone contributes in some way. Hunting, cooking, patrols, training… even repairs and

gathering supplies. Then there are those of us who have jobs in town.”

“In town?” I repeat. I thought shifters wanted to keep their distance from humans.

“Sure,” she agrees. “The pack owns many businesses that we work in with humans. But only those with complete control do those jobs to make sure we maintain anonymity.”

The reminder of having to keep secrets from humans makes me think of Liam, of the way I treated him, not understanding the full extent of what he went through. And now I find myself in his shoes, running from

the world I know and lying to the only friend who stuck beside me through the years.

Hazel.

My chest tightens.

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Chapter 47

“I never appreciated how hard my brother had it,” I say suddenly.

Quin looks at me. “You couldn’t have known. ”

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“Yeah. Logically, I know that, but emotionally, it feels like I kind of let him down by not giving his decisions

the benefit of the doubt.”

“It can be hard when we have to live on half-truths,” Quin’s eyes look far away when she says that.

I’m not sure what it is about Quin, but I feel like I can talk to her. Like I can trust her.

My wolf nods in agreement.

“I have a friend. More like a sister, really. I had to leave her behind in the city, and I guess I’m struggling

with what to say to her about everything in a way that won’t make her feel like Liam’s absence made me

feel.”

Quin hums, thoughtfully. “That is a tricky one.”

I shake my head. “What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, I found out my brother’s a wolf, turns out I am too, and

now I live in the woods’?”

She laughs softly. “Yeah… that might not be the road you want to venture down.”

“I hate lying,” I admit. The words come out sharper than I expect. “I didn’t even realize how much until

now.”

Quin’s expression softens. “I don’t want to rub it in or anything, but how you’re feeling now, this was

exactly what Liam was feeling.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m a counselor for the pack. We met often when he first turned.”

Liam went to counseling?

We walk a few more steps in silence.

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Chapter 47

“I still don’t like it,” I add.

:

“You don’t have to,” she says. “But sometimes… we carry things so others don’t have to.”

I glance at her.

“You sound like you’ve done that before.”

She shrugs lightly. “Growing up in a pack, you learn early that it’s not always about what you want.”

I’m starting to see that.

“You said you’re a submissive,” I say after a moment.

She nods.

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“What does that actually mean? Because where I come from, that word has… different connotations.”

She smiles, understanding. “Here, it’s more about instinct and role. I’m not weak. I just don’t have the same need to lead or dominate, and I wouldn’t be able to physically outmatch a dominant shifter.”

“Does that bother you?”

She shakes her head. “No. It feels… right.”

I study her.

There’s no resentment there. No insecurity.

Just acceptance.

I wonder if I would ever be comfortable with myself.

“Ladies,” Kade says, coming from behind them and sliding his arm around Aria.

“Hey, Kade,” Quin says.

“Keeping Aria company today, Quiny,” he asks her with gentle familiarity.

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