Prologue

A blinding streak of lightning flashes in the room, allowing Abigail Munt to catch a glimpse of her employer's face. Mrs. Kaye paces the room, her expression contorted with rage.

Abigail's voice trembles as she grovels on the floor, begging with tears in her eyes. Anxiety is palpable in her demeanor, and her hands are shaking– not from the coldness of the rain outside, but from the fear of what could be done to her.

"You had the nerve… you filthy peasant, to go to my husband?" Mrs. Kaye's voice rages like the thunder crashing outside.

Abigail shudders and a whimper escapes her lips as she bows her head in remorse.

"I am so sorry, ma'am!" she says quickly. "I swear, I didn't mean to— I was stupid and naive. Please, I swear to you, it'll never happen again." The words burst out of her in a nervous rush.

She's weeping profusely. Her eyes are swollen and red as tears flow uncontrollably down her cheeks. She reaches for the woman's feet desperately, cold fear rattling her bones.

"Get your hands off me, you mongrel!" Mrs. Kaye shrieks like she's been stung and kicks at Abigail on the ground.

Abigail cries out as the kick connects with her face and splits her lip. Mrs. Kaye is a more powerful wolf shifter than her. She feels like her jaw has been dislocated. The pain is worse because her healing powers have kicked in and are forcing her bones back into their correct place.

Abigail moans in pain. She knows that what she did was risky… but she just wanted better for her daughter. Was that so bad? Sobs of anguish rock her frame.

"Be quiet!" Mrs. Kaye hollers, thunder clapping in tandem with her voice.

Abigail goes silent immediately, her hands clasped over her mouth as she stays in a ball on the floor with her face down.

"For someone in such a dire situation, you sure have taken a lot of liberty." Mrs. Kaye grabs her by the hair and forcefully jerks her head up, looking into her teary blue eyes. Abigail can see the hatred in the woman's gaze clear as day as her scalp strains from the tension of Mrs. Kaye's grip.

"Don't you know that the life of that thing you call your daughter is in my hands?" The woman's voice is filled with disgust and contempt.

"Please, ma'am…please." Those seem to be the only words that Abigail can muster. She's sniffling with a broken heart and a bleeding mouth. But that's the least of her problems right now.

Mrs. Kaye lets go of her hair and walks a few paces away.

"What should I do with this dirty maid?" she asks rhetorically. "Oh, I know."

She walks back toward Abigail and bends over to her level.

Abigail's heart is beating as she looks up at Mrs. Kaye, paying rapt attention, fear of the unknown flickering in her gaze.

"Since you obviously have enough free time to go after my husband, it's clear you're not under a lot of pressure. From now on, you will be buying those pills with your own money," she states.

Immediately, Abigail bows her head, her cries intensifying. "No, ma'am, please! I am begging you. Show mercy."

Mrs. Kaye continues speaking, regardless. "I will no longer be providing them for you. You've proven to be an ungrateful, backstabbing bitch! So consider this a mercy . " She rises to her feet.

"Ma'am, please, reconsider." Abigail weeps uncontrollably. "I can't afford that pill. How will we survive?"

Mrs. Kaye looks at her disdainfully. "You should have thought about that before going after my husband."

Abigail continues to cry, unable to come to terms with this calamity that has befallen her.

"If it's survival you're after, you can scrape together whatever will be left of your salary after buying the pill. Use that to cater to yourself and the girl." Her punishment meted out, she begins to walk to the door.

"Ma'am, please, don't do this. Please!" Abigail cries, too weak to stand up.

Mrs. Kaye glances back one last time. "You would do well to make sure that pill is always bought. Remember, it is the only thing keeping your daughter alive." Getting to the door, she picks up her umbrella that's resting against the wall and leaves the house, ignoring the pleas behind her.

The rain continues to beat down on the house relentlessly as Abigail Munt drags herself to the cot where her sickly toddler lies with a fever.

"Oh, Cassie… what have I done?"