The 18th Time They Lost Me Chapter 04

The 18th Time They Lost Me Chapter 04

My mind went blank. I called Mom. 

“Mom.” I fought to keep my voice steady. “The 

registry says I don’t have any records. Last month, 

you were supposed to…” 

“Oh.” She cut me off. “Right. I forgot. What about 

it?” 

“They told me not having official pack status 

wouldn’t mess up your college applications.” 

Her voice sharpened. “Quinn, are you using this as 

an excuse to force your way onto the registry? 

After the stunt you pulled with Maya this morning? 

If you suddenly show up on the registry, the pack gossip will eat her alive.” 

My grip on the phone went white–knuckle. I closed my eyes and swallowed everything rising in my 

throat. 

“Mom, the clerk said I might not be able to go to college at all without registration. I’ll bring the registration paperwork. You and Dad just have to sign it. That’s all I want. Just college. Nothing else. Can you do that?” 

Silence. Then: “Come to the photo studio.” 

The studio’s glass door swung open and cold air 

washed over me. 

Mom, Dad, and Maya were already posed in front 

of the backdrop. Maya was in white tulle, her 

parents were on each side, and Silas was behind 

her. The same formation as the photo. The one with four people. 

I walked over and pulled the printed registration form from my bag. 

Mom kept her eyes on Maya’s bow. Didn’t turn 

around. “Hold on. Fix Maya’s dress first.” 

I crouched down. 

A crystal on the hem sliced my cheek. The cut 

healed in seconds. The sting didn’t. 

Maya looked down at me from her crystal heels. 

“Thanks for doing this, Quinn.” 

She hadn’t even finished the sentence before her 

heel came down on my hand. The edge of it drove into my index finger, and blood pooled instantly. 

Her eyes flicked to the registration form. She 

smiled. “Still trying, Quinn? You really think you 

can sweet–talk Mom and Dad into signing your 

onto the Silver Moon registry?” 

Mom froze. 

Silas was across the room in two steps. He ripped the forms out of my hands. “Quinn, enough!” 

“We’re all here trying to have a good day, and you 

have to come in and make it about you?”