---- Chapter 9 "Sophia, I know you're still angry, but..."' Ethan started. "angry?" I scoffed. "Ethan, you think what I'm feeling right now is anger?" He looked taken aback. "Then what is it?" "Indifference," I said calmly. "I'm completely indifferent to your pack." "That's impossible!" Ethan said, agitated. "This is your home, we're your family!" "Family?" I scanned the room. "When I needed support, where was this family?" Everyone looked down. "Sophia, we admit we were wrong," Elder Grace said. "But now isn't the time to settle personal grudges. The whole pack is facing extinction!" ---- "Personal grudges?" I walked towards her. "Elder Grace, you think betrayal and deception are just ' personal grudges'?" "T didn't mean it like that..." "you run this pack into the ground, and then you expect me to save it." I cut her off. "Do you think I'm obligated to do that?" "What good does it do you if the pack falls apart?" Ethan asked angrily. "These people are innocent!" I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh. "Fall apart? Ethan, you've got one thing wrong." I walked to the window. "I didn't make the pack fall apart. I'm just refusing to save it." "What's the difference?" "A big difference." I turned to face them. "The pack's current situation is the result of your own choices, not my responsibility." ---- "But you have the ability to save us!" Marcus said urgently. "T have the ability, but not the obligation," I answered calmly. ''For the past five years, I served this pack for free. My expertise, my time, my energy, all provided at no cost." 'We're very grateful..." Grace began. "Grateful?" I cut her off. "Then why, when Ethan pretended to lose the mate bond, was my contribution forgotten?" No one answered. "you treated me like a tool, used me when you needed me, and tossed me aside when you didn't." I continued. "Now that the tool refuses to be used, you're all panicking." "Sophia, please reconsider," a senior warrior pleaded. "We'll make it up to you." "Make it up?" I pulled an envelope out of my bag. "