[Ovelia's POV]
A sickening feeling settled over me.
I knew this feeling all too well—the frustration, the helpless anger, the deep-seated hurt of being forced to do something against your will. I had lived with it for years in Timberline. Every command from my so-called parents. Every order barked at me like I was a dog, not a daughter. Every moment of my life dictated by people who saw me as nothing more than a tool.
And now, without even understanding the power I held, I had inflicted it on Gale.
I brought my palms together. The wagon swayed gently beneath us, the rhythm of the horses' hooves a steady backdrop to the weight of what I was about to say.
"Gale," I began, my voice soft but clear. "From now on, instead of saying something that sounds like a command, I will ask you instead. That way, you can say no if you don't like it or if you're uncomfortable."
