'What on earth are you trying to suggest?' Emma asked, moving away from the crossword she was doing with her cousin, Beth.

Shrugging, Maddy backed away into the kitchen and opened the fridge. 'I'm saying that I changed my mind.'

Emma's eyes widened when she finally understood what her daughter was implying. 'Maddy,' she chastised, 'you can't just drop out of one of the best universities in England!'

Beth awkwardly stood up from the table and walked outside onto her patio. She sat down on the steps leading to the beach and pretended that she couldn't hear the argument inside. Being a wolfblood had its perks…and its disadvantages. And unwillingly listening to a mother and daughter fight was definitely one of them.

After gazing into the fridge for a few minutes, Maddy sighed and opened the freezer. 'Aunt Beth!' Maddy called. 'When I asked you to pick up a tub of Phish Food, did you get it? I can't remember.'

'Maddy!' Emma shouted. She looked genuinely horrified at her daughter's behaviour, as if it was the first time Maddy's stomach spoke on her behalf. (It wasn't.)

'Found it!' Maddy exclaimed, returning to the sitting room with a tub of ice cream and a satisfied smile. 'I haven't even started yet,' she said, mouth full. 'Plus, I got accepted into others too. I've just decided Lincolnshire isn't for me.'

'Daniel!' Emma cried, storming out of the room. With her supersonic hearing, Maddy heard her mother say, 'talk to your daughter. I'm going out.'

'What have you done now?' Daniel sighed, mocking disappointment. A minute later, he broke into a smile. 'I told you not to tell her until after the holiday.'

'I know, but I felt guilty hiding it from her,' she said. 'I guess that means tomorrow's hike is off, then.' Maddy really did wish she'd kept it between her dad and herself; she'd been looking forward to that hike ever since her parents had announced they'd be spending their summer with her Aunt Beth and Uncle Morgan in Brighton. Plus, they lived on the beach (which was always a bonus in Maddy's eyes).

Daniel winked. 'I'm sure we can figure something out,' he said, retreating to the patio doors. 'Be up for seven, before your mum wakes up. Meet me out there.'

Maddy threw her arms around Daniel's neck. 'Thank you dad! I love you so much!' she squealed.

He started to leave when Maddy stopped him, mood glum again. 'Dad, wait. Are you sure you want to go behind mum's back like that?' It'd only been five seconds and Maddy was already feeling bad.

'I can handle her. I know how much you've been looking forward to this trip, and I'm not letting a silly argument ruin it,' Daniel said, truly meaning it. And Maddy knew that, but it only made her feel even guiltier.

But what made her feel the worst atop of everything?

When she looked her father in the eye and told him the move was for her…and not for Rhydian.