Chapter 5

Layla moved into my room. However, I didn't move into her old bedroom. Instead, I just found a random guest room to stay in temporarily.

The bedding that Velma had the maids prepare for me was cold and damp. Yet, I didn't tell Dad about it or cry and make a scene.

There were only a few more days left, anyway. Everything would be over if I could just put up with it.

However, as soon as I got out of bed the next morning, I saw that Mom's favorite little garden had been reduced to an utterly horrible mess.

The swing Mom had made for me was thrown onto the ground, the planks broken and covered in muddy footprints. Even Mom's favorite apple tree had been chopped down by Layla.

The maids had also uprooted the blooming roses and planted lavender sprigs instead, while Layla stood to the side, clapping and chuckling to herself.

I stood there, feeling the blood rushing to my head.

All of my reason, restraint, and rationality vanished at that very moment.

My eyes turned bloodshot as they burned with a hell-like rage. I instantly transformed into a gigantic silver wolf and smashed through the glass door leading out into the garden, charging toward Layla like a mad wolf, filled with murderous intent.

The Omegas and other maids in the garden fled in terror, and Layla also screamed in panic. One of the maids accidentally scratched her arm during the scuffle.

"Avril Talbot! What are you doing? How could you hurt your own sister?"

Dad had also transformed into a silver wolf, instantly appearing before Layla like a lightning strike and shielding her behind him.

The werewolves around us had already fled far away, terrified by Dad's suffocating Alpha aura.

The bloodline suppression that all Alphas naturally exerted on their pack members also struck genuine fear in me, even though I knew he was my dad.

Meanwhile, Layla had already thrown herself into his arms, crying erratically.

"Dad, save me! Avril wants to kill me!"

Dad's voice was very low and deep, a sign of his boiling rage.

"Avril! You've gone too far this time!"

"Dad! Can't you see what she did? She tore out the swing Mom made and chopped down Mom's apple tree! She even uprooted all the roses in Mom's garden! Mom had left them for me…"

I was trembling all over as tears streamed from my eyes. I felt so sorry for Mom.

Yet, Dad just looked at the mess on the ground and frowned. "That still doesn't mean that you can lay a hand on others!"

"Dad…"

He lowered his gaze and spoke in a displeased manner. "Your mom has already been gone for a long time, Avril. Flowers can always be replanted, and the swing can always be fixed. How are any of these more important than your own younger sister?"

Layla's face was pale as she spoke timidly to Dad.

"Mom likes lavender. I thought of giving her a surprise, Dad. I didn't know that the swing had been set up by Avril's mom. I'm sorry. But Avril didn't even bother listening to my explanation before rushing up to hit me! I'm so scared, Dad! I didn't mean to do it…"

She then showed him her bleeding arm and looked at him with an aggrieved, pitiful expression.

"Maybe… Maybe Mom and I should just move out of the pack since Avril doesn't like us…"

"Layla, you and your mom don't need to leave. You did nothing wrong. Avril's the one who went overboard this time."

Dad then glared at me before raising his hand and slapping me hard across the cheek.

I forgot to duck.

He also seemed shocked after slapping me.

Ever since I was young, Dad had always spoiled me and doted on me as the Alpha, literally drowning me in his love.

I'd once accidentally burned the fur on his tail and messed up his training field, but he never hit me for any of that.

I stared at him in disbelief. I called out to him, my voice dry and scratchy, as if someone had just taken sandpaper to it.

"Dad…"

Ultimately, Dad still never said another word to me and instead turned his back on me as he took Layla away to tend to her injuries.

I watched them leave, finally feeling my cheek starting to smart.

I nursed my cheek with the palm of my hand. Tears streamed down my face again. I couldn't help but laugh in self-mockery.

I knew that I no longer had a place in this home or this pack now.