Chapter 1

I barged into Zane's office. Serena scrambled off his lap the second she saw me.

When Zane saw it was me, his face was pure irritation.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long breath, then hissed through clenched teeth, "Who said you could come to Pack HQ? Look at yourself — you're a mess. Don't you have any self-respect?"

I held my sick child tight against my chest. The accusation on my tongue came out as a weak explanation instead.

"I called you, but you didn't pick up. Zane, our daughter is sick. I had no other choice, so I came here to find you."

He slapped me across the face, then pointed at the office door and snarled under his breath.

"Get out. I give you two thousand a month. If you'd been less wasteful, how would you not have enough to take the pup to a healer?"

Two thousand a month, and it had to cover every expense in the house. Not a single cent of that money was ever spent on me.

Tears poured down my face. My knees buckled and I dropped to the floor in front of him.

"Say whatever you want about me, but please — save our daughter first. I can't afford the healer's fees anymore."

He struck me again, then put his arm around Serena's waist and walked out of the office.

All he said was: "You reap what you sow."

I sat in his office holding my child, crying for a long time.

My tears dripped onto Lily's small hand. She struggled to open her eyes, her voice scratchy, and called out, "Mama."

That one word pulled me back to reality. Right — I still had to save Lily.

I carried my daughter and walked on foot to the Whitmore Pack House. I wasn't their biological daughter, but they'd raised me for twenty years. That had to count for something.

They wouldn't even let me through the door.

"You're not even a real Whitmore. Why should we lend you money?"

Catherine's words hit me hard. I called out in disbelief, "Mom."

She glanced at me with irritation.

"You're a fraud. Serena is our real daughter."

My voice shook. "Mom, I'm your daughter too."

The way she looked at me — there was disgust in her eyes. She turned and walked into the living room, then came back holding a glass of water. I reached out eagerly to take it.

Of course. No matter whether I was her biological daughter or not, she still loved me.

The next second, she threw the water in my face. It soaked my child too.

Before Serena came back, Catherine had loved Lily — her granddaughter — more than anyone.