Amor Selvagem

SIERRA

 

My acceptance letter carried my sister's name instead of mine.

 

I'd returned home, arms full of heavy groceries and seen the pink balloons, the confetti on the floor.

For a second, I thought it was for me.

 

“Congratulations, Amy Thorne!” the letter read, " You've been accepted into the prestigious SilverCrest academy…”

 

My fingers tightened around the paper. The excitement I felt plucking the letter from my mother's fingers vanished.

 

SilverCrest was my dream. The best healing academy in the Central region, and the reason I'd spent my entire high school life buried in books.

 

So how was Amy's name on it?

 

She was laughing excitedly, no trace of surprise on her face. No trace of dread that she'd gotten the acceptance letter I'd been expecting for weeks.

 

Mother and father’s hands were on her shoulder, discussing celebration dinner guest list.

 

Nobody noticed me until the letter fluttered from my grip to the floor. Their excited talk died down as they finally noticed me.

 

“Are you okay, Sierra?" Amy's voice was tinged with concern, “You don't look well."

 

“I don't understand," I pointed at the letter, confusion brewing in my chest,”If this is your letter then where's mine?"

 

Amy glanced at our father for a split second. As she hung her head, twisting her fingers, cold dread slid down my chest.

 

I took a shaky step forward, “Amy, what did you do?"

 

She stayed quiet. Everyone watched me wearily, as if they all knew something I didn't.

 

I tried to breathe normally but suddenly couldn't. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

 

"Can someone please answer me?” My eyes frantically flicked from my parents to my brother to Amy.

 

Her pitiful look sparked a ball of irritation in my chest.

 

"What the fuck did you do, Amy?” I snapped. She flinched away from me, tears pooling in her eyes.

 

“You’re frightening her, Sierra,” My mother instantly chided.

 

“It makes no sense! How's my acceptance letter bearing her name?”

 

“Don’t speak to your mother like that," my father warned. Tall, well built and exuding alpha aura, his voice instantly made me silent.

 

"Amy was placed at Northridge combat academy but the climate is too cold and the schedule too harsh for her. You know how she falls ill at the slightest things because she has a weak wolf…”

 

My heart was beating painfully slow, dreading his next words.

 

"When her acceptance letter arrived last week, she begged us not to let her go. I.. ” he stalled for a second, "Your mother and I had no choice. Amy can't survive in such a remote school."

 

The air left my lungs as if I'd been punched.

 

“So you switched our places using your influence?" I asked, already knowing the answer. “How could you? You knew SilverCrest was my dream," I whispered.

 

My mother uncomfortably cleared her throat, glancing at my father.

 

I fought back the tears stinging my eyes, struggling to form words. They'd all watched me anxiously wait for a letter they knew was no longer mine.

 

"You're not going to say anything?”

 

My father's expression hardened.

 

"We're family. Just try to be happy for each other,” he gave me a pointed look.

 

My mother stepped in.

 

“What has been done can't be undone. Try to understand, it's for your sister's good. She's weak and you're tough."

 

I laughed drily, shaking my head.

 

"So I'm being punished because I'm stronger?”

 

My mother stared back at me, suddenly speechless.

 

"Sierra, don't be difficult. Just forgive and let it go,” Taylor, my brother scowled.

 

"Difficult?" My voice cracked on the word. "This is my future on the line!”

 

"She's your sister and your wolf is stronger," My mother stressed.

 

"I love Amy but SilverCrest is everything to me," I begged.

 

“You know how much Amy has struggled since she returned to us. If you love her as you claim, you would understand,” Taylor snapped.

 

The hot sensation at the corners of my eyes built up.

 

My birthdays were forgotten, my allowance so meagre it was almost nothing, my clothes were given to her. I'd even moved out of my room for her! Why did I have to give up my future for her too?

 

"If you all loved me, you would've discussed this with me before taking the decision," I spat.

 

"Sierra, please," Amy pitifully begged, “I didn't know you wanted SilverCrest this badly, I can give it back.."

 

"Darling, you could be punished, or worse!” my mother pointed out.

 

"Then so be it. I won't ruin Sierra's future!” she defiantly replied, bursting into tears. My father instantly folded her into a hug, rubbing her back.

 

Taylor sighed in irritation, glaring at me.

 

Mother pointed at the second letter on the table.

 

"Sierra, you're too tough to be a healer. Accept Northridge and let this be the end of this matter." Her tone was final.

 

No matter what I said, my dream of becoming a healer was gone.

 

I stared at the abandoned Northridge letter, my wolf howling with rage and pain within me.

“Why didn't you ask what I wanted before deciding for me?" I brokenly whispered.

 

Not one of them answered. I sucked in a shaky breath.

 

“I'll accept it.”

 

The relief on their faces killed something in me.

 

I walked past them and went to my room with numb legs.

 

Months ago, Professor Nolan had offered me a place in Northridge's special military unit after watching me flawlessly complete a complex drill. I'd turned him down back then, dead set on getting into SilverCrest.

 

I called him before I could change my mind.

 

“I accept your offer."

 

He hesitated, "Think carefully. Once you join, you lose student privileges and become a tool. You won't be able to come home whenever you want. Your training will be completely different. Are you sure?"

 

I clenched the phone tightly, my knuckles popping. I didn't have a choice.

 

“I’m sure,” I gritted, "When do I leave?”