Chapter 34

Kane didn’t come downstairs all morning—and honestly, I wasn’t in any rush to see him either. After a quiet breakfast, I was about to slip back to my room to rest when my phone rang.

The police station.

Apparently, Justin had been detained overnight and—get this—refused to let anyone else bail him out but me.

Unbelievable.

Of all the people in the world to drag into his mess, why me? But I already knew the answer. Because chaos seemed to follow this family like a curse… and they were always happy to throw me under the bus.

With a sigh, I turned back toward Snow Moon Pack.

When I arrived, it was like nothing had happened. Calm. Quiet. Deceptively normal. Justin was still MIA since last night’s drama. Betsy had vanished—probably paid off to disappear. Only Selene and Lilith were lounging around like they hadn’t tried to sacrifice me to a drunk predator 24 hours ago.

I didn’t waste time. “Justin drove drunk and assaulted a Warrior. The police want someone to pick him up.”

Selene’s expression darkened. “Excuse me? You’re saying Justin was drunk and assaulted someone?” Her tone dripped disbelief and indignation.

Lilith scoffed, crossing her arms. “That’s ridiculous. Mia, even if you hate me, don’t lie just to ruin my reputation.”

There it was. Her real concern.

“Lilith,” I said dryly, “I don’t need to lie. You’ll do enough damage all on your own. The second season of your precious reality show starts tomorrow, right? What do you think the press will say when news of your brother’s arrest gets out?”

That shut her up.

Selene’s face twitched as she pulled out her phone. “Fine. I’ll call him right now.”

“Put it on speaker,” Lilith urged smugly, certain Justin would clear her name and blast me for spreading lies.

Selene clicked the speaker icon. “Where are you?”

Justin’s voice came through, groggy and laced with hangover haze. “Police station. Tell my sister to come get me.”

Lilith perked up. “I’ll go—”

“No,” Justin slurred. “Not Lilith. I mean Mia. If she doesn’t come, I’m not leaving.”

The line cut.

The room fell silent. Lilith’s face paled like she’d been slapped.

I turned to leave. My duty was done.

But Selene grabbed my wrist. “You heard him! He wants you to pick him up!”

“I heard. I just don’t care.” I shrugged her off. “Why should I go? He’s your son.”

“Because he’s your older brother!” Selene snapped. The anger in her voice was too sharp to be motherly—it was panicked, desperate. She wasn’t worried about Justin. She was worried about the press.

Lilith, of course, piped in with her fake pity tone. “Mia, please. If it were up to me, I’d go myself, but Justin asked for you. I really would go if he said my name…”

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “Fine. I’ll go.” I pointed right at Lilith. “But she’s coming too.”

Lilith stiffened. “He didn’t ask for me…”

I folded my arms. “Then I guess no one’s going.”

Selene glanced between us, calculating. Then she turned to her precious daughter. “Lilith, you don’t have to get out of the car. Just ride with us. That’s all.”

Lilith’s eyes glistened. “Fine. I’ll go. Even if I lose my fans, I’ll go for Avery.” Her voice cracked like it was some noble sacrifice.

Selene rushed to comfort her. “You’ve suffered so much. When we bring Avery home, I’ll have him fund a series for you—your big acting debut, my little star.”

“Mm-hmm,” Lilith sniffled, clearly appeased.

I clapped slowly. “Wow. She gets a starring role for riding in a car. What do I get for actually bailing him out?”

Selene whirled on me. “How dare you ask for anything!”

I raised a brow. “Ah, so no reward for me. Figures. In that case—" I stepped back toward the door—"I’m out.”

Selene hissed through her teeth, and Lilith looked ready to cry again, but I wasn’t playing their game.

Not anymore.