Chapter 4

The polite applause died instantly, replaced by an icy, suffocating silence.

The blood drained from my face.

Wyatt wasn't finished. "None of you know this, but Harper's first shift was so pathetic she hid in her room crying for a week..."

He spun a wildly exaggerated tale, hellbent on tearing down my dignity and turning me into the evening's entertainment.

The truth was, the reason my first shift was delayed and weak was because that severe fever they ignored during my childhood had permanently damaged my early development.

Surrounded by the guests' muffled snickers and pitying stares, my nails dug into my palms until they bled, and I finally screamed, "Shut your mouth!"

Wyatt just scoffed. "Make me. You clearly love the attention, right? Let them hear the real story."

He jutted his chin out defensively.

"Why does Elder Thorne kiss up to you and ignore me? It's complete garbage."

I realized he was just throwing a tantrum because my praise had slightly eclipsed his special night.

Then Jaxon, who couldn't stand letting Wyatt have the floor, smirked and jumped in. "Wyatt, don't throw stones. You're a joke too. Remember when you scored a C on the combat stamina trial?"

Wyatt lost it, launching himself at Jaxon, and within seconds, the twins were rolling on the floor, trading blows.

I stared at the absolute circus in front of me with a dead, hollow smirk.

I pivoted to walk away, but a split second later, a sharp, stinging slap cracked across my cheek.

"That is enough, Harper!" Mom shrieked, her eyes blazing. "Are you determined to ruin your brothers' entire birthday?"

"If you hadn't been so desperate to show off and manipulate the Elder into praising you, they wouldn't be fighting right now!"

The sheer force of the blow sent me stumbling back.

Cradling my burning face, I stared at the woman who birthed me in absolute disbelief.

Mom's expression was thunderous, dripping with unfiltered resentment.

Dad stood behind her, his face a mask of cold judgment. "As the daughter of the Alpha, you clearly lack any fundamental understanding of pack unity. You are a profound disappointment."

Perhaps realizing that publicly striking and berating a pack member was a bad look, Dad redirected his fury toward Elder Thorne.

"Elder, this is a private family celebration. Do not pull a stunt like this in my home again."

Elder Thorne stood near the back, his face ashen.

The old wolf swayed slightly on his feet.

Looking like a scolded pup.

The cocktail of physical shock and emotional devastation nearly shattered my mind.

It took me a long time to scrape my voice together. "Don't blame Elder Thorne."

My own voice sounded ghost-like in my ears.

"This is my fault. I was being immature."

"I won't ever try to compete with them again."

With that, I flashed my parents a wide, broken smile, even as the tears cascaded down my face.

The saltwater hit the welt on my cheek, stinging sharply.

By then, the guards had pried Jaxon and Wyatt apart. They were sprawled on the tiles, gasping for air.

The banquet dissolved into awkward murmurs as the guests scrambled for the exits.

When I stepped out onto the driveway, the transport vehicles were already packed. There wasn't a single empty seat.

Dad threw a dismissive glance my way. "The overflow transport was sent back. We're full. Walk back to the estate."

Wyatt leaned out the window to twist the knife. "You completely trashed our night. You ruined everything, and you still have the nerve to tag along?"

The lingering stares of the remaining elite pricked my skin like hot needles.

But this time, my eyes were dry.

I simply turned on my heel and walked the other way.

I didn't head back to the estate. I had covertly shipped my trunks out days ago.

This was the cleanest break I could ask for. There was zero reason to ever set foot in that house again.

I hailed a cab straight to the private airstrip and boarded a flight destined for Bladewolf territory.