Chapter 3

I had just stuffed a few pieces of clothing into my backpack when Joanna walked in.

She came over to me and tugged on my sleeve. "Nina, don't leave, okay? I'll give the spot back to you. Don't upset our brothers, okay?"

When I didn't respond, her voice turned tearful. "I know you hate me. If you stay, I'll move out tomorrow."

She dug her nails into my flesh as she spoke.

I turned and glared at her coldly. "Let go."

Not only did she refuse to let go, but she even tightened her grip.

"Nina, please. I'm begging you."

I ran out of patience and pulled my hand free without using much force, but Joanna immediately fell backward onto the ground. She shrieked as if her bones were broken.

My second brother, Ashton Moretti, happened to be outside the door and came charging in when he heard the commotion. His eyes filled with murderous fury upon seeing Joanna lying on the floor.

"Nina, why are you so cruel? Joanna came to make peace with you, and you actually attacked her? How did we end up with a sister like you?"

Ian rushed in after Ashton and shoved me aside.

I was caught off guard and stumbled backward, slamming my shoulder into the corner of a cabinet. I fell to the floor, half my arm going numb from the pain.

Before I could even react, I saw Father, Ian, and Ashton crowding around Joanna, fussing over her.

"Joanna, does it hurt?"

"Don't worry. I'll get you the best ointment!"

"Father, check if Joanna broke any bones."

My entire right arm hurt so badly that I could barely feel it, while Joanna hadn't even scraped her skin. Yet not one of them turned to look at me.

How ironic. The care they'd once shown me had all turned into hostility.

I stared straight at Father. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.

It was just like three months ago, when Joanna stole my necklace and showed it off at the market, only to be exposed in front of everyone by nobles from another pack.

When Father found out, he didn't hesitate to hang the necklace Mother had left me around Joanna's neck and declare her his most precious daughter.

Ian and Ashton even tracked down the nobles who'd mocked her that very night, beat them up, and made them apologize to Joanna in person.

And just like that, everyone stopped making fun of her.

I had the purest bloodline, yet I became the family's unloved daughter, the one everyone gossiped about for being pushed aside.

When I brought it up, my family brushed me off, saying, "They just love to gossip. You're strong. You don't need a reputation to prove yourself."

I was frustrated with what they said, but they took Joanna to the most expensive resort in Raxley for three whole days just to cheer her up.

Watching the four of them fuss over one another right now made me feel like a complete outsider.

I reached out and rolled my shoulder, but the numbness was getting worse. Holding my aching shoulder, I turned to Joanna, who was still pretending to cry. I opened my mouth, but the words "I didn't even touch her" never came out.

What was the point of explaining? They'd only believe what they wanted to believe.

I lowered my eyes and gave a bitter smile before saying, "If that's what you say, then so be it."

Without looking at Joanna again, I turned and headed for the suitcase in the corner.

Ashton shot to his feet, furious at what I'd said. "You're still making snide remarks after pushing her to the ground?"

He raised his hand but stopped inches from my cheek, trembling violently. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to strike me.

"Nina, you've really disappointed us. Are you really that selfish? You'd really put one spot above your own family?"

I smiled helplessly as Ashton slowly lowered his hand.

"Yeah, I'm selfish. So go protect your new sister. Leave me alone."

They froze for a moment. They'd never seen me like this before. In their eyes, I'd always been the silly girl who'd bend over backward to please them.

I turned back toward the suitcase.

Ashton gritted his teeth, as if my calm response had hurt him. "Well! Very well! You're staying in your room to reflect on what you've done. You can come out when you're ready to admit you're wrong! If not, you're not taking a single thing from this house!"

With that, they slammed my bedroom door shut.

Father's voice came through the door, "Why did you lose your temper with Nina? Can't you talk to her properly?"

I felt nothing as I listened.

As soon as they left, I took the wolf-fang necklace Ian had spent three months polishing and the little trinkets the three of them had given me over the years and tossed them all into the fire.