Chapter 1

The Alpha King, Lucian Blackthorne, replied to my email almost immediately.

"Think carefully before you decide. The Wastelands are a long way from here. You won't be able to go home often. If you've made up your mind, sign the contract."

I opened the contract on my laptop just as my oldest brother, Adrian Ashbourne, came out of the basement training room and glanced at my screen.

"Off to another work trip?"

He handed me the basement keys. They were still spattered with blood. "Before you leave, help me deal with two traitors who refuse to follow orders. Cecilia's still young, so don't bring her along."

I didn't bother correcting him.

They couldn't wait eight minutes for me. Why should they care where I worked or how long I'd be gone?

Used plates sat at four places around the dining table. There were scraps of flatbread on them.

Cecilia had two plates in front of her, but nothing was set out for me.

My second brother, Gabriel Ashbourne, explained, "We only had time to make five servings. Cecilia was starving, so we let her have an extra piece."

"Sorry, Selena," Cecilia said apologetically. "We traveled all day, and I haven't had a bite to eat. I was just so hungry."

My third brother, Nathaniel Ashbourne, gave her another helping.

"Don't be too hard on her. She can't stand being hungry. Besides, you know how to cook. Just make yourself something."

Cecilia picked up her plate and held it out to me. "Do you want some?"

Then, she looked down and added, "I've already taken a bite, though."

I reached for the plate, but Nathaniel stopped me.

"Don't tease her. You don't even like flatbread."

"Thanks, but I won't have any," I said, withdrawing my hand.

Adrian sighed. "You're the one who turned down the food we offered. What's with the attitude? You're an adult, Selena. Act like one."

I wasn't interested in the flatbread.

I just wanted them to wonder if I'd made it home yet before sitting down to dinner.

…

After dragging my suitcase upstairs, I opened my bedroom door to find gifts that Cecilia had received on my bed. She had even thrown in her luggage and packages of brand-new clothes.

I bit back my anger and went downstairs.

"Cecilia, why is all your stuff in my room?"

Adrian was tearing off pieces of beef jerky for her. Without giving me so much as a glance, he replied, "Her room's full. She's just using yours for a few days."

"Where am I supposed to sleep, then?"

"Make do for now," he said, popping a piece of jerky into Cecilia's mouth. "You're leaving on another work trip anyway. It's not like you'll be here for long."

Gabriel turned to me, frowning.

"I know you, Selena. You're just upset that we didn't wait for you, so you're taking it out on Cecilia now. You're her big sister. Why can't you be more understanding? Why do you have to give Cecilia a hard time just because you came home late?"

Tears welled up in Cecilia's eyes.

I couldn't help but scoff inwardly. She never had to ask for anything in this house. My brothers always rushed to her defense without fail.

I gave up arguing and went back to my room to clear my bed.

Cecilia followed me upstairs. When she spotted the contract on my laptop, she looked surprised.

"Are you going to spend three years developing the Wastelands?"

Gabriel read the contract, too. He seemed impressed.

"This is pretty well put together. Looks like all those years of strict training really paid off."

Then, he snapped the laptop shut and laughed coldly. "But should you really be using everything we taught you to fool your own family?"

I took the laptop back.

He'd already decided that I was lying to them. There was no point in trying to convince him otherwise.

Our parents had died in the war between packs. Back then, Cecilia was just a newborn. My brothers felt sorry for her because she grew up without parents, so they doted on her.

I was already three at the time. Since I could talk and feed myself, they rarely paid attention to me.

As I grew up, I learned to hide my tears whenever I was hurt. My brothers only cared about Cecilia, after all.

Crying never got me any sympathy. If anything, it just annoyed them.

Cecilia sensed the tension and led my brothers out of the room. Not one of them realized that I needed my family, too.

It didn't take long before I could hear them laughing in the living room.

I put away the last of Cecilia's things on my bed, opened my laptop, and signed the contract.