Chapter 2

"My 18th birthday is just around the corner. I'm excited. In two weeks, I'll meet my wolf, and in less than a month, I'll graduate and finally be able to leave far away from my hateful sister and mother. The only thing that ties me to this house is my dad. Only he will suffer."

"Earth to Anastasia."

"Sorry, Clara. I can't stop thinking about how my life will change in less than a month – my wolf, my scholarship. I can't stand how slow the days are passing."

"Don't worry, babe. Before you know it, you'll be talking to your wolf, and believe me, you might wish you hadn't awakened her."

"Hey, that hurt, Clara."

"Sorry, Siena, but sometimes you can be so intense."

"Chill, drama queen. I'm leaving; hope you won't miss me."

I saw the offended look on Clara's face, and I immediately knew she was arguing with Siena, her wolf. That made me laugh. According to what she told me, Siena was hard to convince after an argument, and Henry's wolf would get anxious. You'll have a lot of work to do now, Clara.

"Don't remind me. Well, I'll fix it later. Tell me, what's the important thing you wanted to tell me? I was surprised by your message, Anastasia."

"As I said in the message, I don't know what my so”called 'mother' and sister are up to, but they're acting suspicious. As long as their actions don't affect my father or me, that's what they'll probably do."

“What makes you think that?”

“They've been very quiet these days, not bothering anyone, and they've left my father alone. Naomi stopped bothering me and comes home mysteriously every afternoon after school”.

“Do you want me to find out?”

“That's not why I called you. What I want is for you to find out if the wicked stepsister is in a relationship. If she is, I know she'll leave me alone, and if it's someone very convenient, the stepmother will also stay calm”.

“So, you want to know if she's seeing someone to let you carry out your plans in peace, am I right, Ana?”

“I nodded. Clara had a stepsister who also attended Naomi's school, and that would be of great help. If I was right, my life would be much easier without them lurking around”.

“I'll let my little sister play private investigator. I'll let you know if I find anything. Now, I have to go, Ana. Decker is coming like crazy, trying to convince Siena to go out”.

“Clara, what did you do to Siena? Decker was driving me crazy until he came; he was trying to flirt, and I had to leave. What will you do now?”

"I'm sorry, 'Don Juan,' it's not my problem that Decker is obsessed with Siena. Go back where you came from and don't bother me, Henry."

I watched them walk away, arguing, and I found the scene amusing. Even though Henry seemed angry, it was all a charade. He would jump into the ocean if necessary to be by Clara's side when she needed him. I walked home, feeling the breeze on my face. It was one of the few things I loved to do. At this hour, there's no one at home, and that's heaven for me. I entered and sensed a strange scent. It seems I'm not alone.

"Yes, just like that! Don't stop, Andrew! Ahh!"

My sister seems to lead a very "eventful" life. She should be a bit more respectful or discreet, but that's not my problem. I locked myself in my room, putting on headphones to avoid hearing any more disgusting things.

"You've been here, weirdo."

I looked up, feeling a different aura behind me. I removed the headphones and looked at who it was, completely ignoring my sister. "Who are you?"

"Why do you care, freak?"

I continued to ignore Naomi. "Haven't you been taught to respect someone else's house?" I asked, looking intently at the man in the suit who was behind my sister. Naomi calls me a freak because I was born with heterochromia; one of my eyes is blue, and the other is green, just like my parents.

"I don't know who you are, miss, but that's very rude. Who are you? The housemaid of my girlfriend?" I smelled that intoxicating scent again. It's subtle, but it drives me crazy.

"The housemaid? That's a new one, Clara! Let me tell you that... someone covered my mouth from behind. It was none other than my beautiful 'mother.'"

"Don't mind her; she's my country niece. I'll take her away, so she won't bother you. Excuse the interruption."

I laughed between my mother's hands. She never introduces me as her daughter; she's ashamed of me because of my 'condition,' as she calls my eye combination. She only looks through Naomi's eyes. She dragged me to my bedroom, and I know a sermon awaits me.

"What were you thinking? Your sister was busy; can't you see this is her big opportunity? Can't you help her at least once?"

"Busy? Great opportunity?" I don't understand you, Mother. Your daughter is treating this house like a hotel, and you still defend her. Are you even listening to yourself?

“She doesn't have the opportunities you have, Clara. She's just trying to secure a better future for herself. As always, you want everything for yourself. Can't you see your sister's happiness?

“I don't understand my mother or sister, but I do understand that Clara is trying to hook that clueless man because he looks elegant and wealthy. Poor him. It's not my problem to solve it for him; he's old enough to figure out her game. If she studied instead of partying, she'd be better off, don't you think?

“I say it and stand by it. You envy your sister for being beautiful. She's good at studying and will graduate as one of the top students of her generation. Let go of your jealousy and let her be happy.

“I laughed at what my mother called "happiness." She and I are not the same. She likes easy money, and I prefer to earn my own. I don't need an alpha or a beta to feel secure; I can handle everything myself. That's what makes us different. The slap that landed on my face made me understand many things, such as the fact that my life will be hell until the last day, I'm in this house.

"Busy? Great opportunity?" I don't understand you, Mother. Your daughter is treating this house like a hotel, and you still defend her. Are you even listening to yourself?

“She doesn't have the opportunities you have, Clara. She's just trying to secure a better future for herself. As always, you want everything for yourself. Can't you see your sister's happiness?

“I don't understand my mother or sister, but I do understand that Clara is trying to hook that clueless man because he looks elegant and wealthy. Poor him. It's not my problem to solve it for him; he's old enough to figure out her game. If she studied instead of partying, she'd be better off, don't you think?

“I say it and stand by it. You envy your sister for being beautiful. She's good at studying and will graduate as one of the top students of her generation. Let go of your jealousy and let her be happy.

“I laughed at what my mother called "happiness” She and I are not the same. She likes easy money, and I prefer to earn my own. I don't need an alpha or a beta to feel secure; I can handle everything myself. That's what makes us different. The slap that landed on my face made me understand many things, like the fact that my life will be hell until the last day I'm in this house”.