Chapter 2

Three days left.

I never imagined that even the attic would soon be taken from me.

While making breakfast, Mom casually mentioned it to Marcus.

"Once Beatrice leaves for the joint patrol, we'll tear down the attic partition. Leah wants a puppy."

Marcus agreed without hesitation. A puppy would make Leah happy.

Dad nodded as he took another bite of his sandwich.

"Sounds good. The attic's small, but it's the perfect size for a puppy."

"That's too much trouble." Leah lowered her head, twisting the hem of her shirt between her fingers. "Besides, Beatrice will need somewhere to stay when she comes back to visit."

Marcus smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Your happiness comes first. We'll worry about the rest later."

I sat quietly at the table, eating my fried eggs.

No one had asked if I even wanted to take Dad's place on the joint patrol.

No one had asked whether I'd been provided with housing or when I'd be coming home.

They just needed me gone. Then they could erase every trace that I'd ever lived here.

That afternoon, Hale came over carrying two elegant gift boxes.

In front of everyone, he opened the first.

Inside was a moonstone necklace, which he carefully fastened around Leah's neck.

"It's been blessed by the Moon Goddess. It wasn't easy to get."

Leah stroked the pendant with delight as my parents and Marcus showered her with compliments.

Then Hale tossed the second box into my arms. Inside was a wolf fang.

"Broke it off a rogue during an interrogation. Thought it might help you keep the wolves under your command in line."

I was extremely sensitive to smells. I'd told him that countless times.

The moment I caught a whiff of the rogue's scent still clinging to the fang, my stomach turned.

Yet somehow, he never forgot anything that mattered to Leah.

"This fang reeks. Did you forget I'm sensitive to smells?"

Realization flashed across Hale's face, but it was quickly replaced by impatience.

"I was in a hurry, so I only gave it a quick clean. Don't be so picky. If you don't want it, give it to Leah's new puppy."

"Whatever."

Fighting back my nausea, I dropped the fang straight into the nearest trash can and headed upstairs.

Before Hale could call after me, Leah's soft voice drifted over.

"Hale, don't be angry. Beatrice is a pureblood. A wolf fang isn't really an appropriate gift for her."

Instead of arguing, Hale lowered his voice to comfort her.

"Forget about her. By the way, I ordered you a cake. I know how much you love sweets."

He couldn't even be bothered to say another word to me.

It was as if I wasn't there at all. All he could see was Leah.

Somehow, that hurt more than any insult ever could.

Toward evening, I was walking down the hallway with a glass of water when Dad's puzzled voice drifted out of the living room.

"What's gotten into Beatrice these past few days? Why has she been so quiet?"

I stopped in my tracks, my fingers instinctively tightening around the glass.

"She's always been difficult. Just ignore her," Mom said breezily, cutting him off. "She probably found out we're not taking her on the trip and is giving us the silent treatment. Leave her alone for a few days. She'll get over it."

Dad fell silent for a moment, then let the matter drop.

I stared at the faint ripples spreading across the water in my glass, then quietly walked away.

It wasn't that they hadn't noticed something was wrong.

They had. They'd simply decided it didn't matter.

That night, while working on resource extraction plans for the Wasteland Pack, I happened to notice several purchase notifications.

Designer clothes, totaling more than 6,000 dollars.

The shipping address was our house, and the payment had been made under Dad's name.

He'd ordered Leah a custom ski outfit.

Dad was willing to spend more than 6,000 dollars on her, while I couldn't even get a space heater for the attic.

Looking a little sheepish, Leah pulled a new dress from a shopping bag.

"Beatrice, this dress is totally your style. I picked it out just for you. I hope you like it."

I rarely wore dresses, and this one didn't even look like it would fit me.

Still, I accepted it and thanked her.

In this house, at least she still saw me.

Even if she didn't know me at all.

That night, I received a message from the Alpha King.

"Beatrice Carter, you're about to become the youngest Alpha ever! Your appointment has been approved. Report to the Wasteland Pack within three days. Everyone's waiting for you."

Then he added another line.

"Your leadership and surveying skills are irreplaceable. Don't worry. Everything's been arranged for you here. You've got this!"

I read the message over and over again.

Someone was waiting for me.

Someone needed me.

Someone thought I was irreplaceable. They just weren't anyone in this house.