Chapter 2

Right then, Dad frowned and instinctively reached for his right leg.

An old comrade noticed his movement and asked, "Is your old injury acting up again?"

Dad answered without thinking. "It's nothing. I just took the herbs Lana found for me."

Right after he said that, he froze.

The daughter they constantly called rebellious had actually remembered the chronic injury he had suffered in battle years ago.

His old comrade patted him on the back.

"You should spend more time caring about Lana. After all, she's your own flesh and blood."

Dad disagreed immediately.

"A few days ago, Eve kept hoping Lana would come support her during the werewolf aptitude evaluation, but Lana never showed up.

"She broke her promise and ruined Eve's concentration. That's why Eve only earned a B grade.

"Lana often disappears for ten days or even over two weeks at a time. She could die somewhere and nobody would even know. Her mom and I have tried so hard to raise her, yet she turned out rotten!"

Hearing those words made my heart grow cold.

'Dad, Mom, how can you say that I refuse to come home? I'm right in front of you!' The daughter you called ungrateful already died the night you held Eve's wolf spirit awakening ritual.'

At the pack meeting, everyone wore solemn expressions after hearing Mom's examination report.

My body had been so badly mutilated that no werewolf features remained for identification.

The dense forest where I was found wasn't the actual murder scene, making it nearly impossible to track down the killer.

Dad ordered the warriors to widen the search and investigate every suspicious clue.

"Take another careful look. See if there's anything we've missed. Extract a blood sample and send it to the healer's den immediately."

After giving the order, he left with the warriors to continue searching.

Dad showed more concern for an unidentified corpse than he had ever shown for me.

Once, Dad had affectionately held Eve's hand and told her that warriors were the pack's sacred guardians, but I had seen Eve smile obediently until he turned away. She then ridiculed warriors by calling the profession dangerous.

That day, I slapped her across the face. As a result, Mom punished me by locking me in confinement for three days.

Now, Mom gently picked up a few strands of my remaining hair and murmured, "This poor werewolf died such a horrible death. I can't imagine how heartbroken her parents will be."

I laughed bitterly at myself.

If they ever learned that I was dead, they would probably feel relieved.

Perhaps only my brother Lucian Garren, who was out there somewhere, would truly mourn me.

Mom's gaze landed on the scar across the back of my hand.

It was the scar a rogue had left behind when I went missing as a pup.

When I first returned to the pack, Mom noticed it while helping me change clothes. Her voice had been filled with disgust.

"Why do you have such an ugly scar on the back of your hand? Wear a glove and cover it up. Don't scare Eve."

I subconsciously held my breath from being nervous. Would Mom finally recognize me because of that scar?

Would she realize that this mutilated corpse was her own daughter?

Instead, she merely said in a professional tone, "It's an old scar. It wasn't caused during this incident. It's irrelevant."

At that moment, one of Mom's apprentices suddenly cried out, "Mentor! There's a piece of paper still inside the victim's stomach!"

Mom quickly took it, glanced at it, and shook her head.

"It's badly corroded. Have the witch try restoring whatever writing remains."

Right then, Mom's phone rang. It was Eve's personalized ringtone.

Immediately, Mom set aside everything she was doing and hurried away from the crime scene. The tenderness in her voice was almost unrecognizable.

"What is it, sweetheart? I'm working right now.

"Tomorrow's hunting competition?" She barely paused before answering.

"Don't worry. No matter how busy your dad and I are, we'll be there.

"Your sister? Who knows where she's off fooling around these days. I doubt she'll come."

Eve's deliberately disappointed voice drifted through the phone.

"Oh, I was really hoping Lana would come watch me compete. With her cheering me on, I'm sure I'd do even better.

"Even if she doesn't want to come, I understand. After all, I did take everything that was originally supposed to be hers."

I snorted. Ever since I returned home, she'd made my life miserable. She'd even secretly framed me countless times.

Yet somehow, in front of our parents, she always managed to look like the victim.

From experience, I already knew what Mom would blame me next.

Sure enough, her tone turned harsh.

"Don't say that! You're our precious daughter.

"Lana stole pack supplies and constantly bullied you behind our backs. She doesn't even deserve to be my daughter.

"Don't worry. Even if she dies, I'll drag her corpse to your hunting competition!"

Sensing Mom's anger, Eve quickly acted sweet. "Don't be mad, Mom. As long as you and Dad come, I'll be happy."

She then added with feigned concern, "Dad mentioned a rogue has been attacking people lately. Lana is always running around outside. Mom, remind her to be careful too."