Chapter 3

Dad, Mom, and Conner immediately rushed to her side. Seeing the red, burn-like mark on Ella's palm, they panicked.

"We weren't around any humans at the party. Which werewolf would send a gift made of silver?"

Mom's eyes scanned the room, finally settling on an open gift box.

"That gift box… is that Sophie's?"

Ella immediately looked like she was about to cry. "Mom, please don't blame Sophie. The gift was on my bedside table this morning. I'm just happy she was willing to give me a present."

In an instant, disappointment and rage filled Dad and Conner's faces.

"I knew it! That's why she's been dragging her feet and not coming home. She was plotting to hurt Ella!"

"How could I have such a vicious sister?"

"Enough! Stop arguing and get Ella to the pack healer!" Dad kicked the gift box—the one Ella had stolen from my room—and slammed his hand on the table in fury.

"We're out of gauze. I'll get some from the basement," Conner said before they left.

Ella's eyes darted around. She grabbed Conner's arm. "Don't go. The healer will have gauze. It hurts so much…"

If Conner had taken one step closer to the basement, he would have smelled the overwhelming stench of blood.

But it was not to be.

At Ella's words, the family hurried away, leaving only my spirit floating in the empty living room.

I wanted to scream that I hadn't done anything.

But I could no longer speak.

And I knew that even if I could, they would never believe me.

So be it.

The housekeeper, hearing the commotion, came out to clean up the mess and sighed.

"Miss Sophie, why do you never learn to protect yourself?"

My spirit floated back to my room. Seeing the journal on my desk, a flood of memories washed over me.

When I was ten, our family held the decennial Bloodline Awakening Ceremony. That day would determine every cub's future status and power within the pack.

Conner was first. His wolf form was pure black, a symbol of power and future leadership. Dad looked at him with undisguised pride.

When it was Ella's turn, her wolf was a rare snow-white, possessing a natural aura of peace that calmed all the pack members around her. Mom held her, calling her the family's treasure.

Not wanting to disappoint my parents, I stepped onto the awakening platform filled with anticipation.

But when my wolf form appeared, everyone fell silent.

My wolf was just an ordinary gray wolf.

No special abilities, no rare coat color, so plain that I would be lost in a crowd of pack members.

From that day on, I became the family's "common one," someone not worth investing resources in. Even after I achieved the highest academic honors, they still believed bloodline determined everything.

Conner and Ella enjoyed all the favoritism and resources.

And I, like my wolf's bloodline—

Was ordinary. Expendable.