Family

“Where have you been!? Mom keeps calling you.” Andrea’s voice snapped through the air the moment I stepped into the yard. Her eyes blazed with anger, her perfectly straight hair bouncing around her shoulders as if even it wanted to scold me.

Cordia growled inside my head. 'That bitch. What does she want now?'

'Don’t call her that, Cordia,' I scolded weakly.

'Oh well, she is,' Cordia sneered. 'I’m just being honest, Clary.'

I lowered my gaze. “I’m sorry, I—”

Andrea cut me off, her lips curling into a smirk that twisted like a dagger in my chest. “I don’t care where you came from. Go to Mom and explain to her. Not that she’ll listen to your excuses.”

The heat rushed into my face as if shame was a fire I couldn’t put out. I simply nodded, because fighting Andrea was like fighting the moon... pointless. She always won.

Inside, the scent of expensive perfume clung to the air. My parents sat together in the living room, well dressed, as though the world outside was made only for their prestige. Beside them, Andrea stood radiant in a soft dress, her makeup subtle but perfect. I noticed immediately how different she looked compared to me. While she glowed like a gem, I looked like dirt.

“Where are you going?” I asked before I could stop myself, curiosity slipping past my lips.

Mom’s eyes narrowed like I had committed a crime. “You didn’t even tell us where you’d gone. So why would we tell you where we are going?” Her tone was sharp, dismissive.

They had never cared about where I went, never asked if I was safe. The question must have been absurd coming from me. I drew in a shaky breath. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I’ll never do it again. I won’t go out at night without permission.”

Dad’s voice was gentler than hers, but still heavy. “You should have stayed and taken care of the house, Clary. Not wandering. It’s dangerous out there.”

Cordia scoffed in my head. 'You call that understanding?'

I ignored her, as always. “I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered, lowering my eyes.

Mom let out a sigh like even breathing near me drained her. “Enough. We’re going out to meet your sister’s mate. You stay here and take care of the house. We might not come home tonight.”

The words stabbed deeper than they should have. “Sh-she met her mate?” My voice cracked.

Andrea smirked from behind me, her voice dripping with triumph. “Why? Jealous?”

For a heartbeat, I wanted to say yes. I wanted to admit that I wished it were me. But I forced a smile, soft and fragile. “No, I’m happy for you.”

She raised a brow, studying me like I was some insect pinned to a board. “You should be. Do you want to know who he is?” Her giggle was light, cruel. “He’s the strongest Alpha. The most handsome in the universe. Xylo Crosswind.”

Her eyes hardened, and her smile vanished. She stepped closer, close enough that I could see the sharpness of her pupils. “Don’t you dare steal him away from me.”

Cordia bristled, her anger a living flame. 'Xylo Crosswind? Why do I feel… something? Unfamiliar, but strong.'

'I feel it too,' I admitted silently. But I kept my face calm. My sister was lucky. She had found the strongest wolf alive to protect her for life.

I smiled, even as my chest tightened. “Of course not. Mates can’t be stolen. You share a bond only the Goddess herself creates.”

Andrea tilted her head, trying to read me, as if searching for cracks in my words. Then she leaned closer until her breath ghosted against my ear. “You better not try. Or you’ll face consequences.”

Cordia snapped furiously. 'This bitch! She’s threatened by you, Clary.'

Her words made my heart ache, but I stayed silent.

Mom’s voice cut through the tension. “Since you’re here, we’ll get going. Don’t forget to clean the house. And Clary, take a bath. You smell awful.” She pinched her nose, her face twisting like I was garbage rotting before her.

I sniffed my arm. I smelled of pine and forest, not filth. Still, I nodded. “Yes, Mom.”

“Good.” With that, she and Dad turned their backs. Andrea trailed after them, but not before giving me one last disdainful look from head to toe. She rolled her eyes, then disappeared through the door.

When silence filled the house, I let out a long sigh. My chest felt hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides and left only air. Time to clean. Even if the house already gleamed, Mom would find a speck of dirt and declare it proof of my failure.

Cordia grumbled. 'Don’t you ever get tired of this? They treat you worse than a servant. It’s unfair.'

'It’s okay,' I told her softly, pushing down the lump in my throat. 'Andrea is strong. I’m weak. This is my role. The least I can do is serve them the best I can.'

'That’s not a child’s job, Clary!' Cordia snarled. 'You should live your life.'

I shook my head. “I don’t want to argue, Cordia. Please. Just rest.”

She went quiet, but I could feel her frustration burning like coals in the back of my mind.

So I cleaned. I scrubbed the table, polished the floor, adjusted the curtains, even though everything was already perfect. By the time I finally dragged myself into the bathroom, steam rose from the tub and the scent of lavender soap swirled around me. I washed away the dust, but the heaviness inside me clung, heavier than ever.

When I lay down afterward, exhaustion swallowed me whole. My body sank into the mattress like stone sinking in water. 'Xylo Crosswind… why does that name make me feel so strange?' I thought, but sleep stole me before I could answer.

---

'Thug'

I jolted awake, heart pounding.

'Thug!'

The sound came from the window. I crept to it and pulled the curtain back. My breath hitched. “Darren?”

There he was, standing in the moonlight like he belonged to another world.

I checked the clock. Two a.m. Still, I rushed downstairs and stepped outside. “What’s wrong?” I asked, worry tightening my chest.

He smiled faintly. “Nothing. I just wanted to see you. Can’t I?” His smile faltered, sadness clouding his face.

I moved closer, the knot in my chest loosening. “I missed you.”

His hand slid around my waist, warm and steady. “I missed you too, sweetheart.”

Even though the mate bond hadn’t tied us, Darren and I had chosen each other. Love, I thought, wasn’t only about destiny. It was about care. About choosing, even when the world told you it wasn’t enough.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, brushing his cheek. “How was your day?”

“Good,” he said, then his brow furrowed. “But what about you? Did they hurt you again? Did they make things difficult?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, everything’s fine—”

“Clary,” he interrupted firmly. “Nothing is fine when it comes to your family.”

My smile trembled. “It’s okay. They’re not home tonight. Andrea met her mate.”

His lips thinned. “Good for her. Maybe now she’ll stop tormenting you.” He tugged me toward the bench outside, guiding me gently.

We sat, the night air cool against our skin. I leaned against him, grateful for the quiet.

“How was your day?” I asked softly.

He squeezed my hand. “The border’s safe. No rogues.” His voice carried pride, the strength of a swordsman, a protector. He was everything I wasn’t.

But he was mine... or at least, for now.

His fingers tightened around mine. “Clary… I might not come for a month. The Alpha gave me a mission. I have to obey.” His eyes darkened with apology.

Fear pricked me, sharp as needles. But I forced a smile. “It’s okay. Just promise me one thing.”

His hand brushed mine. “What is it?”

“Take care of yourself.”

The stars shimmered above us, silent witnesses. He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing the back gently. “I will. I love you.”

My chest ached as I whispered back, “I love you too.”

But in my heart, I knew the truth neither of us dared to say aloud: when our mates came, this love would not last. The bond of mates was stronger than choice. Stronger than love.

We had promised to let each other go when that day arrived.

I prayed it wouldn’t come.