Chapter 0003

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The soft knocks on my door made me jump as I finished drying off from my shower and wrapped the towel around me. I knew this was not my mother as she would have just came in. I said, “Come in."

Margaret, the Omega housekeeper, entered my room. She was one of the few who was decent to me.

"Welcome home, Miss Kailani. You will," Margaret started.

I interrupted her, saying, “I know, I know. I must stay in my room tonight. I remember."

“No, Miss Kailani. I am here to help you get dressed,” Margaret said, showing me a beautiful green gown.

I blinked in surprise. “Dressed for what?”

"Luna instructed me to help you dress for dinner. She wants you to join the party this evening." Margaret said as she pulled out various makeup to cover the slap marks on my face.

"Luna" had been careful not to leave marks but sometimes it was unavoidable. Margaret has become very good at this after years of covering for me.

Join the party? Impossible. My mother just scolded me for not being around to set up for the party. She couldn’t want me at this party. “Margaret, I think you’re mistaken,” I said.

“No, Miss, I’m not mistaken,” Margaret replied.

I was always sent to my room on nights like these. But the tiny flame of hope flickered inside me. Was this finally the end of my misery? "Did she say why?" I asked.

"I'm afraid Luna didn't explain. But we must hurry; it's already half past six. We do not want to anger Luna."

My mind raced. Mother and Father treated me like a burden for years since that wretched full moon night when everything changed. Had something changed now? Had they finally forgiven me?

“Be cautious,” my wolf whispered. She too seemed skeptical of this new behavior.

Margaret helped me into an elegant green gown that once belonged to my sister, Kim. I was not allowed any nice clothes and was given the worst hand-me-downs. This dress looked practically brand new. I hardly recognized the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

“Miss, you don’t have time for this. Go now,” Margaret urged, pushing me out of my room.

Wearing my new heels felt like balancing on a tightrope, and I had to focus every ounce of my attention on not falling over.

"Deep breaths, Kailani. You can do this," I whispered under my breath, willing my legs to move.

I could feel the pack members' curious and shocked gazes as I walked, whispering among themselves. Their eyes burned holes into my skin, but I forced myself to ignore them.

"Kailani!" Amber's voice rang out like a venomous snarl, stopping me in my tracks just a few feet from the grand banquet hall.

"Amber," I acknowledged, trying to keep my voice steady despite my racing heart.

She narrowed her eyes at me, as if sizing me up. "What are you doing here? Where did you get that dress?"

I glanced down at the gown Luna had generously given me. Though it was simple compared to the extravagant dresses worn by other pack members, I cherished it deeply. "Luna gave me this dress, and I'm proud to wear it."

"Of course you would be," Amber spat. "Always looking for scraps of approval from our betters. It's no wonder you're nothing more than an outsider in your own family."

Her words hit me like a slap across the face, but I refused to let her see how they affected me and kept my face neutral.

"Jealousy doesn't suit you, Amber," I retorted, trying to hide the tremble in my voice. "Maybe if you focused more on yourself and less on bringing others down, you'd be happier."

Amber's eyes flashed with anger, but before she could reply, she pretended to lose her footing, stumbling towards me. The glass of red wine she held in her hand flew from her grasp, splashing all over the front of my dress.

"Oops," she sneered, not even attempting to make her act believable. "You better hurry and clean that up, or it'll stain that precious dress Luna gave you."

My heart pounded in my chest as I looked down at the wine spilling across the fabric. Without another word, I turned on my heels and raced to the nearest bathroom, desperately hoping I could save the dress.

After scrubbing at the crimson liquid for a few minutes, the last remnants of the wine disappeared from the delicate fabric. “You don’t win this time, Amber,” I thought as I left the bathroom.

At precisely seven o'clock, I entered the grand banquet hall. Golden lanterns cast a warm glow on the guests in their cocktail attire. I tried not to frown as I looked out of place just like Amber said. Even though I found this dress elegant, it looked dull and muted compared to everyone else’s attire. I felt out of place, but I couldn’t run back to my room.

I saw my mother approaching. She was smiling. It was the first time she had smiled at me in years. “Find a seat,” she said simply before walking away to greet some guests.

I knew better not to try to sit at the head table. I found an empty chair in the corner and sat down. Some of the pack members mocked me for licking up wine. I ignored them.

I spotted Mother returning to her seat at the head table. She and my father flanked my sister, and there was no seat for me.

Of course. This was all for her.

I sank into the corner chair, trying to make myself invisible as I watched the happy partygoers. The clinking of glasses and the murmur of polite conversation washed over me. Everyone seemed thrilled to celebrate my sister Kim's 18th birthday, while I wasn’t even an afterthought. I was nothing to them.

My eyes drifted back to the head table, where my parents sat proudly beside Kim, their prized daughter. They beamed at her with a warmth I hadn't seen directed at me in over a decade.

I stared down at my hands, calloused from years of hard labor I was forced to do around our estate. I was an omega, their servant now, not their daughter.

Glancing back at my smiling mother and father, a lump formed in my throat. I would give anything to go back to when we were still a family. Back when Kim and I played under the full moon's glow, unburdened by the weight of that night's events.

But the past was gone. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. This was Kim's night, and I refused to ruin it with my bitterness.

I glanced down at my worn dress, fingering a loose thread. It was a hand-me-down from Kim, just like all my clothes. I never had pretty dresses or jewelry like she did. I was the stain on this family; they hid away.

But not tonight.

Could this be a sign that they changed their minds after so many cold, lonely years? Did they now believe that it was not my fault that Kim lost her wolf? Was this decade of misery finally coming to an end?

I wanted to run to my parents and beg for their forgiveness again, vowing to do anything to earn back their love.

But I stayed rooted in my chair, uncertainty swirling through me. I would not get ahead of myself. For now, I would simply enjoy this rare moment of inclusion, soaking up the sights and sounds of a family celebration I was usually barred from.

I watched as my mother gently clinked her glass, calling the room to attention.

"Thank you all for coming," she said. "Today we are here to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday."

She looked over at Kim, pride shining in her eyes. "And I have good news. Our future, our daughter Kim, has finally found her wolf."

Murmurs of excitement rippled through the guests. I stared at Kim, stunned.

Ten years ago, my sister lost her wolf, in no way did I want it to happen, but they all believed I was the culprit. My parents blamed me, said it was my fault and now I was the black sheep of the pack. I couldn’t have possibly done it.

I kept praying that maybe one day Kim would be the person that she used to be again. After years of treatments and heartache, had it finally happened?

I felt a swell of happiness for my sister. Our eyes met briefly across the room before she turned back to accept my congratulations.

I picked at the loose thread again, lost in thought, until my mother's voice called me back.

"Toast to our family," she proclaimed, raising her glass high, looking right at me. "Our bonds will be restored and become even stronger."

My eyes widened in disbelief. She had included me, the family outcast, in her toast! Could this mean...?

I hesitantly raised my glass. As I did, a hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to me—some curious, some judgmental, a few even hostile.

But my mother simply smiled and nodded, as if my presence were the most natural thing in the world.

"To family," I whispered, my voice catching. I quickly took a sip to hide the tears stinging my eyes.

After the toast, chatter resumed, and attention shifted away. I let out a shaky breath, almost giddy with cautious optimism.

Maybe this birthday celebration marked a fresh start, a chance to reconnect. I pictured cozy family dinners, carefree days with Kim, and my parents' loving embrace.

A scoff brought me out of my thoughts. Again, Amber, standing there. “Do you really think you’re one of us?” she asked. “Don’t fool yourself. You’re still just dirt to be trampled on. Eat up runt.”

Amber dropped her plate of scraps into my lap and walked away. I didn’t let it phase me.

There was still a long way to go and wounds that might never fully heal. But tonight, for the first time in forever, I felt the glow of belonging.

There was nothing she nor anyone else could do to bring me down now.