Chapter 4

Mother saw my face, and her steps faltered.

The next instant, she rushed to the bedside. Her hands trembled as she reached for the wound, then pulled back, afraid of hurting me. All she could do was grip my hand.

"Layla, what happened to your face?"

Father's gaze moved from my red, blistered face to the bandaged right hand.

The full force of his Alpha authority crashed over the room.

"Who did this?"

I looked at Sophia.

The color drained from my three brothers' faces.

Before Sophia could speak, Caine dropped to his knees and rushed to control the story before anyone else could.

"Father, the fault lies with the three of us. Sophia had nothing to do with it.

"I arranged the farewell banquet. I failed to keep my younger siblings in line, and Layla was hurt twice because of it."

Rhael was seething, but he still stepped in front of Sophia.

"I lit the fire, and I was the one who left the oil where it could spill. Punish me instead!

"But don't take it out on Sophia. She doesn't owe Layla anything."

Lucian's lips moved, and his gaze fell on my injuries.

Caine only had to call his name. Lucian lowered his head, silently accepting their story.

Father laughed in fury.

"An accident?

"One 'accident' burned her hand, and another ruined her face. You call that an accident?

"She is the sister you grew up with!"

Even with my blistered face right in front of him, Caine kept his jaw tight and did not step aside.

"Layla has plenty of time to heal. The best moonbloom herbs and the pack healer can all go to her. She won't be shortchanged.

"Mother, Layla is the one backing everyone into a corner. Stop taking her side!

"Sophia is about to leave for the North."

Lucian had wanted the healer to treat me first, but now he was the quickest to defend Sophia.

"She's being sent to that savage northern pack. Knox is vicious. We don't even know if she'll make it back alive.

"Sophia is giving up the rest of her life to repay our kindness. She only has a few days left with us, yet Layla is still using this marriage to compete for attention and making things impossible for her at every turn!"

I watched them in silence.

So in their minds, the fact that I was staying meant any injury I suffered could always be patched up later.

Sophia was the one leaving, so even the smallest slight against her mattered more than my wounds.

They could claim responsibility for things they had never done, all to protect Sophia, yet they refused to believe a single true word from me.

Once, this would have hurt. I might even have demanded to know why.

Now, I only found it absurd.

My mother, Luna Evelyn Vale, trembled with anger.

"You say Layla is making things hard for her. But from start to finish, which part of what Layla said was a lie?"

Rhael was the first to lose his temper.

"She keeps claiming she's going to marry in Sophia's place. If that's not a lie, what is?

"You and Father have sheltered her since she was born. There's no way you'd actually send her to the North.

"She just saw us spending time with Sophia and made the whole thing up for attention."

Alarm flickered in Sophia's eyes. She quickly knelt before Mother, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Luna, it's all my fault.

"If I hadn't volunteered for the marriage, Layla never would have fought me over her brothers, and she wouldn't have been hurt.

"Please don't blame them. Once I leave for the North, no one will upset Layla again."

Caine tenderly helped Sophia to her feet. His hand lingered on her back far too long.

"Don't take everything on yourself.

"You're going to the North to repay the pack's kindness.

"We promised we would stay with you for every last moment you have at home."

My father, Alpha Adrian Vale, watched them close ranks around Sophia, a vein throbbing at his temple.

"Even now, you're still convinced she's the one going to the North?"

All three froze.

Rhael recovered first.

"Who else would it be?

"Is Father really going to change the bride at the last minute just to indulge another of Layla's tantrums?"

The words had barely left his mouth when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

A wolf guard called through the door:

"Alpha, the bridal escort from the North has arrived!

"Alpha Knox has come in person with his wolf guard. He is waiting outside the pack grounds to collect his bride!"

Sophia's eyes lit with uncontrollable joy. She blurted out, "I had no idea Knox was coming to collect me himself..."

She didn't look like a woman being sent to suffer. She looked as though her deepest wish had finally come true.

Caine stared at the naked eagerness in her eyes. His expression stiffened, but he said nothing.

He smoothed the tear-damp hair from Sophia's face, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"Don't be afraid. Knox is already an Alpha. Once you arrive, you'll be his one and only Luna. He can give you what I couldn't."

Rhael had already wheeled on the attendants.

"What are you standing around for? Get Sophia's gown and luggage to the gate now. Don't keep Knox waiting!"

Lucian planted himself in front of me.

"Layla, Knox is already here. If you cause any more trouble, I'll deal with you myself!"

Before I could say a word, Mother cut him off, her voice ice-cold.

"Who told you Sophia was going?"

All three brothers went still at the same time.

Mother spoke, each word precise and deliberate:

"The name on the marriage contract has always been Layla Vale.

"The bride Knox came to collect in person is her."

The blood drained from all three faces at once.