Chapter 4

That evening, I returned home, ready to pack my bags and head for the airport.

I barely had the door open when a fierce, whistling wind struck out of nowhere.

A thorny branch came whipping straight for my face.

I raised my arm in defense on instinct. The branch struck my arm, splitting the skin wide open and drawing blood.

Gerald was in rage.

“You’re a heartless monster! You have some nerve to show your face here. Maeve nearly lost her life today because of you!”

Fighting back the pain, I looked up.

Ulric locked Maeve in a tight embrace on the living room couch as she wept inconsolably.

He pressed a kiss against her hair, his voice dripping with affection.

“Don’t cry. It’s not your fault. You’re the kindest, sweetest she-wolf I’ve ever met.”

Ivy approached and put me down.

“Every time you did something wrong and we tried to hold you accountable, it was Maeve who stood up to defend you.

“All she did was step in for a simple ceremony, and you just won’t let it go. Must you push her to kill herself?”

Pulling a stoic face, Ivy pulled out a scroll of parchment from her bag and flung it against my face.

“I know you’ll never own up to your mistake, so I made the call for you. Your position in the pack is transferred to Maeve as compensation.

“It happens that Maeve just graduated. She could use a decent job.”

I stood there stunned, forgetting the pain I was in.

That piece of parchment contained nothing less than an official contract confirming the transfer of my position in the pack.

However, for the transfer contract to take effect, it must be sealed with the holder’s own blood.

Disbelief overwhelmed me.

“H-How did you obtain my blood?”

With downcast eyes, Ulric averted my gaze.

“It was me.

“I tucked the contract under the pages when I asked you to sign our prenup.”

A violent ringing echoed through my head.

So they had planned this all along. The so-called compensation was nothing more than an excuse to take everything from me.

I had once trusted this werewolf with all my heart, keeping my walls down in his presence.

Yet, he conspired with the very she-wolf I despised and plotted to strip away one of the few things that belonged to me.

“Ulric, how could you?”

My voice trembled.

Ulric came up to me, his expression loving while trying to take my hand.

I shied away from his grasp in disgust.

Though awkward, Ulric still acted as if he was in the right.

“Isobel, Maeve has lost her chance at love. It’s only right that we give her a little something.

“Besides, I’ll provide for you once we’re mated. You don’t have to stress over tedious pack business and focus on carrying a litter of pups for me.”

I smirked in anger.

“Tedious pack business?

“You know better than anyone how much blood, sweat, and tears I put into improving the financial situation of the pack! Every dime in the vault came from my own hard work! I nearly died at the hands of rogues when I first started running cargo!

“I risked my life for every bit of the pack, and you just stole it without a second thought!”

Ivy interrupted me impatiently.

“Oh, save me the sob story! Things are not as bad as you claim!

“Since you care so much about your working achievement, handing it to Maeve is the right choice. She’ll do a better job than you.

“You should be proud to see her succeed.”

I yelled in despair, “Of course! Maeve is perfect in your eyes. Everything should belong to her, no matter what it takes.”

Maeve sobbed harder.

She pulled away from Ulric’s embrace, shaking her head in tears.

“I don’t want it. Isobel, I don’t want your position anymore… Please don’t yell at Mom… It’s all my fault…”

Heartbroken for her, Ulric yanked her back into his arms.

Consumed by rage, Gerald raised the thorny branch and struck me again.

It was one blow after another.

Fresh cuts opened over raw bruises, knocking me to the ground in a humiliated state.

“You heartless pup! Get out of this house!

“Starting today, the Grimms only have one daughter—Maeve!”

Sprawled on the ground, I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Still, a brilliant smile spread across my face.

“Fine.”

Propping against the wall, I wobbled back up to my feet.

“I have no intention of staying anyway.

“You are the source of my misery over the years. Not once did you offer me help to build my success.

“I’ll be far better off without you in my life.”

Paying no mind to their bewildered looks, I made a beeline to my bedroom and threw some clothes together before dragging my suitcase out of there.

Seeing that I was determined to leave, Ulric panicked and reached out to stop me.

“Isobel…”

Gerald pulled Ulric back.

“Just let her be. She doesn’t know what’s good for her.

“What good can come to a wolf without the protection of her pack? Once she hits rock bottom, she’ll run right back with her tail tucked between her legs!”

Turning out his harsh words, I opened the door and walked out.

I hailed a cab and made my way to the airport.

With the strength to stand on my own, I trusted there was nowhere I couldn’t go.

The road ahead might be long, and the world might be vast, but I, Isobel, would forge my own path and make something of myself wherever I might be.