Chapter 2

The laughter downstairs pulled Evelyn back nine years.

At fifteen, she had stood in this same hallway in an old coat from her last foster home. The front door was open to her. Afternoon sunlight filled the south-facing bedroom, and Helena told her through tears that they had kept it for her all those years.

That night, when Evelyn went to the kitchen for water, she heard Serena crying in the next room.

"Now that she's back, will you stop wanting me?"

"Never. You're both our daughters," Helena soothed her.

"But you spent nine years looking for her. Who knows what she's like now or what she thinks of me? No! She won't like me. I know it. What if she drives me out? What if she thinks I stole Mom and Dad from her?

"She stared at my room for so long. The first thing she'll do is take it!" Serena's voice rose.

Helena held her, torn. "All right, sweetheart. I promise I won't let you suffer to make things up to Evelyn. But she's been through so much. Let's not be angry anymore, all right? If she wants your bedroom, I'll give you a bigger one."

"No! I won't!" Serena screamed. Then she smashed a glass.

...

On the other side of the door, Evelyn stood frozen with a glass in her hand, afraid to move.

After she was lost at six, she spent nine years moving from one foster home to another. Coming home should have meant she was safe. But in that moment, she understood that while she was gone, this family had become something else.

Serena knew exactly how to win their parents' smiles, and she never had to hide how she felt.

Evelyn, meanwhile, had spent an entire afternoon rehearsing what to call her own parents.

The next day, she offered to move into the attic.

"The attic is quiet. I like it," she said.

Helena asked again and again if she was sure. When Evelyn said she was, Helena hugged her tight. Marcus stroked her hair and praised her for being so understanding. Serena took her hand for the first time, and they took a family photo.

After that, Evelyn memorized her father's medications, learned to cook her mother's favorite dishes, and took care of Serena's school affairs. Whenever she finished a task, someone in the family would sigh, "Thank goodness you came back." She treasured those fleeting moments of warmth. Naively, she believed that if she kept helping long enough, they would love her the way they loved Serena.

Nine years later, they had certainly grown used to her.

The next day, before they set out, the family posed for a photo on the porch. Helena called to her as she always did. "Evelyn, move over a little. Serena needs room to spread out her skirt."

Before, Evelyn would have pressed herself against the wall and given Serena the best light. This time, she glanced at the camera, didn't search for a corner, and walked straight down the steps.

"Evelyn won't even take a family photo?" Serena asked.

"You go ahead."

Marcus frowned. "It's a family outing. Stop shutting yourself out."

Evelyn grabbed the porch post. The numbness in her right leg was worse than yesterday, and she nearly fell.

Her father finally noticed something was wrong. "Are you exhausted?"

For once, he sounded like he really wanted to know.

"Dad, I—"

"I can't find my ceremony shawl!" Serena cried beside the car. "Adrian, I need it for the ceremony. What am I going to do?"

Everyone rushed to Serena. Helena looked back at Evelyn. "You know where everything is. Hurry and find it."

The words died on her lips.

Evelyn went to the laundry room, found the shawl, and handed it to Serena. As Serena took it, she gave Evelyn a small smile only the two of them understood.

"I knew you couldn't bear to see me embarrassed in front of everyone."

The cars pulled away, and the porch was finally quiet.

At dusk, Adrian lost control of his wolf.

A summons crashed into Evelyn's mind through the unfinished mark, ordering her to the North Bay villa at once. She had no time to get her cane. Ignoring the pain deep in her bones, she hurried out.