Chapter 2

"Ma'am."

A hand caught my mother's wrist.

It was Cedric Hale, my childhood sweetheart.

He had grown up beside me, born on the same day, and we'd promised to fight side by side after we awakened.

Now he stood at the chamber door with a resigned frown.

"Valeria's always been this stubborn. Nothing you say right now is going to get through to her."

He took a steadying breath and turned to face the chamber.

"Come on, Valeria... I know this feels unfair. But Wendy is innocent in all of this. Just behave this time, okay?"

No answer came from inside.

Because I was already too weak to answer.

The heat had drained the last bit of moisture from my body. My head was still slumped against the door.

The blood on my forehead had dried to my face.

Warm fluid kept streaming down.

I stared at the seam around the door.

Mom... you opened the door. I was so close to being saved.

But the light vanished in an instant. The door was shut again.

I heard Cedric's voice from the other side.

"Don't worry, Valeria! After today, I'll talk your parents into letting you out. We're still supposed to be together."

Footsteps grew fainter and fainter.

They were all gone.

The room was terrifyingly quiet.

My body stayed in the same position, my head pressed against the door.

I had stopped breathing...

Mom, you were so close.

You could have found me.

Perhaps the Moon Goddess took pity on me, because my soul lingered near them.

From the void, I watched them sitting around the dinner table with my sister, keeping her company.

My mother was fixing Wendy's hair. My father was asking what she wanted to eat.

Cedric had brought out a potion to help Wendy recover.

Their smiles were easy and relaxed.

Only I remained, locked away alone in the heat chamber, my body roasted dry.

Dad. Mom.

The witch predicted my sister's death.

What about mine?

My soul followed my sister through an ordinary day.

She was restless at school, checking the time on her phone again and again.

On the first day, she came home from class and begged our parents.

"I'm really worried about Valeria. She didn't eat yesterday, and the milk I left at the door this morning is still there. We need to go check on her!"

My mother frowned.

"Check on what? She's tough as nails. One day without food won't hurt her. Just worry about yourself!"

Wendy couldn't hold back her tears.

She begged our mother, only to get slapped for it.

Our mother scolded her through tears, eyes red and voice cracking.

"Wendy, your only job right now is to nurture your wolf. Otherwise, everything Valeria's been through would've been for nothing!"

Wendy stared at our mother, bewildered.

"Just rest easy. We're handling things at home. I'll go check on your sister in a bit."

Hearing that, Wendy finally relaxed.

Our mother sighed silently and grabbed some ice from the fridge.

Then she walked to the heat chamber, her voice softening.

"Valeria, I know you're angry, but we're just trying to protect Wendy. Hang in there a little longer. Once her wolf has at least Beta-level strength, I'll have a present waiting when you come out. Okay?"

No answer came from the heat chamber.

My mother's expression darkened immediately.

"Valeria!"

She growled under her breath.

"When are you going to stop thinking only about yourself? You'd let your sister die just to feed your ego? You're vile!"

She pounded hard on the door as she spoke, then suddenly stopped.

She sucked in a sharp breath. "God, that's hot."

She twisted the handle.

The door cracked open again, revealing the edge of my clothes.