CHAPTER 1: THE UNWANTED SISTER

“Found the little pig hiding again.”

My hands froze on the dish I was washing as Dante’s voice rang throughout the silent kitchen.

I didn’t need to turn around to know he was leaning on the door frame with that predatory smile he saved just for me.

“Leave me alone,” I said, my voice coming out smaller than I wanted it to.

“Leave me alone,” Marcus mimicked in a high-pitched whine from somewhere behind his older brother.

“God, Kaia, you sound so pathetic.”

I kept scrubbing the same plate, focusing on my circular motions instead of the laughter echoing from the main hall where the pack celebration continued without me.

“Turn around when we’re talking to you.” Dante’s voice hardened.

I turned, but my movement wasn't fast enough. And before I could face him fully, his hand landed on my cheek, with a force so hard that it snapped my head to the side.

The plate clashed against the sink basin and shattered.

“Better.” He examined his knuckles like he was checking for fracture.

“Your Luna demands your presence. Said she needs someone to clean up and you fit perfectly.”

My cheek throbbed, but I knew better than to touch it.

“I’m already cleaning—”

“You moron. Not the kitchen.” Marcus stepped closer, his expensive cologne mixing with my fear. “The dining hall. And you’re going to do it properly this time, or we’ll have another conversation about respect.”

My ribs went cold at his threat. They still ached from our last “conversation.”

“Everyone’s asking why Father keeps damaged goods around,” Ash said, appearing beside me like a shadow. His gray eyes settled in me flat and emotionless. “Starting to reflect poorly on the family name.”

I knelt to pick up the ceramic pieces, my oversized sweater gathered around my knees. Blood dripped from cuts on my palm to the floor, but I didn’t make a sound. It would only fill their amusement and give them more reason to pick on me.

“You know what Jenny Morrison asked me today?” Ash crouched down, his voice conversational. “She wanted to know if you’re actually mentally slow, or if you just act that way for attention.”

The largest piece slipped from my fingers. “What did you tell her?” I whispered.

“That jury’s still out.” He said with a cold. “But the evidence isn’t looking good for you.”

Dante dragged me up by my arm, fingers deliberately dug deep into my bruised palm. “Come on. Luna Blackwood’s waiting, and she’s not in a patient mood.”

They didn’t drag me—they herded me like livestock. I stumbled between them on shaking legs, my too-tight jeans chafing against my thighs.

The main hall fell quiet as we entered, dozens of pack members turning to witness my latest humiliation.

Luna Blackwood Blackwood stood near the fireplace, her silver hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. Her smile grew wider when she saw the red mark on my cheek.

“There you are, dear.” Her affection was mixed with disdain. “Start clearing the tables. Try not to break anything while at it—those dishes cost more than you’re worth.”

Laughter erupted through the crowd. I wasn’t part of their pack. I was entertainment.

I moved between the tables, gathering plates with trembling hands while

conversations danced around me.

Their whispers followed like hungry wolves.

“Look at those arms. Like tree trunks.”

“Margaret said she found food hidden in her room again.”

“Disgusting. No wonder she can’t shift—what wolf would want that body?”

My cheeks burned, but I kept loading the tray. Glass and plate clinked against the tray, and the sound produced covered most of their comments.

“Careful with those,” Marcus called from across the room where he was busy entertaining a group of unmated females. “We all remember what happened to Mother’s antique vase.”

How could I not remember? They had made sure I remembered. The vase I’d accidentally broken three months ago—the one that earned me a split lip and two days locked in my room without food.

“Such clumsy hands,” one of the girls said. “Maybe she needs lessons on how to hold things properly.”

The other giggled. It has always been giggles, whenever I suffered they found it amusing.

The tray shook in my grip as I carried it toward the kitchen. I was almost there—to the kitchen. I was almost safe.

When suddenly, my foot caught on something—Marcus deliberately placed his leg in my way. And everything went flying.

And the hall went dead silent.

“Well, well.” Dante was the first to break the silence. “Looks like someone needs another lesson on basic skills.”

Before I knew what happened, I received a slap that blurred my vision and all u saw was Star hanging over my head as I hit the floor, ceramic shards digging into my palms and knees.

“Oops,” Marcus said cheerfully. “Gravity’s such a bitch, isn’t it, Kaia?”

Laughter erupted around me—not nervous chuckles, but genuine amusement.

The pack enjoyed watching me fall.

I was where they found entertainment. I had always been all my life.

I pushed myself up slowly, tasting copper where my teeth had cut into my lip. Blood dripped onto the expensive hardwood, and Luna Blackwood's mouth twisted in disgust.

“Clean that up you pathetic bitch! ” she said, her voice cold. “If anymore blood drops on my floors, you’ll be scrubbing the entire hall with a toothbrush until they shine.”

Only thirty minutes had passed but it felt like hours. I gathered every piece of broken glass while the pack watched, some even made bets on how many times I’d cut myself. By the time I finished, my hands were covered with cuts and most of the guests had moved outside.

“Finally.” Dante stretched and yawned like watching me was a difficult task. “I thought we’d be here all night watching the floor show.”

“Don’t be too harsh, boys.” Luna Blackwood said with false sympathy. “She’s trying her best. It’s not her fault, right dear?. It's just too bad that her best is pathetic.”

Marcus chuckled. “Who's telling her about the new sleeping arrangements?”

“What arrangements?” I asked, my head snapped up.

“Did we say you could speak?” Ash’s cold voice rang in my ear.

I dropped my gaze to my bloody hands.

“The guest room in the east wing needs to be available for actual pack members,” Luna Blackwood continued like she was discussing a random topic like what she would eat. “So you’ll be moving to the storage room in the basement. Tonight.”

“The basement” I whispered. It was where unwanted and broken furniture were kept. Where they kept things they wanted to forget about.

“But my things—”

Another slap fell on my face. This time from Marcus, harder than Dante’s. My head moved sideways from the impact, and fresh blood filled my mouth again.

“Your things?” He laughed. “You mean our charity? Our generosity? Everything you have belongs to this family, Kaia. Your entire being belongs to us.”

“The storage room has everything you need,” Luna Blackwood said dismissively. “A cot, a bucket for water. More than what most strays get.”

“Run along now,” Ash said softly. “Or do you need convincing?”

Without being told twice, I ran to my attic room—my former room—with my unsteady legs. My vision went blurred from the tears I’d been holding back. But Pip was there. Waiting.

The small terrier launched himself at me, wagging its tail frantically. He didn’t care that I was bleeding, that I was broken, that I was nothing. He loved me—the pathetic me

“Hey, baby.” I buried my face in his fur, finally letting the tears fall. “We have to move tonight.”

Outside my window, it was filled with the laughter of real pack members. Celebrating. Sounds of belonging I’d never know.

Then, voices echoed from the hallway. It was the brothers discussing their latest victory.

“Do you think she’ll actually go to the basement?” Marcus asked.

“She’ll go,” Dante said without hesitation. “She always did what she was told. Like a well-trained dog.”

“Speaking of dogs,” Ash’s voice dropped lower, “how long are we going to let her keep that mutt?”

My arms tightened around Pip.

“Why? Do you have a problem with it?” Marcus sounded curious.

“I’m just saying—attachments make people difficult to control. She might get ideas about fighting back if she thinks she has something worth protecting.”

“Good point.” Dante’s footsteps paused outside my door. “We’ll deal with that soon enough.”

They moved on, leaving me frozen with terror.

As I held Pip close and listened to the sounds of a celebration I’d never be part of, something inside me shifted. The humiliation. The pain. The constant reminder that I was less than nothing.

But first, I had to survive the night.

And keep Pip safe from whatever they were planning.