Chapter 2

Sylvia's POV

Having received a satisfactory answer, Dad left after issuing one final instruction.

Just like in my previous life, he never noticed how choked up I sounded or picked up on the things I couldn't bring myself to say.

Perhaps it wasn't because he hadn't noticed but because he simply didn't care.

Mom approached me, patted my hand, and said comfortingly, "Your father only has both your best interests at heart. You can't go wrong listening to him. I've had a few new outfits made for you recently. I'll have someone take them to your room later."

I laughed bitterly at her blatant favoritism.

She'd clearly allowed Sienna to have her pick of all the new clothes several days ago. What was left were clothes that either hadn't caught Sienna's eye or didn't even fit properly.

Still, I just nodded submissively, because that was how I survived in this household.

When lunchtime rolled around, Sienna sat at the table in high spirits.

She even shot a rare smile at me, possibly because she'd already secured herself a satisfactory marriage arrangement.

She turned to Dad and said with a pout, "Dad, you have to prepare lots of jewelry and gemstones for me. How else am I going to uphold our pack's reputation when I get to the Moonfang Pack? You wouldn't want people to look down on me after I marry into their pack, would you?"

She swung Dad's hand to and fro, displaying a kind of affection I'd never gotten to experience myself.

But I'd long since gotten used to being overlooked like this, so I simply focused on cutting up my steak.

Dad laughed at her words and replied, "Of course. I'll prepare only the best for you."

Then, he suddenly looked at me and said, "In that case, you can also have all the necklaces and gemstones in Sylvia's room."

My hands froze, and my utensils clattered loudly to the floor.

"No," I said.

Dad frowned at this, his face filled with displeasure. "What's with this thoughtless behavior? You're about to be married into the Werefang Pack, so you'd better learn some manners lest you bring shame upon our pack."

I wiped my mouth before boldly meeting Dad's gaze for the first time. "I'm not letting Sienna have my jewelry and gemstones. Grandma left those to me. Sienna already has more than enough of her own.

"Are you really going to take away the last few things I have left too? And besides, aren't you concerned about whether I'll be looked down on or mistreated?"

Just as I was about to continue, Dad cut me off sharply. "Enough! Sienna has already let you have such a wonderful mate. What else could you possibly want?"

The next second, Dad smashed the plate by his hand against the floor. The harsh sound of shattering glass rang out loudly.

Mom hurriedly stepped in front of me, which was the only thing that saved me from a brutal beating.

Dad had done the same thing in my previous life and given all my valuables to Sienna.

I fought desperately to keep them, but in the end, the only thing I managed to save was a moonstone ring that my grandmother, Hilda Steele, gave me before her death.

Seeing how tense the atmosphere was, Mom quickly attempted to smooth things over.

"Alright now, Sylvia. Please apologize to your father. How about you two come to a compromise? You can keep this moonstone ring, alright?"

She spoke in an even tone, yet her words struck me like a heavy rock.

I stood alone on one side of the table, watching Sienna and my parents interact warmly.

That was when I finally realized that I never had a place within this household.

I said nothing more. Instead, I simply lowered my head in Dad's direction before leaving the dining room.

Just as I crossed the threshold, I heard Sienna and my parents' cheerful laughter coming from inside.

I stood alone in a vast garden with my head tilted upward, but tears streamed silently down my face anyway.

Since I wasn't favored by my parents, I always received the lowest-quality food and clothing in the pack.

Sienna had even found an excuse to have the one maid who actually cared for me sent away.

As I gazed at my increasingly empty and cold room, I couldn't help but sigh softly.

It was explicitly stated in the Werefang Pack's marriage proposal that the marking ceremony would be carried out at the end of this month.

Things had been the same in my previous life. Sienna had happily married into the Werefang Pack only to be driven out less than a year later.

Back then, I couldn't understand why she'd ended up in such a situation. I'd met Cassian once when Grandma was still alive. He was gentle, refined and treated everyone exceptionally well.

In fact, he was even willing to give a Rogue loitering outside his pack territory a freshly made sandwich.

Grandma had been worried that I would be mistreated by my mate in the future. It was precisely because she approved of Cassian's character that she voluntarily spoke with the Werefang Pack's Alpha, Cassius Thorne, and arranged this marriage for me.

So, how had such a nice person become a terrible demon in Sienna's eyes?