Chapter 2

Thalia Pov

“What happened?”

Jacob stepped towards me, his eyes fixed on my shoulder.

My lips pressed together as I immediately stepped back.

“Nothing.”

I wasn’t ready to tell him what had happened to me in that psychiatric home. They didn’t deserve to know how I had survived.

Jacob frowned and stepped towards me again, his hands reaching for my shoulder.

“Stop being stubborn, Thalia,” he scolded, his voice strained. “Let me see it.”

For a moment, my mind went blank.

I couldn’t let him see my wounds. I wasn’t ready to reveal what had happened to me. Especially not to Jacob.

But somehow, my body refused to move. I could only stand there as he came closer, his fingers reaching for my clothes as if he was about to pull them down and check my shoulder himself.

My breath caught in my throat.

Then—

“No!”

The cry escaped my lips before I could stop it. I quickly grabbed his wrist.

Jacob froze.

His eyes slowly dropped to my hand wrapped around his wrist, and confusion filled his face.

The Thalia I used to be would never have stopped Jacob from touching her. He had always been my safe place.

I swallowed hard and slowly released his wrist. “I said there is no need.”

His eyes narrowed as he looked into mine.

“Thalia, what the hell happened in that place? You should have received great care. I invested—”

“Brother!”

A voice suddenly came from behind us.

Jacob froze.

Then his entire expression changed. A smile spread across his face as he turned around.

“Rose.”

He pulled his hand away from mine and immediately shifted all his attention to her.

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I had been holding.

There he was.

The Jacob I remembered.

A few moments later, Rose walked towards us. She looked exactly as I remembered, only older now. She looked healthy, but Jacob stared at her as if she could break if he looked away for even a second.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked, his voice suddenly gentle. “You should be resting.”

I watched him closely.

The same man who had been scolding me moments ago now spoke to Rose as if she were the most fragile person in the world.

My chest tightened.

“Thalia…”

Rose finally looked at me. Her eyes immediately became red.

“Oh my…” She covered her lips with one hand. “You look so… so different. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

My lips pressed together.

I didn’t need a mirror to know what I looked like.

Rose stopped in front of me and slowly opened her arms. “Thalia…”

She wanted to hug me but my body reacted before my mind could. I stepped back.

Rose’s arms froze in the air.

The whole place became silent.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Jacob’s face darken.

“What are you doing, Thalia?!”

My lips twitched.

I tilted my head and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

His eyes became sharp. “Rose only wanted to welcome you. How could you—”

“Brother.”

Rose quickly interrupted him. She shook her head while biting her lower lip, her eyes filling with tears.

“Thalia was just tired. It’s nothing.”

I stared at her, my eyes filled with boredom.

I wasn’t surprised. It had always been this way.

Jacob gritted his teeth and glared at me before taking Rose’s hand.

“Come inside.”

He turned and walked towards the house with her.

Rose looked back at me. A bright smile suddenly appeared on her face.

“Come on, Thalia.”

I stared at their backs, then my eyes dropped to their joined hands.

I sighed, then twisted my shoulder slightly before following them inside.

The moment I stepped into the house, I stopped.

My eyes slowly moved around the room.

Everything was familiar, yet nothing felt like mine anymore.

The warm cream color I had always loved was gone, replaced by bright orange walls. Even my favorite couch by the window had been replaced by a drawing chair.

I looked up and froze when my eyes landed on the picture beneath the stairs.

The picture I had taken with my parents and Jacob when I was six was gone. In its place was a picture of Rose with the rest of the family.

I looked around the huge sitting room. There wasn’t a single picture of me.

My eyes burned.

Then I felt a familiar presence behind me.

Jacob.

My body stiffened.

I was about to turn around when an excited voice came from behind me.

“Here, Thalia! Look what I prepared for you!”

I slowly turned and saw Rose carrying a tray of drinks. My brows pulled together when I noticed the glass in her hand.

MoonApple juice.

Rose stopped in front of me and held it out.

“Here, Thalia. I prepared it myself. I know you loved it.”

I stared at the glass, then at Jacob.

How could he forget?

My eyes turned cold as I looked back at Rose. “Thank you, but there is no need.”

The smile on Rose’s face disappeared.

The room became quiet.

“B-But why?” Her lips trembled. “I know you loved it, which was why I prepared it. I…”

Her voice cracked.

Before I could say anything else, Jacob stepped forward. His voice was filled with anger. “Thalia, what is wrong with you?! How could you be this ungrateful?”

My stomach twisted.

“Rose has been learning the recipe for days because she knew you were coming. How could you bear to reject her?”

My fingers twisted into the fabric of my dress.

Did he even look at the juice? Did he forget that—

“Brother…”

Rose suddenly spoke. She forced a small smile. “Don’t scold Thalia. She will drink it.” She turned to me. “Right, Thalia?”

She pushed the glass closer to my lips. Her eyes met mine.

Something inside me tightened and I immediately tilted my head away.

“I don’t want it.”

Rose’s body suddenly shook. The glass slipped from her hand.

Bang!

“Ahh!”

“Rose!”

Everything happened too fast.

When I looked again, Rose was on the floor and the glass had shattered beside her. Jacob was already kneeling beside her, helping her up.

I stood there, my fingers trembling.

Again.

This trick again.

Wasn’t she tired of playing the same trick?

But I couldn’t even blame her. Why would she stop when everyone always believed her?

Jacob looked up at me, his eyes red with anger. “Thalia! How could you push Rose down?!”

My lips parted. “I didn’t—”

“She’s so fragile! What if she got injured?” He pointed at me. “Besides, it’s just a drink!”

Something inside me slowly became still.

I looked at him. Then I forced back the tears burning behind my eyes.

“I’m allergic to MoonApple juice.”

Silence.

Jacob’s eyes widened. His lips parted slightly. For a moment, he simply stared at me.

I watched his face. Mockery slowly flashed through my eyes.

“Brother, did you forget?”

My voice was quiet. “You ran through the whole pack the first time I fell ill from it.”

Jacob’s expression changed.

“I…”

He swallowed and looked away. “I-I…”

I waited.

“I-It’s all my fault.”

Rose suddenly began to sob. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry… Please don’t blame Brother.”

She looked at me with teary eyes.

“I should have asked questions. I’m sorry, Thalia. I was just so excited when I heard you were coming back home.”

She bit her lower lip, looking helpless.

I almost scoffed, but my eyes remained on Jacob.

Jacob pressed his lips together. Then he reached for Rose and pulled her to her feet.

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”

He looked at her for a moment before turning towards me.“I’m very sure Thalia wouldn’t blame you.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Right, Thalia?”

A bitter smile touched my lips.

Of course he would take his real sister’s side.

But I said nothing.

Jacob frowned, his patience clearly running thin.

“Thalia, can you stop acting like a kid? Rose already apologized. What else do you want?” He pointed towards the broken glass. “Besides, you were the one who pushed her.”

My chest tightened.

So now it was my fault?

But before the tension could grow any worse, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

“Alpha!”

A warrior rushed into the room.

“The Alpha King has arrived!”

The entire atmosphere changed.

Jacob’s face immediately lost its color, while Rose straightened, the sadness disappearing from her face.

“What?!” Jacob turned towards the warrior. “He has arrived? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

He immediately turned to Rose, looking her over from head to toe. “The Alpha King is here. Are you fine? Go and change immediately.”

Rose shook her head quickly as the people around her began fixing her dress and hair.

Jacob looked at me, his eyes moving over my old, loose clothes with clear distaste, then his eyes landed on the broken glass. His jaw tightened as he walked towards me.

“You need to behave, Thalia.” His voice dropped. “Don’t ruin things for the pack. We really need the King’s investment, and Rose, she—”

Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.

Jacob’s face changed.

He looked towards the door, then back at me. “Quick. Pick up the shards of glass on the ground.”

Before I could answer, he turned away, pulled Rose closer to himself and quickly adjusted his own collar.

I pressed my lips together then slowly lowered myself to the floor.

Just as my fingers reached for one of the broken pieces, a loud greeting echoed through the room.

“Welcome to the MoonApex Pack, Alpha King!”

My hand stopped.

I slowly lifted my head, and saw him.

The Alpha King stood at the entrance in a luxurious white robe. He looked middle-aged, but his powerful aura filled the room and made my body stiffen.

My fingers tightened around the piece of glass. I quickly released it before it could cut my skin.

Then our eyes met.

The Alpha King didn’t move. He simply stared at me.

He looked… stunned.

I frowned, but before I could understand why, his attention shifted towards Jacob.

Maybe I was imagining it.

Jacob immediately stepped forward with Rose. They both bowed.

“Welcome to my pack, King,” Jacob greeted respectfully. “This is my sister, Rose.”

Rose stepped forward. She bowed gracefully, her movements gentle and confident.

“Good day, King. I have heard so much about you.”

The Alpha King said nothing. He stared at Rose for a moment, then his eyes moved back to me.

I stiffened.

Why was he looking at me again?

I slowly straightened from the floor.

The room suddenly felt too quiet. Then his voice came. “Who is that lady?”

Every eye turned towards me.

My stomach tightened as I stood there. I wanted to disappear.

Why was the King asking about me?

I was nobody. Just the girl who had been forgotten for four years.

Jacob looked stunned for a second. Then he quickly forced a smile. He pointed towards me. “This is also my sister…” His voice faltered. “T-Thalia.”

Silence filled the room.

The Alpha King looked at Rose, then he looked at me again. His brows slowly furrowed, then his gaze returned to Jacob.

“If both are your sisters…”

His voice was calm, but the question made the entire room freeze.

“Why does one look like a princess…” His eyes moved to me.

“…and the other looks like a beggar?”