Conveniently Weak

EVE

I shoved Leora away from me with every ounce of force in my arms.

"Get off me!" I snapped, my skin crawling from her touch.

Leora flew backward, her feet tangling over each other. She hit the hardwood floor with a loud, exaggerated thud and immediately burst into heavy, wailing sobs, curling her body into a ball as if I had just struck her with a blade.

"Eve, what is wrong with you?!" My mother shrieked, rushing over to kneel beside Leora.

“I…I didn't mean to shove her that hard,” the words died on my lips as I realized that I had just gotten myself back in the bad records.

The study door swung open suddenly, and Jon rushed inside. He didn't even look at me. He dropped to his knees right beside Leora, scooping her into his arms with frantic concern.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Jon asked, his voice laced with panic as he checked her arms and face.

"I... I just wanted to thank her," Leora sobbed, clutching Jon’s shirt tightly, her chest heaving with fake panic.

"I just wanted to hug my big sister and tell her I love her... but she pushed me! She's so angry at me, Jon!”

My mother shot me a look of pure hatred—the same cold, disgusted look she had given me ever since our grandmother died years ago.

"Why do you keep doing this to your sister? Why can't you treat her well for once in your life?!"

"She said something to me!" I yelled, my fists clenching so hard my fingernails bit into my palms. "She whispered in my ear! She was mocking me!"

"I didn't!" Leora cried louder, burying her face into Jon's chest. "I swear I didn't! I was just thanking her!"

"She's lying!" I shouted, looking at my father, desperate for just one person in this room to see through her act. "Father, you have to believe me! She's—"

"That is enough, Eve!" my father barked, his voice booming through the room.

"Look at her, Eve. She is trembling! You are always bullying her!"

"I am not bullying her!"

"You always do this," Jon said, standing up and stepping between me and Leora. His eyes were cold, filled with disappointment as he glared down at me.

"You always take advantage of the fact that you are stronger than she is, Eve. Is that what makes you feel good? Beating up on your own weak sister because you know she can't fight back?"

"Jon, listen to me—"

"No, you listen," Jon cut me off, his voice flat and harsh.

"I thought you were a leader, Eve. But you're just aggressive and cruel. You take pleasure in making Leora suffer just because she is softer than you."

The room felt like it was closing in on me. Every single one of them was looking at me like I was a monster. My mother holding her precious, lying favorite.

The man who was supposed to be my betrothed defending the woman who had stolen his heart.

My father looking at me like I was nothing more than a disappointment.

No one was listening to me. No one ever listened to me or cared about how I felt. Hot tears started to well up in my eyes.

"I hate all of you," I whispered, the words choking in my tight throat.

“You always have. And if you didn't hate me, you wouldn't have killed my mother those years ago,” my mother said.

The words literally made me halt.

“Lucy, stop bringing that up,” my father said calmly, but he didn't seem to even mean it.

Twelve years later and my mother still hated me like I was that twelve years old girl who had taken the fall for the younger sister who is now her favorite child.

I didn't kill my grandmother. I had simply taken the blame for Leora's carelessness because I was always the protective big sister. But now, clearly, I'm my mother's eternal enemy.

The only person who knew the truth was Leora.

I couldn't stand to be in this room for another second. I turned on my heel, desperate to get away from the accusations, the lies, and the injustice of my own family. I took two fast steps toward the doorway, ready to storm out into the hallway.

Before my hand could reach the doorframe, the heavy wooden double doors flew wide open.

A tall, towering silhouette stepped straight into the threshold, blocking the exit entirely.

My heart skipped a violent beat as I took a step back. My breath hitched in my chest, and I froze dead in my tracks.

The man was dressed in a tailored, jet-black suit, but his formidable size and broad shoulders made the sharp clothes look almost dangerous. His cold, icy gray eyes swept slowly across the room, completely unreadable.

He was The stranger from the woods.

My father stood up from behind his desk, bowing his head in deep respect. My mother quickly smoothed her dress, and even Jon stepped back from Leora, lowering his gaze.

"Alpha Kolton," my father said, his voice laced with careful reverence. "We did not expect you to come up to the study.”

My mind went completely blank as horror and realization crashed over me at once.

Alpha Kolton Rivers of the Hail Pack?!

The ruthless tyrant who had taken over kingdoms. The ruthless Alpha who had slaughtered his own cousin to claim his throne.

The feared monster who had sent six wives fleeing into the night.

The man who had taken my virginity against a tree in the dark forest just two hours ago was standing in my father’s study.

And he was....Alpha Kolton?!