Chapter 2

Growing up, my strength was my biggest crime.

Just because I was stronger than Willow in the womb, they gave her all the love and gave me all the blame.

And Julian? He used to be the only person in the world who told me, "Harper, having ambition isn't a sin."

Now, even he had chosen Willow.

"Speak! Don't play dumb!" Rowan impatiently raised his voice.

The next second, his oppressive Alpha aura slammed into me.

My knees buckled.

He was forcing me to submit! Forcing his own sister, who just shattered the pack record!

Looking at these so-called family members. Looking at the defense and disgust in their eyes. The last sliver of instinctive hope in my chest died completely.

"Fine." I swallowed the blood in my mouth and spoke without any emotion.

The tension vanished. The suffocating Alpha aura withdrew.

They all let out a breath of relief and put on their fake smiles.

"Now that's what an older sister should act like." Marcus offered a half-hearted praise. His eyes were already drifting back to Willow's door.

Next up was the gift exchange to celebrate the end of our coming-of-age trials.

An absolutely absurd, brutal comparison.

What did Willow get?

A custom-made, wildly expensive moonstone necklace from Mom. The newest Apple Watch from Rowan. An unlimited black card from Dad.

And Julian. My Mate. He gave her a stunning gown for the Royal Elite Academy's welcome banquet.

And me?

Mom casually handed me a tarnished, ordinary wolf-fang necklace.

Rowan dug out a dog-eared, falling-apart beginner's combat manual and tossed it at me.

Dad gave me a rough, beat-up tactical backpack.

Julian couldn't even look me in the eye. He handed me a cheap, scratchy training shirt without even a box.

"You train a lot, you go through clothes fast. This is practical." His voice couldn't hide his guilt.

I didn't question them. I didn't fight.

Like a soulless puppet, I numbly accepted their trash.

Sylvia checked her watch, sounding hesitant. "Dinner's almost ready. Are you... staying to eat?"

Staying.

I was an Alpha's bloodline too. I was her flesh and blood. Yet she used the word "staying."

"No." I forced a smile that looked worse than crying. I turned and walked to the door.

Outside, the biting wind instantly blew away the suffocating hypocrisy of the Pack House.

I walked straight to the dumpster on the corner.

Without a shred of hesitation, I threw those four so-called "gifts" right in. Box and all.

Go to hell.

My wolf roared wildly inside me. This was step one to severing my ties to this pack.

Trudging back to my shack on the muddy path, my phone buzzed.

It was Willow's newest post on the pack network.

[Thank you to my family and Julian for being here. I'm the luckiest girl in the world.]

Attached was a cozy group selfie taken in the Pack House dining room.

The four of them surrounded her. Their smiles were blinding.

Right in the middle of the table was a massive celebration cake. It was covered in crystal-clear Moon-ice Berries.

A rare herb meant to strengthen a weak inner wolf.

But it was pure poison to a pureblood grey wolf like me. One bite would shut down my lungs!

Every side dish on the table was her favorite.

Right. They never cared about me.

I locked my screen and pushed open my creaky door. The shack was as cold as a freezer. Dead and empty.

I walked to the bed and picked up the four stuffed wolves I made.

I used to rely on them to survive countless freezing nights.

Now, I turned them all around to face the wall.

Then, I opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out an old, yellowing photo.

It was a photo of me and Julian. Taken right after our mate bond awakened, before he left for school in the Capital.

In the picture, his eyes were full of love. He held me so tight, like I was some rare treasure.

On the back was his handwritten promise:

[Harper, my Mate. I'll wait for you at the Royal Elite Academy.]

The ink was fading, but it still stung my eyes.

I stared at it for two seconds.

Then I grabbed the edges and ripped it straight in half.