Chapter 3

The house was silent. I thought the morning was bad, it was even worse. My mother silently cooked in the kitchen, father locked himself in the bedroom and Coulter was nowhere to be seen.

I opened Nevaeh's bedroom door. She wiped her eyes quickly.

"Nevaeh? Are you crying?"

"Of course not"

"That's a lie. There's tears in your eyes"

"I said it's nothing" she snapped. I plopped in her bed but she remained seated with her back facing me.

"You don't want to join me?" I asked and she sighed and lay down with me.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you"

"I'm not offended"

"Still. I shouldn't have. It's not like it's your fault"

"What do you think is going to happen" I asked her instead.

"We are the only daughters papa has"

"But I think something can be done. Maybe we can speak to the alpha and make him change his mind about it, maybe he can choose another family"

She scoffed. "It doesn't work like that Paisley"

"But if..."

"Stop it Paisley" she said angrily and sat up again.

"Do you think the other families want to send their daughters too. You think any of them will be willing to exchange places with us"

"We'll never know if we don't try" I tried to reason but it only made her angrier.

"Nothing can change our fate now. It's better if you wake up from your silly dreams and face the reality. This isn't the same as making Rosa sell the stupid shop. This is something bigger than any of us" she was breathing harshly when she finished talking and I felt hurt.

Tears were welling in my eyes. Nevaeh had never spoken to me like that. Not even when we had our little quarrels that never lasted. I quickly stood up from her bed while hiding my face so she wouldn't see my tears.

"Paisley I..." but I was hearing none of it. I closed her door and rushed to my room locking the door behind me. It was then I let the tears fall.

Why was she so upset with me. I was only trying to lighten the mood and make things better. Why did she have to snap at me. It wasn't like it was my fault we got chosen.

I wiped my eyes angrily. I shouldn't be crying. She was the one who got me upset my losing her temper and yelling at me. I wasn't going to speak to her until she apologized for her blow up.

I didn't leave my room until dinner. I spent the time. Arranging my room over and over again until I was tired. It was something I did whenever I was upset. It helped to calm me down.

I slumped on my bed when my muscles felt weak and I was out like a light shortly after.

A knock on the door woke me up from sleep.

"Paisley, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes" my mum called from the other side of the door. I dragged myself from my bed and to the bathroom to take a shower after which I changed into leggings and a sweater. I felt a bit cold after my shower.

My phone rang on my bed and I picked it. Edel's name flashed on the screen. I quickly swiped and picked the call.

"Heyyy" I said excitedly.

"Babe. I've been calling" he complained as soon as I greeted.

"Ohhh. I was asleep. I didn't hear it"

"So will I see you tomorrow?"

"Probably. Nevaeh and I were supposed to set up her new shop today but with the announcement, we didn't do it. She may need my help tomorrow but I promise to see you immediately after"

He grunted. "Okay. Has your family said anything about the choosing?"

"No. Maybe after dinner. I'll give you the details tomorrow"

"Okay love"

"Goodbye. I love you" I said but he already hung up. I frowned and tossed the phone on my bed.

I stepped out of my room and saw Nevaeh standing at her door. I wanted to smile at her but I remembered she upset me so I looked away and made my way to the table. Mama had already set the table and they had taken their various places. I gave papa a kiss on the cheek and gave mama too before taking my place. Nevaeh did the same and sat next to me.

I expected her to whisper her apology so all could be forgotten but she ignored me and focused on her meal. Well If that was what she wanted.

I ate my meal in silence like the rest of the family and after the meal was done and the dishes cleared and washed, papa called us all into the living room.

"You all were present for the choosing today and you know what happened but I don't know if you understand the gravity of this situation" he said in his serious voice.

Mama cleared her throat. "One of you will have to go to the beasts" my eyes widened.

"What? You can't possibly send any of us away" I said horrified.

"There is nothing we can do about it sweetie. It's beyond our control" she said in a small voice.

"So what are you going to do? Send your daughters away?"

"Not daughters. Only one of you will have to go" my father said.

"No. That is impossible. Nobody is going to separate Nevaeh and I" I shouted.

"Enough Paisley" papa said in a rough voice and even though I wanted to shout at him, I remained silent.

"Your mother and I, we have made our decision"

"Nevaeh. You'll be going"

"No" Nevaeh screamed at papa. I turned to her to see her already crying.

"I'm not going papa" she said through sobs.

"Papa. You can't send Nevaeh away"

"Then will you rather watch all of us die?"

I didn't believe the beasts would kill us all because one woman refused to go to him.

"Don't cry Nevaeh. Everything will be okay" I consoled her but she scoffed.

I moved closer to her. "There has to be away around this. I'll find one even...."

"Just shut up Paisley. You don't seem to get it. You see nothing past the stupid ideas in your head. For once just shut up and try to reason"

"Nevaeh don't talk to your sister like that" mama scolded.

"Why shouldn't I? Because she's your favorite?" She asked with a sneer. Nevaeh had never spoken to anyone like this.

"We don't have a favorite and you know it"

"Then why didn't you pick her? You have two daughters who look exactly alike. You claim you have no favorites and yet you pick me to die instead of her?"

"Paisley has a fiancé. She is about to get married"

"But she's not married yet is she? She can still go. Why does it have to be me"

"Nevaeh..."

"I hate you all so much. Especially you" she glared at me before storming off.

I couldn't hold the tears in. Coulter wrapped his arms around me while mama ran after Nevaeh.

"She hates me" I sobbed into his chest. I could take anything but that. Did she really mean what she said? Did she really hate me?

I was stubborn, hard headed and could hold the longest grudges but when it came to her, I was a completely different person.

"She doesn't. She's just upset. She'll come around"

I doubted that. This wasn't like the other times Nevaeh and I fought. This was different and something told me she wouldn't be coming around anytime soon.