Chapter 4

There was no point explaining myself anymore. All I wanted was my bow back.

They would always believe Susie over me. Her feelings came first, her wishes came first, and I had never truly mattered to any of them.

Damon came downstairs, took one look at the scene, and immediately assumed I was the one causing trouble.

"What are you fighting with your sister over this time?" he asked coldly.

"You're lucky we even let you live in this house."

Then he turned his attention to Susie. I ignored him and reached for my bow again.

My mother jumped to her feet and shoved me back. "Haven't you caused enough trouble?!

"If I'd known you'd grow up to be this selfish, I never would have raised you!

"You're making so much trouble over one little thing!

"Even the clothes on your back came from your sister. Didn't we tell you? Once she's done with something, you can have it."

Her words hit me harder than I expected.

I froze, a lump forming in my throat. Even Susie's unwanted hand-me-downs were something they expected me to be grateful for.

I wiped the tears from my face.

My father pointed toward the stairs. "Go to your room and think about what you've done."

"Give me back what's mine," I repeated.

Damon finally snapped. He grabbed me by the arm.

"I've put up with you long enough! Go back to your room and reflect on what you've done.

"Don't come out until you understand what you did wrong!"

He dragged me toward the attic as I fought to break free. My injured knees kept striking the floor, sending waves of pain through me until tears blurred my vision.

"Let go of me! That bow is mine!"

I cried out for someone to help me, but no one did. Susie simply sat on the sofa, watching me with a smug smile.

Damon shoved me into the attic and locked the door behind me. I pounded on it and screamed until my voice went hoarse.

No one came.

They locked the door from the outside. Before walking away, Damon said, "Susie needs to awaken her wolf at her ceremony. Until then, you're staying in there and out of her sight!"

This was nothing new. Whenever Susie wanted something that belonged to me, everyone simply decided it was hers.

And whenever I fought back or tried to take it back, they locked me in the attic for days.

I knew this time would be no different. No one would open that door for another three days.

I cried until I had nothing left in me, then curled up by the door and fell asleep.

The cold eventually woke me. By then, night had fallen.

As I sat there in the darkness, I realized there was nothing left for me in this house.

I grabbed my luggage, climbed through the skylight, and lowered myself onto the balcony below. From there, I could see straight into Susie's bedroom.

My mother was helping her into her ceremony gown.

My bow lay discarded on the floor. Susie had already lost interest in it. She hadn't wanted it because she liked it. She had wanted it because it belonged to me.

My mother took Susie's hands in hers. "Once your ceremony is over, we'll take you on a trip to the northern border."

Susie wrapped her arms around her with a sweet smile. "Thank you, Mom."

I turned away. I had no reason to keep watching.

I climbed down from the balcony and left for the Northern Pack, taking only my luggage with me.

No one even noticed I was gone. By the time Susie's ceremony arrived, they still hadn't remembered that they'd locked me in the attic.

And when they finally opened that door, I would already be far away, beginning a new life in the Northern Pack.