Chapter 3

Ever since my father died, Wynne had been raising me all on her own.

To provide me with the best care possible, Wynne practically split herself in two.

One part of her was devoted to the hospital, working her way toward a higher position so she could give me a better life.

The other half was mine to keep. She taught me the basics of being a wolf and raised me to be brave, strong, and fearless.

Sullivan was my neighbor, and we grew up together. No matter what happened, he was always there to keep me safe.

Once, while Wynne was away for advanced training, I injured myself on silver by accident. Sullivan wouldn’t leave my side for days, determined to nurse me back to health.

By the time we enrolled at the Werewolf Academy, Sullivan had turned down countless advances from well-born she-wolves and finally confessed his feelings for me.

“Odette, you’re the only Luna for me. Be mine!”

When did it all go terribly wrong?

I supposed everything started when Wynne took in Lena, a stray human with nowhere to go.

Lena was fragile and beautiful, like a frail flower swaying in the wind. Still, she always fought back the tears and uttered stubbornly, “I’m fine.”

At first, Wynne said to me, “It’s tough for Lena to fit in with our pack. You should take better care of her.”

Later, she would hold Lena and look at me with a frown.

“Just look at Lena. She always put me first. If she were my real daughter… Sigh. Why can’t you be more like her?”

Noticing how hurt I was, Sullivan used to stand up for me.

“This human is manipulative. She always plays the victim in front of your mother.”

Bit by bit, I caught his eyes lingering on Lena.

“Lena’s actually not that bad. Despite what happened to her, she stays resilient and understanding. I think you misjudged her.

“Odette, you’re older. You should look out for her more.”

Today, Sullivan promised to wrap up his pack duties early, so he could be back to celebrate my birthday together. It was supposed to be just the two of us.

However, he brought Lena home.

He even had the nerve to say, “Lena is family. What’s a celebration without family?”

Even the birthday cake Sullivan bought was covered with a thick layer of hazelnut dusting—Lena’s absolute favorite.

Seeing that I hadn’t taken a bite, Sullivan finally recalled my hazelnut allergy and offered to buy me another dessert to make it up to me.

It never occurred to me that shortly after he stepped out, Lena set the curtains on fire. While I carried a bucket of water to put out the flames, she pushed me to the ground.

My stomach hit the ground hard. Though I threw my hands over my belly to break the fall, the pain was still unbearable.

The pain of the past collided with the agony of the present, giving me a fleeting moment of clarity.

Only I could save myself and my pup now.

Gritting my teeth, I crawled to the reception desk and gripped the edge to pull myself up.

“Please… Call me an ambulance… Take me to another infirmary…”

The nurse rolled her eyes and went back to reviewing the paperwork, pretending she hadn’t heard me.

Tears streamed down my face as I heaved heavily, repeating myself in a struggle.

“Please… Just call me an ambulance…”

Annoyed, the nurse rose to her feet.

“The ambulance dispatch costs 500 dollars. Cash or card?”

I choked.

It slipped my mind that I didn’t have a single penny on me.

Not long after I was pregnant, Wynne persuaded Sullivan to let Lena take over my duties as the Luna since my health deemed me unfit.

Under the same excuse, Wynne shifted all resources belonging to the Luna to Lena’s control.

Every penny I spent required Lena’s approval, while she was free to spend what was rightfully mine.

I had protested the arrangement before.

Wynne uttered, “Lena has been doing you a favor. It’s only right she gets something in return.

“You sit around and do nothing all day. Stop obsessing over spending money. It’s hard work for Lena to watch your spending, too.”

As I froze, the nurse sneered, “No money? You can’t expect a free ride just because you’re Dr. Carter’s daughter. Not a chance!

“Dr. Carter has made it clear that you’ll be seen once all the patients have had their turn.

“She has stressed time and again that everything must be done by the book. No one gets to break the rules!”

With my strength giving out, my knees buckled, and I crumpled back to the floor.

A hand caught me, holding me steady.

Aida, her eyes red-rimmed, looked alarmed.

“I’ll pay for the ambulance!”

The nurse grimaced and warned frantically, “Have you lost it, Aida? Are you trying to join the sanitation crew?”

Clenching her jaw, Aida held me closer in her arms.

“I became a nurse to save lives. I can’t just stand by while a mother and her pup die!”

Braving the judgmental looks around, Aida propped me up and walked me toward the exit.

“Odette, where are you going?

“Lena lost a lot of blood. You need to give her blood right now!”

Wynne’s grim voice boomed.

I shuddered and snapped my head back in disbelief.

“She only suffered a minor burn…”

“What do you know? Lena has a blood-clotting disorder. No wound is minor for her!”

Wynne stood firm on her ground.

“As the daughter of a healer, you should lead by example and show some grace.

“Besides, I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself.”

I gasped for air, my voice raspy.

“Mom, have you read the prenatal report I gave you?”