The Daughter They Didn't Want

"Mom, look. Tyler's name and mine are engraved on the inside."

Selena lifted the bracelets toward the light, and the four moonstones flashed blue-white against the platinum.

"Our little princess deserves the best. The whole pack will be watching during the ceremony. If your bonding jewelry looked cheap, people would talk."

She simply didn't care when the bride being humiliated was me.

Dad pressed a black credit card into Selena's palm. "Never let yourself be treated badly after you move in with Tyler. If he makes you cry, you come straight home. The Grey house will always be open to you."

Only a week earlier, he'd told me, "Once you're bonded, you belong with Northlake. Couples argue. Don't come running back over every little thing and embarrass us."

Selena and I were twins. I had been born seven minutes earlier, and apparently those seven minutes had sentenced me to a lifetime of being the older, stronger, more reasonable one.

During our first shift, Selena had collapsed on the training field because of a congenital heart rhythm disorder. From that day forward, everyone treated her like spun glass.

I worked four months of weekend shifts to buy my first used car. Selena drove it once and decided she loved it. Noah took my keys and told me public transit was perfectly fine.

I was healthy. I was capable. I was the reliable child.

In my family, that never earned love. It only made me easier to rob.

When Adrian and I set a date for our mate ceremony, I had been stupid enough to believe I would finally get one day that belonged to me.

Selena heard the news and teared up over dinner. "We've shared everything since before we were born. Why can't we have our ceremonies on the same day?"

By dessert, the whole family had agreed that a joint ceremony was more meaningful. My guest list, schedule, and budget were folded into Selena's plans like a cheap extra no one had ordered.

That evening, she looped both arms around Mom's. "Can you make creamy ribs tonight? Once I move in with Tyler, I won't get your cooking every day."

"Anything you want, baby."

I’d suffered from chronic gastritis since my teens. Rich, greasy food could leave me curled up in pain, with even my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin.

The first night, I asked, "Could you leave a few ribs without cream for me? Even vegetable soup would be fine."

Mom glanced at me but said nothing. I took her silence for agreement. I shouldn’t have.

Dinner was creamy ribs, lobster baked under cheese, and potatoes cooked in oil. Selena ate happily while I sipped warm water.

She glanced at me with wide, innocent eyes. "Why aren't you eating, Eve? Are you still upset about the moonstones?"

Mom added another rib to Selena’s plate. "Ignore her. She walks around looking like somebody died with our ceremonies less than two weeks away. She’ll drag bad luck into both bonds if she keeps it up."

Noah snorted. "Say what's wrong or quit making everyone guess."

I had said it.

They had simply decided my words weren't worth hearing.

My wolf shifted restlessly beneath my skin. Their scents gave them away—Selena was pleased, Mom was irritated, and Noah was impatient. Not one of them was worried about me.

Dad said, "Let's go to Moonlake Estate tomorrow and get a proper family portrait before she moves out. Once she's gone, we'll never get everyone together the same way again."

I dried my hands and stepped out of the kitchen. "My final dress fitting is tomorrow afternoon. The photographer only had that slot."

Dad didn't even look up. "Then go to your fitting."

He said it so casually that my chest tightened. To him, a family portrait without me was still a complete family portrait.

I went to my room and shut the door just as my phone lit up.

[Adrian: Northlake’s council approved the private ceremony. We can hold it the day before Selena’s.]

Another message followed before I could reply.

[Adrian: I know you agreed to the joint ceremony because they pressured you. You don’t have to share your bonding day with anyone, Eve. Not even your sister.]

I stared at those words.

No one in my family had asked whether I wanted to share the ceremony.

Adrian had known without asking.

[Adrian: But I won’t make yours for you. Tell me what you want.]

My fingers tightened around the phone.

[Me: I want one day that belongs to us.]

[Adrian: Then that is what you will have.]