Chapter 4

The witch's ritual lasted nearly an hour.

My screams echoed through the entire pack.

The restraints bit deep into the flesh of my wrists, blood dripping down my fingers and splattering onto the floor in steady drops.

Jack turned his face away. Alice covered her ears and curled up in the corner. Liam held Margaret's body down with both hands, his grip so tight his knuckles went white. Over and over, the only words out of his mouth were: "Margaret, hold on. It'll be over soon."

Suddenly, I jerked upright, eyes flying wide open—then collapsed back onto the bed, limp.

The witch stumbled backward, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her voice came out hoarse.

"It's... done. Victoria... is back."

My parents rushed to the bedside, their eyes fixed on the pale face beneath them—with a tenderness they'd never once shown me.

My body's eyelids fluttered, then slowly lifted.

The moment Alice saw those eyes, she couldn't hide her joy.

They were calm. Sharp. Nothing like my cowering, timid stare.

She knew—Victoria was really here.

"Victoria!" Alice shrieked and threw herself forward, crushing the body on the bed into her arms.

She sobbed into Victoria's chest, voice breaking: "You're back! My Victoria! You're finally back!"

Jack's eyes reddened too.

He raised a trembling hand and brushed it gently over Victoria's face, like she was the most precious thing in the world. His voice shook.

"Back... my baby girl... finally back..."

Liam stood behind them and let out a long, heavy breath.

Then—Victoria yanked back and shoved Alice off with so much force she slammed into the corner of the bed.

Jack caught Alice just in time. When he looked up, the person on the bed had scrambled into the corner, curled up, her face twisted in terror.

"Why am I back here?!" Her voice came out shrill, cracking. "No—I'm not supposed to be here! I left! I already escaped!"

Alice clutched her bruised waist, staring at her daughter in shock.

"Victoria? What are you talking about? We're your parents! We fought so hard to bring you back—"

"Bring me back?!" Victoria's head snapped up, eyes bloodshot, voice spiking.

"Who asked you to?! I finally got out! I finally escaped all of this—escaped you! I actually had a happy life—why would you drag me back here?! Why?!"

Alice's mouth opened. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

The smile had vanished from her face. She looked helplessly at Jack, searching for an answer.

But Jack's expression was even worse.

"Victoria," his voice dropped low, "you're saying you didn't want to come back? You don't want to see us? You don't want your parents anymore?"

"Yes!"

Victoria almost roared it. Her teeth ground together, fists clenched so tight her whole body shook.

"I hate you! I hate you so much!"

Slap.

Jack's hand connected with Victoria's face.

Her head snapped to the side. Her pale cheek swelled instantly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Alice screamed: "Jack! What are you doing?!"

Jack looked down at his own hand, then back at his daughter. His whole body started trembling.

Victoria slowly turned her face back.

She wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand. A cold laugh escaped her, pure fury blazing in her eyes.

"This is exactly who you are." Her voice was ice. "We have to obey. One hint of defiance and you lose it. I couldn't even breathe without hiding it from you!"

Alice stared at Victoria, tears streaming silently down her face.

"All those years, I lived the way you wanted. Just to make you happy. Just to be the perfect alpha. And I was—I was losing my mind!"

"The day Liam got taken by the rogues—after I saved him, I ran to the border on purpose." Victoria's lips curled into something almost manic. "Because—"

"I'd rather die out there than come back and be your so-called perfect daughter!"