Chapter 2

My blood boiled.

A favor?

They had destroyed my life and had the audacity to call it a favor.

"I don't need any of your favors!"My voice cracked through the room.

"You never wanted me anyway. I'm sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over again!"

Mom's expression hardened.She walked toward me slowly.

"I'm your mother," she said coldly. "And whatever I say, you will obey."

Before I could respond, her hand closed around my wrist.Tight.Pain shot through my arm.

I gasped."Mom..."

Her fingers dug deeper into my skin.

"Please..."My voice trembled."You're hurting me."

For a moment, she didn't let go.I stared at her face, searching for something.A flicker of regret.

Anything that would remind me that she was still my mother.There was nothing.

Dad stepped forward."That's enough, Grace. Let her go."

Mom scoffed and finally released me.I immediately pulled my wrist against my chest.

It throbbed where her fingers had been.I stared at the red marks appearing on my skin.My own mother had hurt me.And somehow, that hurt more than the pain in my wrist.

"This," Mom said, pointing at me, "is exactly why I call her a weakling."

I slowly lifted my eyes.

"She should be grateful the pack still shows her some respect because she's the Beta's daughter."

Her voice was merciless."Otherwise, she wouldn't even deserve to be near us."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.My own mother.The woman who had held me when I was little.The woman whose lap I used to crawl into whenever I was afraid.The woman I had spent my whole life trying to make proud.

How could she look at me now as if I were something disgusting?

I lowered my eyes to my injured wrist.

Does she really hate me that much?I searched my memories desperately.Had I done something to deserve this?I'd always been the quiet one.

I never caused trouble.I never demanded anything.I never complained about the things I couldn't have.I had spent my entire life trying not to be a burden.And somehow, I was still the daughter they regretted having.

The door opened.I looked up.

Jasmine walked in.She was smiling.A bright, beautiful smile.The kind of smile I had seen countless times while growing up beside her.

But the moment our eyes met, her smile widened."Looks like my poor little sister is finally awake."

Her words were coated in mockery.I clenched my fists.I didn't have the strength for another fight.

"I don't have the strength for this, Jasmine."

"Enough," Dad warned.

But Jasmine didn't even look at him."Dad, you saw what happened out there."

She laughed softly."She should be thanking me. I stepped in for her."

My stomach twisted."Stepped in for me?"

"Of course."She touched her hair casually"Besides, Zion loves me."

She smiled."Not her."

Something inside me went still.I stared at her. That couldn't be true.Zion had loved me.

Hadn't he?He had told me so many times.He had held my hand.He had promised me a future.He had looked me in the eyes and told me I was the only woman he wanted.

So why?

Why had he allowed me to believe all those things if his heart already belonged to her?

My throat tightened.

"Have you..." I struggled to swallow. "Have you two been together all this time?"

Jasmine's smile was answer enough.

"He said I'm the one best suited to become Luna."

Every word landed on the wound that was already bleeding.I looked away.I couldn't bear to look at her anymore.So this was what had happened.

While I was dreaming about becoming Zion's Luna, perhaps they had already been building a life without me.

Everything had been a lie.My eyes burned.

"You have him now," I whispered.My voice barely sounded like mine.There was no anger left.Only exhaustion.

"You won."I swallowed hard."This is what you wanted all along."I looked at her through the tears gathering in my eyes.

"Please leave me alone."My voice cracked."You don't have to keep reminding me."

A knock sounded at the door.A pack warrior stepped inside and bowed.

"Beta Marcus, Alpha Zion requests your presence."

Dad nodded."I'll be there shortly."

He turned toward me.For a moment, he simply stood there.His eyes were filled with something that looked like regret.

"I'm sorry, Sarah."Then he left.

The door closed behind him.And just like that, I was alone.Alone with the two people who seemed to hate me most.

Mom folded her arms."You don't have anything to worry about."

I looked at her.

"I've already arranged a husband for you."My stomach dropped."He's willing to marry you despite..."Her eyes traveled over me."your condition."

My eyes widened."Mom, please."

My voice immediately became desperate."Don't do this to me.I don't want to marry anyone."

"This is the best opportunity you'll ever get."Jasmine laughed."No one wants a weakling for a wife."

I stared at her.

"Be grateful someone is willing to take you."

Something inside me twisted.Take me?

As if I were damaged goods.As if no one could possibly love me unless they were doing me a favor.

I shook my head."No."My voice trembled."I can't."

I looked at Mom."Please."

I had never begged my mother for anything like this."I'll do anything."The words tasted bitter in my mouth."Just don't force me to marry a stranger."

Mom and Jasmine exchanged a look.A knowing look.That frightened me.

Jasmine smiled."If that's the case..."She stepped closer."I need a favor from you."

I frowned."What favor?"

"I don't want you anywhere near the Alpha's mansion."

My chest tightened.

"Stay away from Zion at all times."

I almost laughed.As if I needed to be told.After what he had done?After watching him choose my sister?I never wanted to see his face again.

"I can do that."My voice was barely audible."I promise."

Jasmine's smile deepened."Good."

She took another step toward me."But that's not all."

I sighed."What else do you want from me?" I was tired "I already agreed to stay away from Zion."

Mom's phone rang.She glanced at the screen."I need to take this."She walked toward the door."You two continue your conversation."

The door closed.Silence filled the room.When I looked back at Jasmine, her smile was gone.

Her face had changed completely.

"You know what baffles me?"

I stared at her."What now?"My voice was cold."Haven't you done enough?"

She laughed.

"You're always happiest when I'm miserable."She took a slow step toward me.

"Oh, sister..."Her eyes darkened."This is only the beginning."

My stomach tightened.

"I want you to suffer."

A chill traveled down my spine.There was something in her voice that made me believe her.

Not a threat.A promise.

I lowered my head."Do whatever you want."My voice broke."I'm tired of fighting you."

For once, I meant it.I was tired of defending myself.Tired of proving I deserved to exist.Tired of begging the people I loved to treat me like I mattered.Without warning, Jasmine grabbed a fistful of my hair.

Pain exploded across my scalp.I cried out.

"Let... go..."

My hands flew to hers, but I barely had the strength to pull them away.She was stronger than me.She knew it.She enjoyed it.

"You know what else I want?"

I squeezed my eyes shut."Let me go..."

"I want you out of this pack."Her fingers tightened in my hair."I don't ever want to see your face among the elite again."

My throat burned."If moving out will make you happy..."I forced the words out."then I'll leave."

She released me.I stumbled backward.

For a second, I thought I would fall.

"Good."

She dusted her hands as though touching me had disgusted her.

"Then go tell Mom and Dad you've decided to leave on your own."

Tears filled my eyes."But I have nowhere to go."

She smirked."Doesn't your pathetic friend Amber live in that tiny hut on the outskirts of the pack?"

My heart sank."Amber is barely surviving herself."

"I don't care where you go."Her voice was flat."I just want you out of this house today."

I stared at her."Today?"

"Or would you rather face my wrath?"

I closed my eyes.I couldn't fight her.Not today.

Not after Zion.Not after my parents.Not when every part of me felt like it had been torn open.

"I'll leave."

The words came out as a whisper.

"Just..."I swallowed."let me rest."

I could barely feel my legs.Jasmine looked at me with disgust."This is why you'll always be a weakling."

I said nothing.Her voice became colder.

"I'm sure Mom regrets giving birth to you."

My eyes snapped open.I stared at her.

"I'm your twin sister, Jasmine."My voice shook.

"How can you say something like that?"

She sneered."You're no sister of mine."The words struck deeper than I expected."I could never be related to someone as pathetic as you."

She looked me up and down."You're only lucky you were born into this family."

Then she smiled.A cruel, heartless smile.

"If I were Mom..."

She paused.My heart began pounding.

"I would have killed you the day you were born."

I couldn't move.For a few seconds, I couldn't even breathe.The words hung between us.I would have killed you.My twin sister had just told me she wished I had never lived.

I looked at her face.There was no regret.No hesitation.She meant every word.And somehow, that was the part that hurt the most.

A sob rose in my throat, but I swallowed it.I wouldn't give her another tear.Not one.I turned my face away.My body was shaking.

I wanted to scream.I wanted to ask Mom why she hated me.I wanted to ask Dad why he had let them treat me this way.

I wanted Zion.

God, I hated myself for still wanting him.

Even after everything, some broken part of me still wished he would walk through that door and tell me it had all been a mistake.

But the door remained closed.No one came.No one chose me.No one protected me.

And that was when I finally understood.I was alone.Completely and utterly alone.

I pressed my trembling fingers against my chest.

It still hurt.But I told myself it wouldn't always hurt this much.

One day, I would leave.One day, I would become strong enough that none of them could ever hurt me again.

I would leave this pack behind.I would leave Zion behind.I would leave every memory of this place behind.And I would never look back.

It was only a matter of time.For now, all I could do was survive.