Chapter 2

At breakfast the next morning, my mother Selena casually mentioned to Dad, "Once Lena goes back to the academy, I'm thinking of knocking out the storage room wall to expand Mia's closet. She keeps getting more clothes—one wardrobe just isn't enough."

Father Karl chewed his bread and nodded. "Fine. Have the pack craftsmen come measure it later."

Mia nibbled on her spoon and said quietly, "Mom, really, it's fine. I don't have that many clothes."

"Not many?" My brother Leon cut in, then grinned and ruffled her hair. "Those sets from last week aren't even unboxed yet. And that dress I picked for her—she said all her classmates thought it looked great."

But Garrett shook his head. "I still think that white dress I picked for her looked better."

Leon thought that was ridiculous. "Garrett, you have zero taste!"

Garrett shot back immediately. "Like you're any better? Maybe Mia's classmates at school laughed at how ugly she dressed, and she lied to spare your feelings."

The two of them started arguing over which outfit looked better on Mia. Dad watched them and chuckled, telling them to keep it down.

I sat across from them, silently eating my cold bowl of cereal.

Nobody asked if I wanted to go back to the academy. Nobody asked where I'd go after graduation.

They just needed me gone.

Once I left, they'd erase the last trace of my existence in this house too.

That afternoon, Garrett went into town to pick up my diploma.

But when he came back, there was no diploma in his hands—just several large cloth bags stuffed with every kind of popular snack.

He carried them over to me. "Lena, I bought a ton of snacks."

I flipped through the bags. They were packed with sweets.

I'd been with Garrett for three years. He'd always known I had to watch my figure, that I only ate dried meat and never touched sweets. These were all Mia's favorites.

"None of these are what I like."

I looked at him.

Garrett froze for a second, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "My bad. When I was buying them I thought they were your favorites."

I pushed down the cold feeling rising in my chest and asked, "Where's my diploma?"

Garrett's face shifted. "Shit! The line for snacks was too long—I completely forgot!"

I looked at him calmly. Not surprised.

He patted my shoulder to soothe me. "It's fine. I'll go get it tomorrow."

Before I could even respond, he'd already turned away and hollered up the stairs. "Mia! Come down! I got you your favorite cookies!"

I said nothing. I turned and headed for the door, planning to get the diploma myself.

At the entryway, I heard Mia running down the stairs, her voice timid. "Garrett, is my sister mad?"

Garrett tore open the packaging carelessly. "Nah, don't worry. I'll grab it tomorrow. She's not that petty. Come eat."

I didn't look back. I shut the door behind me.

After picking up my diploma in town, I passed by my parents' bedroom on the way back. The door was cracked open.

My mother's voice drifted out. "Honey, have you noticed Lena seems upset lately? She barely talks since we moved in."

My father's voice followed, heavy with exhaustion. "She's always like that. Never talks to us. But right now Mia's health is critical. We don't have the energy to cater to Lena's moods too. Once 'that thing' is ready…"

I didn't listen to the rest. I stood in the cold wind for a moment, then turned and quietly left the hallway.

So it wasn't that nobody noticed I was hurting.

They noticed. They just didn't think I mattered.

That night, I sat on the old leather cushion in the basement storage room, packing my bags.

The door creaked open. Mia walked in holding a pretty gift box.

"Lena, this is for you."

She lifted the lid. Inside was a pink dress.

Classic Mia style.

"I think it'd look great on you." Mia watched me carefully. "Actually… everyone's really happy you came back. Really."

I looked at that pink dress and stayed silent. Didn't say a word.

Because everyone loved her, she believed everyone loved me too.

Even though I'd been overlooked by this family again and again.

The air in the storage room was dead silent. Mia grew more and more awkward in my silence. She stood there fidgeting for a while, then finally lowered her head and slunk away.

The next morning, Mia's condition took a sharp turn. She spiked a high fever.

The whole family panicked. When they learned Mia had been in my cold, damp basement storage room the night before, my brother Leon and my mother Selena's expressions changed instantly. Leon demanded, "The basement is freezing—why would you let her stay down there? You know she's always been frail!"

Leon glared at me.

My mother's eyes went red as she accused me. "If you'd spared even a sliver of care for your sister, she wouldn't be like this. What is wrong with you—"

Garrett stood to the side tending to Mia, and when he looked back at me, his eyes were full of disappointment and blame.

In that moment, looking at this family, the last bit of warmth in my heart went out completely.

Then my phone lit up.

A encrypted message from the Silver Creek pack.

"Miss Lena, we'll send a pickup car tomorrow night. We'll be waiting for you at Snowcedar Outpost No. 3 at the Silver Creek Pass on the border. We'll have the highest-honor warrior badge ready to welcome you into our ranks."