Chapter 3

Just as it was getting dark, I heard the front door open.

Oliver hurried over and took all the bags from Mom and Dad.

Miranda threw herself at him excitedly.

"Oliver, were you waiting for me to come back?"

She hopped down and twirled around him.

"Mom just bought me this dress. Isn't it pretty?"

She was wearing a brand-new Moon Goddess gown that made her look pure and beautiful.

Oliver stared at her in awe.

"It's beautiful. You're the prettiest werewolf I've ever seen."

Mom put everything away and was about to throw the shopping bag in the trash.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted me, pulled her hand back, and came over.

"Daphne, this bag is sturdy. You can use it to pack your things for school."

I took the bag she'd been about to throw away and thanked her.

But her gesture left a cold, dull ache in my heart.

Dad leaned back on the couch and gave me an approving look.

"You may be a slow, dull, low-ranking Omega wolf, but you really have saved us a lot of trouble over the years.

"Not like your sister Miranda. She has to have the best of everything. She's always keeping us busy."

It sounded like a complaint, but he couldn't hide how much he doted on her.

I stood there and didn't say anything.

Miranda was pretty, had a knack for saying the sweetest things, and had inherited their Beta bloodline.

That was why Miranda deserved the best of everything.

And I was a low-ranking, slow Omega wolf.

They could give me whatever was left over, and I'd never complain.

After all, that's how it had been for years.

Miranda came over and took my hand.

"Daphne, you don't look happy. Don't you like the present?"

I looked at Miranda. She wasn't just beautiful.

Even the Moon Goddess favored her, blessing her with a charm that won over everyone she met.

When I didn't respond, she tugged at my hand.

"Daphne, don't be sad. I'll give you the gowns, the tiara, and the handbags Mom and Dad bought me.

"After Mom and Dad paid my tuition, they put the tuition money they'd saved for you into my account too. They said it's my spending money. And Benjamin's covering my living expenses for all four years of college.

"I already have so much. Mom and Dad even said you'll have to get a job to pay your own tuition. You poor thing.

"You can have all of this. I'll just get Oliver to take me shopping for more later. He promised."

The living room suddenly went quiet.

Dad's thumb froze mid-scroll, and Benjamin's smile stiffened.

I'd thought they couldn't afford to send both of us to college.

It turned out they just wanted to give Miranda the money they'd saved for me as spending money.

"Daphne, don't read too much into it."

Mom came over and took my hand.

"Your sister's school is better than yours. We can't hold her back. Once your dad and I get paid, we'll cover your tuition too."

"Right, we never meant for you to work all four years,"

Benjamin quickly chimed in.

"Once I get paid, I'll cover your living expenses too."

Dad put down his phone, came over, and patted my shoulder.

"Don't worry. We're just in a tight spot right now, but we'd never play favorites."

Any one of those expensive dresses or designer bags would've covered my tuition.

Their claim that they didn't play favorites was so absurd that I let out a bitter laugh.

They all exchanged looks without saying anything.

But I knew they were talking over the mind-link behind my back, figuring out how to brush me off.

And since I was blocked, I had no idea what they were saying.

"No need."

I shook off Miranda's hand.

But she grabbed my hand again.

"Don't be embarrassed, Daphne. How about this? I'll give you these dresses and bags in exchange for your room.

"I've been thinking my room is too small anyway. If we combine it with yours, there'll be space for a piano."

I stared at her in disbelief. My room was a converted storage room in the corner of the house.

It wasn't even a tenth the size of Miranda's.

A single bed and a cabinet pretty much filled it up.

It was the only thing in this house that was truly mine.

And now she wanted to take that too.

Mom came over to talk me into it.

"Daphne, your sister means well. Just make the trade and give her your room.

"You'll be living in the dorms anyway, so your room will just sit empty."

Oliver sided with them.

"Exactly. Miranda already asked, so just say yes.

"When you start college in my pack, I'll have a servant get a private room ready for you."

They were all on Miranda's side, pressuring me, as if they couldn't see how ridiculous this was.

A werewolf's body can heal physical wounds, but the wound in my heart was another matter.

The pain had numbed my wolf, leaving her too exhausted to protest anymore.

I gave a small nod and put the key to my room in Miranda's hand.

She could have it. I was done with this family anyway.

She closed her hand around the key, delighted.

"Thanks, Daphne."

Oliver steered her into the kitchen and took the cake out of the fridge.

"Something this exciting deserves cake."

The whole family followed them, laughing.

I turned around, went back to my room, and started packing my things.