Chapter 4

“I’m asking you a question!” Mary’s voice exploded. I had never seen her so angry before.

“You locked Clara in the basement? That cold, damp basement?”

Linda’s voice grew softer and softer until I could barely hear her.

“She… she’s been throwing a tantrum these past few days. I was afraid she would affect Bella…”

“Affect?” Mary’s body swayed. She held onto the wall, her voice trembling.

“Clara is your daughter, too! She was born premature and has always been weak. The basement is cold and damp. Are you trying to kill her?”

Linda lowered her head, her shoulders hunched. She couldn’t say a word.

Mary stared at her, her voice not loud, but every word sharp.

“I know Bella was prophesied not to live past sixteen, and you want to give her the best of everything.

“But what about Clara? Hasn’t she suffered? Since she was little, what has she ever had?

“Old furs her sister didn’t want, leftover scraps, even her parents’ love had to be shared. No, she didn’t even get half!”

Linda collapsed onto the stone bench, covering her face as she cried.

Mary didn’t stop there.

“And now you won’t even let the two sisters see each other one last time?

“Clara is the sister Bella has protected since puphood. Do you want Bella to leave with regrets? Do you want her to go without peace?”

“I just… I just didn’t want Clara to upset her sister…” Linda cried.

Mary let out a cold laugh. “Locking the younger one away, do you think the older one can be at peace? Do you think Bella doesn’t know?”

Linda didn’t respond. She just cried.

The night grew deep.

The lights in the yard went out, and the fire in the living room died down. No one could sleep.

Mary’s footsteps came from inside the house, slow and steady, until she reached the basement door.

She crouched down and leaned close to the crack.

“Clara,” she said softly. “I’m here with you. Don’t be afraid.”

A trace of warmth seeped through the gap, and I almost started crying.

When I was alive, very few werewolves spoke to me so gently.

They only ever said, “Just bear with it,” “Stop making trouble,” and “Why are you so unreasonable?”

When the first strand of moonlight fell into the living room, Mary stood up from the ground and slowly walked toward Bella’s room.

She knocked on the door, her hand trembling.

“Bella?”

The door opened from the inside.

Bella stood at the doorway, wearing that white fox fur dress. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were calm.

She said softly, “I’m fine.”

She was alive.

Somehow, she had lived past sixteen.

Linda was the first to rush forward. She pulled Bella into her arms and cried uncontrollably.

David also stepped forward, his hands shaking as he hugged her. “Good… good…”

Mary stood to the side with her hands on her hips, scolding, “That witch was talking nonsense. My granddaughter is perfectly fine. I’ll go settle the score with her later!”

However, her face then changed as if she suddenly remembered something. She turned sharply toward the basement.

“Quick, let Clara out!” she shouted, her voice urgent.

Linda froze for a moment before smiling through her tears and nodding repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, let Clara out quickly. Tell her the good news. Her sister is fine!”

David wiped his face and answered with a smile. Then he strode toward the basement.

The whole family followed behind, their faces full of joy.

Linda was still wiping her tears, murmuring, “Clara will definitely be so happy. She says she hates her sister, but she cares about her the most…”

The wooden door creaked open.

David bent down and walked in, using the moonlight coming from outside.

Suddenly, his face turned pale.

His lips began to tremble, and he stood frozen in place.

“This shouldn’t be happening…” he muttered. “This shouldn’t be happening…”