Chapter 2

After that, my three brothers treated Freya like the absolute apple of their eye, while throwing me aside like trash.

My old bedroom had been turned into her jewelry room the very year she was born.

I often leaned against the small tower window, watching Freya chase her pet across the lawn below, laughing without a care in the world.

And I could only hide in the shadows, stealing glances at the life that should have belonged to me, too.

Even the lowest wolf attendants in the manor dared to brush me off in my face.

Cory Dale, with his fiery temper, cursed at me whenever he saw me: "Jinx! You're a curse just by breathing."

I often wondered if I really was cursed. How else could I suffer through so much hatred and yet somehow fail to die?

So I scraped by, surviving like that until Freya grew up.

Yet on the exact day of Freya's coming-of-age ceremony, I saw the ticking red numbers floating over my head in the mirror of the pocket watch I had prepared as her gift.

I gave a bitter smile and snapped the watch shut, feeling a mixture of heartache and sweet relief.

Finally, the day had come.

Freyar's milestone, Mom's death anniversary, and my own end.

The Moon Goddess always seemed so cruel, picking the perfect moments to maximize my pain.

But how should I spend this final day?

I thought about it for a long time. My head was filled with memories of being together with my family.

After slowly packing away my things, I headed down from the tower.

Just as I stepped off the spiral staircase, I bumped into my second brother, Brian Dale, and Freya.

Freya was holding a leather holster, standing on tiptoe in front of Brian. "Brian, let me help you buckle the holster."

Brian looked down at her clumsy hands. Even though she buckled it crookedly, he didn't mind at all. His eyes brimmed with total indulgence.

Freya took two steps back and crinkled her nose. "Looks like it's crooked. Brian, maybe you should do it yourself."

Brian rubbed the top of her head. "No need. It's great for your first try, Freya. Let's go. I'll take you to the shift prep camp."

Freya immediately beamed, clutching his hand tightly.

My chest ached as I remembered that one winter.

I had stayed up three nights straight sewing a coming-of-age holster for Brian.

I had nervously handed it to him, hoping he might pat my head like he used to.

Instead of taking it, he slapped my hand away in disgust. "Who knows if wearing this will rub off your bad luck on me."

He threw the holster into the hounds' den, where it was shredded to pieces.

The next day, I knelt in the mud, crying all night as I searched for it.

That year, I was only ten.

The front door opened, and they were about to leave.

I hesitated for a moment but still spoke up. "Brian, Freya, I want to make dinner for Freya's coming-of-age tonight. Can we have a meal together? Just this once."

I clenched my hands, anxiously waiting for a response.

Freya took my hand happily. "Sure, Judith! Thank you so much for remembering my big day!"

Brian harshly refused and yanked her hand back, as if I were something filthy.

Freya turned around, confused. "Why not, Brian?"

Yeah, why not?

"Did you forget? You promised Aaron you'd go to the border to spend the night of your birthday with him."

"Oh… right!" Freya suddenly remembered.

She looked at me apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Judith. I can't have dinner with you tonight. Aaron rarely has time for me, so I have to be with him."

She thought for a second, then smiled again. "How about tomorrow? Tomorrow, we can all eat together as a family."

Tomorrow? I didn't have a tomorrow.

I pulled out a smile uglier than crying, bitterness choking my throat.

In the end, I still nodded and watched them leave.

Before turning around, Brian glared at me, his gaze laced with venom. "Judith, you're only acting nice because you're up to something! You'd better behave yourself. If you dare hurt Freya, I won't let you get away with it!"

The door slammed shut behind them. The wind rushed down my nose, leaving me with a coldness I'd never felt before.

My whole life was coming to an end tonight.

While Freya's tomorrow was already filled with family.