Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I got home from the festival still shaking, the rejection burning in my chest like it was fresh. Mom and Dad were in the living room, already talking about it like it was some pack gossip they heard on the street. I walked in and dropped onto the couch, words spilling out before I could even sit properly. They must’ve heard the news already. 

“I want to move away,” I said. “Tonight if I can. I can’t stay here after what Zayne did to me in front of everyone. I just can’t.”

Mom looked up from her phone, eyebrows raised high. “Maeve, honey, don’t be dramatic about it. Your sister is going to be Luna now. At least one of our kids made it big in the pack.”

Dad nodded along, sipping his coffee slow. “Yeah, Mia’s always been the strong one. This could be good for the family. You starting somewhere else might not be the worst idea though. New town, new chances for you.”

I stared at them, my mouth open like an idiot. My own parents acting like this was normal. “Mia? She’s my twin sister and she’s hated me forever. You both know that. Everyone knows it. She bullied me growing up, made fun of my body in front of the whole class every single day. It was fun for her and all her classmates watching me cry in the corner. Now she does it online as a pro, disguises it like sister jokes and gains all those views and likes. I didn’t think she’d actually take my mate away. My mate. The one the Goddess picked.”

Mom sighed long and shrugged like it was nothing important. “Sisters fight, Maeve. She’s ambitious. You have your nursing job. Maybe this is the push you need to get out there and do something.”

Dad cut in right after her, talking fast. “At least Mia will be Luna. The pack will respect that connection to the Alpha family. You going off somewhere new sounds smart. Fresh start and all that. Why stick around for more drama?”

My heart broke right there in the middle of their living room. They weren’t even bothered. Not really. Not for me. It felt like a slap on top of the one Zayne already gave. 

“You two are unbelievable,” I said, voice cracking as I stood up. “She destroyed me out there, called me out on my curves, my body, said I was too heavy to even lift, and you’re sitting here happy one of us got picked. Like it doesn’t matter that my own twin took the guy the Goddess chose for me. How can you say that?”

They started talking at the same time, voices overlapping. Mom said, “We’re not happy exactly,” while Dad jumped in louder, “Life isn’t fair, kid. What do you want us to do about it? Pack your bag if you want to leave.” 

Mom added quickly , “Mia’s always been better at these things. You knew that growing up. She gets the spotlight.”

I threw my hands up, annoyed and hurt all mixed together in a messy ball inside me. “Fine. I’ll pack a small bag right now. I’m taking the car and my cat. I’m accepting that sports medicine position in the other city. Tonight. I can’t do this anymore with any of you.”

I went to my room and threw clothes into a bag, hands moving quick and angry, shoving shirts and pants without folding. My cat, Whiskers, watched from the bed like he knew something was up and the world was ending. I scooped him up and held him close for a second, burying my face in his fur. “At least you don’t judge my curves, buddy. You don’t think I’m too much to lift or too heavy for a real man.”

The drive started okay but my mind wouldn’t shut up the whole way. Why did I even let myself think about driving off some cliff for a second? No way. 

Screw that idea completely. My curves were worth more than Zayne’s stupid opinion. Someday someone would see them and actually like them. Appreciate the whole me, thick thighs, heavy breasts and all the parts he mocked. I gripped the wheel tighter, whispering to myself between turns on the dark road. “You’re not worthless. Not to everyone. Just to them and their perfect little pack standards.”

The mountain highway got bad fast. Snow came down heavy and thick, sticking to the windshield. A blizzard hit out of nowhere, wind howling against the car. Cars slowed way down, then stopped completely ahead of me in a long line. Red lights flashed everywhere through the whiteout. Police officers were waving people off the road with flashlights.

“Road’s closed up ahead,” one officer yelled when I rolled down my window, snow blowing right in my face. “Blizzard’s too strong to keep going. Head to the old ski lodge up the pass. It’s the only shelter tonight. Keep moving slow and stay safe.”

I followed the line of cars, Whiskers meowing loudly in his carrier beside me like he was complaining about the whole mess and the cold. By the time I pulled up to the lodge, I was soaked from running through the wind and snow to get inside from the parking area. 

My emerald dress from the festival was still underneath my coat, wet and clinging uncomfortable to my skin in all the wrong places. I pushed the heavy door open, bag slung over my shoulder, cat carrier in my other hand, dripping everywhere.

The place was crowded. People everywhere, shaking off snow, talking loud over each other about the storm and the festival drama from earlier. The big fireplace had bodies packed tight around it, warming up and sharing stories about the night. 

Only one empty chair remained near the fire, tucked in the corner. I headed straight for it, dripping water on the wooden floor with every step, not caring who saw.

I sat down fast, trying to catch my breath and stop my teeth from chattering. Across from me sat Rowan Ashcroft. Captain of the Ice Wolves. The kingdom’s favorite hockey superstar. 

The Alpha family’s black sheep who never followed the rules and stayed away from pack politics. He looked up from his spot and recognized me right away. Not because I was famous or anything special. Because he had watched his cousin destroy me at the festival earlier that night.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just reached for a mug of hot chocolate from the tray beside him and slid it quietly across the small table toward me, his eyes steady on mine the whole time.

“I figured tonight has been awful enough,” he said, voice low and steady like he meant it.

I took the mug, fingers wrapping around the warm ceramic. The simple kindness after everything hit me hard. My eyes stung bad and I almost cried right there in front of him, but I bit my lip and held it back for now.