Chapter 3

Sophie caught me staring.

She straightened her posture, intentionally letting the emerald catch the light. Luke reached into his pocket and tossed something at me. It clattered against the floor.

He had the smug, self-righteous look of a man performing an act of charity. "Take it. That’s for you."

I looked down. It was a cheap, wooden trinket—rough-cut, unfinished, and already flaking. He could empty his family’s vault for Sophie, but for me, he’d brought something off a scrap pile.

I kicked the piece of junk back toward his boots. "Keep it. Give your 'great gift' to Sophie."

Luke’s face twisted. He snatched the trinket off the floor and hurled it through the open window. "Fine! If you don't want it, let it rot."

Sophie stamped her foot, her eyes welling with crocodile tears. "Sister, how could you? Luke and I picked that out together. We put so much thought into it." She reached back, taking a garment from the servant behind her and holding it out to me. "And since you’re moving in with us, I made you something myself."

It was a pink silk slip. Low-cut, sheer, and incredibly short. The kind of thing worn by a woman kept around for one purpose and one purpose only.

I actually laughed. Pink. That cut. For me.

I understood exactly why they’d come today. This wasn't a visit; it was a public humiliation. They wanted me to accept my new role as a nameless, rankless kept woman. I looked at Sophie, seeing the sickening satisfaction buried beneath her performance.

"I told you," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "We are finished. If you’re done talking, get out of my house."

They weren't listening. Sophie grabbed my arm, trying to haul me toward the stairs. "Sister, don't say things you don't mean! I'm not even sure this fits—why don't you just strip down and try it on now?"

I yanked my arm back. "Get your hands off me."

I barely used any force—nothing close to a wolf's true strength—but Sophie went down as if I’d struck her. She hit the floor and the hysterics started instantly.

"Sister, I’m so sorry!" she wailed. "I only wanted you to see the clothes! I didn't mean any harm!"

Luke shoved me hard. "Chloe, enough! Sophie spent two nights sewing that for you. A jealous, bitter bitch like you deserves to die alone."