The Unwanted Pup

The sky grew darker and darker.

Raindrops rolled down one by one, hitting so hard I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Rain poured into my hood, soaked through my body—everything was leaking, and the cold made me shiver all over.

Passing adults would stop and look at me with concern.

"Hey, little one, are you lost?" one woman asked gently.

"You should get inside, sweetheart. This rain is getting worse," another man urged.

I shook my head firmly. "I promised my brother I'd wait for him here."

Good pups get treats.

I waited until dawn broke, but my brother never came.

Finally, Butler Mr. Wilson found me.

He seemed to sigh.

"Little Miss, the Alpha has been looking for you."

"Where's Finn..."

"Young Master Finn went home last night. You need to come back now, or the Alpha won't be happy."

Compared to Finn, I was more afraid of making Dad mad.

I followed Uncle Wilson to the car.

Before I even entered the house, I heard playful voices.

"That idiot is probably still waiting for me at the mall entrance. How is someone so stupid our sister?"

My youngest brother Tyler was playing with a toy truck. "You know how she is—she believes whatever we tell her. So obedient. And she'll still cling to us shamelessly afterward."

My middle brother Finn was confused. "Why is she my sister? The girl next door, Lily, is so much cuter. I wish she were my sister instead."

Eldest brother Josiah's voice was low but filled with disgust. "If it weren't for her, Mom wouldn't have left the pack!"

I stood soaking wet at the doorway. When the wind blew, it got even colder.

Seeing me, my brothers' eyes looked away.

Dad came down the stairs, his first words accusatory. "What happened?"

I didn't dare say it was because of my brother.

"After I went out yesterday, I got lost."

Dad's face darkened.

"Didn't I tell you not to wander around and just to stay close to your brothers?"

I clutched the hem of my clothes and whispered, "But I didn't get the place wrong."

Finn deliberately said, "Yesterday, I told her to wait for me in that spot, but the driver didn't see Evelyn there, right?"

Dad believed my brother. His voice was furious. "You still won't admit it?"

He picked up the silver ruler. "Hold out your hand."

I remembered the last time I was disobedient.

Dad locked me in my room for a whole day.

He was always so busy.

Too busy to remember he'd locked me in the room.

I didn't eat until I was so hungry I got dizzy and fell asleep.

Only then did I get to eat warm soup and crackers.

I didn't want it to be like last time.

So I obediently held out my hand.

CRACK!

The ruler struck my palm with a sharp crack.

"Don't run around. Can you remember that next time?"

My hand trembled, the pain bringing tears that wet my palm.

"I'll remember."

"Louder!" Dad struck again, harder.

I flinched from the pain, sobbing, "I-I'll remember."

Dad had business to attend to at noon and left.

Mr. Wilson helped me change clothes.

After finished that, only one piece of bread was left on the dining table.

Finn made faces and mocked me.

"Little crybaby."

"Thought you could tattle on us? You think Dad would believe you?"

Frantically hungry, I wolfed down the bread.

At that time, Tyler brought me a glass of water for the first time ever .

I was desperately thirsty. Looking at gentle Tyler, without even thinking, I gulped down the entire glass in one go.

"How does it taste?" Tyler asked me.

I nodded and smiled, "It's good."

Of course anything my brother gave me would be good.

But soon enough.

Something was wrong.