Chapter 3

I headed to my room, patched up my arm, and started packing.

Screw waiting three more days.

That slap? It shook me clean. No one in this house wanted me here.

Better to leave on my own than wait for the day they threw me out like garbage.

As I packed, it hit me—barely anything here was mine.

Since Callie moved in, Dad and Ryell stopped giving me gifts. Even my allowance dried up.

I'd been juggling school and part-time shifts just to survive. Barely home these days.

Maybe that was a blessing—less to carry.

My eyes landed on an old photo. And yeah, it punched me in the gut.

Years ago, Mom broke the mate bond with Dad. Then she left for Stormcrest Pack's Alpha. When the news dropped, Dad cried all night.

He held Ryell and me close, voice shaking as he said he'd failed as a mate. That's why Mom left.

But as a father? He swore he'd do better. Swore he'd protect us no matter what.

Ryell—tiny, fierce—clenched his fists and promised to be my knight. Said he'd keep his little sister smiling. Said he'd never let me cry like Mom did. Never let me leave.

And for a while... they meant it.

Whenever I got sick, Dad rushed home to take care of me.

Back in middle school, a pack of rogues locked me in a shed.

Ryell found me. Fought all five of them alone. Bloodied, shaking—he made every last one apologize to me.

After that? No one dared touch me.

Everyone knew I had a brother who'd tear the world apart for me.

Jovan was just as good. Brought me his mom's homemade cakes.

Once, I mentioned craving ice cream. Middle of the night, and he drove across the city just to bring it to me.

When I asked why, he looked right into me.

"Maria, I love your smile. I just want you to be happy."

Those words wrecked me. I believed him—every damn word.

So when Dad asked on my eighteenth birthday if I'd consider being Jovan's mate, I didn't even blink.

I saw our future—Jovan at my side, Dad and Ryell always guarding me like the pack they swore to be.

Then the next day, Callie showed up.

And everything snapped sideways.

She had a talent—always knew how to steal the spotlight the second I was alone with Ryell or Jovan.

Again and again, she hurt herself and blamed me. Like it was a game.

She'd lose her doll, then fake the innocent tears. "Maria, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take your things. Can I have my doll back?"

Then she'd bruise her arms, scratch up her face, and run crying into Jovan's chest.

"Jovan, I swear I'll listen to Maria. Please don't let her be mad. I'll be good. Just don't let her friends hurt me again..."

Every time, she made herself the victim—and me the monster.

I tried to hold it together. But when I finally broke—

Dad and Ryell chose her.

Dad's voice was like ice. "I can't believe my daughter is this cruel. I'm disappointed in you."

Ryell slapped me. Pulled her in tight. "Did you forget what it's like to be bullied? I regret ever saving you. Stay away from Callie. Don't you dare hurt her again. Get out!"

Jovan? He cleaned her wounds with gentle hands, whispering to her like I never existed.

Then he bought her my favorite ice cream—just to make her smile.

"Maria," he said, "I want a mate who's kind. Your cruelty scares me. Maybe I shouldn't claim you in a rush."

They locked me out.

Ignored everything I said.

From that day on, this house stopped being mine.