Chapter 2

The ones who caused my death were the enemies who had invaded the day before.

However, from my perspective, the ones who really killed me were my parents and Amelia.

The elders used to say that people's hearts would always change. I had brushed it off back then and buried myself in Mom's arms. "Then will you love me forever, Mom?"

Mom ruffled my hair and kissed my forehead. "Of course. You're my only daughter. I'll love you for the rest of my life."

However, later on, "daughter" no longer meant only me, and her love slowly shifted to someone else.

How foolish I had been to cling to a sliver of hope, believing that if I behaved a little better and protected Amelia a little more the way they did, the love I had lost would come back to me.

Lying on the floor of the cold cellar, I used every ounce of strength I had to send out mind-links, imagining they would come and look at me, even just once.

They did come, but they stopped outside the door.

Mom sounded a little worried. "Today is Elowen's coming-of-age ceremony too, after all. Why don't we let her out? I think I felt her mind-link just now."

My clouded mind began to clear. My fingers twitched with effort, and a low whimper escaped my throat.

Werewolves had a keen sense of smell. If they had paid any attention to the air around them, they would have caught the scent of blood.

Perhaps Amelia's perfume was too strong, or perhaps they simply did not care about me. Either way, no one realized I was dying.

When I still did not respond, Dad scoffed. "She's sulking again. She won't even answer you. It's the same as always. She's probably playing weak to get sympathy."

With that, they gathered around Amelia in her princess gown and turned to leave without a second thought.

At least, there was a time when they still came when I called.

…

A year earlier, I had gone to inspect the moonstone in the sanctuary as usual.

The sanctuary was as quiet as ever. No one was allowed inside except me and my parents.

This time, however, I caught a scent that did not belong to the Snowveil pack.

When I looked closer, I found a crack running across the moonstone. It was barely visible in the sunlight and could only be seen from a certain angle.

The moonstone was not only the symbol of the pack's heir. It also held the pack's mystical power and, if it was ever damaged, the entire pack could face a serious crisis.

The next second, a venom-tipped arrow shot toward my chest without warning.

I dodged as fast as I could, yet the arrow still grazed my skin. The snake venom was strong and, within moments, a wave of dizziness hit me.

Who would want to hurt the Snowveil pack?

Knowing I could not handle this alone, I quickly mind-linked my parents, hoping they would hurry over.

I bit down hard on my tongue and, clinging to the last of my consciousness, held the moonstone tightly against my chest.

By the time my parents rushed over with Amelia, the sanctuary had gone quiet again and the arrow had vanished.

"Elowen, did you call us all the way out here just to watch you nap?" Amelia pouted.

I bolted upright, only to find the moonstone sitting in its place, perfectly intact.

How was that possible?

"I swear I just—"

Dad rubbed his brow and cut me off impatiently. "I really spoiled you rotten. The mind-link is important, yet you're wasting it on something like this?"

The moment he finished speaking, something vanished from my mind.

It was the mind-link. Dad had cut me off from it.

That meant even in the most dangerous moments, I would have no way of reaching them.

They had abandoned me completely.

They turned and left.

As they walked away, Amelia looked back and gave me a victor's smile.