Chapter 4

My voice cracked into an uncontrollable sob.

"My eighteenth birthday was my first time, too... Yet you three didn't even give me a single blessing. You wouldn't even spare a minute to listen to me."

For a fleeting second, Dylan's expression softened, but his hesitation was quickly swallowed up by sheer impatience.

"So what? Do you have to cause a scene today of all days?"

"Clover was supposed to complete her ceremony with joy. If you hadn't thrown your selfish fit, she wouldn't have ended up in tears like that."

"Why do you always have to be so petty over every little thing when everyone else is worried sick about Clover?"

Just then, Father's stern voice cut through the air as he walked over, accompanied by Mother and Clover.

"Amelia. You made us the laughingstock of the pack today, and now you're trying to play the victim using your birthday?" His voice turned colder by the second. "Do you have any idea that because of what you did today, Clover cried so hard she almost passed out, all while begging us to show you mercy?"

Mother immediately pulled Clover into her arms. "She did absolutely nothing wrong, yet she keeps standing up for you. How can you be so heartless?"

Clover, held at the center of everyone's protection, lowered her head, her rimmed eyes red, looking utterly fragile and innocent.

As long as Clover shed a single tear, everyone would automatically assume it was my fault.

I stayed silent, but my silence only convinced Father that I was unrepentant. "Well? Apologize to your little sister right now!"

Clover gently tugged at Father's sleeve, forcing a gentle smile toward me. "Dad, it's fine. She might just be... too sad."

She stepped up to me with a soft, affectionate smile. "Amelia, I haven't had the chance to eat a Wolfheart Cake yet, and I suddenly really crave one. Could you make one for me again? The raspberry flavor like before, okay?"

Mother caught her drift instantly. The fury on her face softened into a look of relieved approval. "Clover is always the sensible one. Amelia, look how your sister is giving you an out. Thank her already! Didn't you use to love making raspberry cakes? Go make one right now."

I frowned, staring at Clover without moving an inch. "Can't you just not eat raspberries?"

The triumphant smile on Clover's face froze for a fraction of a second.

I continued, "When you were little, you insisted on eating the raspberry cake I made, ended up having trouble breathing, and broke out in hives all over your body, nearly dying. Don't you remember?"

Her face drained of all color. Yet in the very next second, she hurriedly grabbed my hand, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Amelia. I really forgot. I suffered such a severe head injury from that fall off the cliff when I was little, so my memory has always been hazy about certain things."

"I just suddenly really wanted to eat something you made. If I can't eat it, then forget it... as long as you stop being angry with me..."