Chapter 3

I didn’t throw away the charm, though.

It was practically new. A secondhand jewelry shop might give me something for it. Anything would help pay for the trip.

My advisor called just as I left the store.

“Emma, the school’s awards ceremony is this afternoon. Your research project won the top prize!”

“You’ll be recognized at the ceremony, and there’s a five-thousand-dollar award. How many seats should I save for your family?”

My grip tightened around the phone. It took me a while to answer.

“Thank you. But it’ll just be me.”

The line went quiet. Then she sighed.

“You’re such a wonderful girl. I’d be so proud to have a daughter like you. How can they take you for granted like this?”

She knew what things were like at home.

She supervised my potions work. She was also the only person at school who cared which werewolf academy I wanted to attend.

In four years of high school, my parents hadn’t attended a single parent-teacher conference.

“When they take the photos,” I asked, “would you sit next to me?”

“Of course,” she said at once. Her voice caught. “Of course I will.”

I spent the thirty dollars I’d made from the charm on a bouquet.

My family wouldn’t be there, but my advisor would.

My parents wouldn’t bring me flowers. So I bought my own.

When I opened the front door that evening, my whole family was sitting together. For once, they seemed to be waiting for me.

Dad’s face was dark with anger.

“Emma Bennett. Where have you been today?”

“Nowhere special.”

Mom looked furious. “Don’t lie to us!”

Ryan blocked my way. “One more chance. Tell us yourself.”

I sighed.

“I went to the school’s awards ceremony this afternoon. I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t want to come.”

“She’s lying!” Bella scoffed.

Mom rushed over and slapped me hard across the face.

“An awards ceremony? Then why wasn’t Bella invited?”

For a second, Bella looked nervous.

I looked at Mom through my tears.

“All my life, you’ve told me Bella has more needs than I do. You’ve told me to put her first. And I have. But I don’t choose who gets an award.”

Something flickered in Mom’s eyes. She looked away, impatient.

“Enough. I don’t want to hear your excuses. Bella’s friends saw what you did, and you’re still lying! How did I end up with a daughter like you?”

Bella took out her brand-new phone.

“My friend saw you at a secondhand jewelry shop. And my tiara just happened to go missing today.”

“What’s in your bag, Emma? Didn’t have time to hide the money?”

She reached for my bag. I held on as tightly as I could.

I’d worked for four years to earn what was inside.

Bella cried out as we struggled. Ryan grabbed me at once.

“You stole Bella’s tiara, and you’re still denying it?” Then he turned to her. “It’s okay, Bella. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

His grip was so strong it hurt. He twisted my arm until tears ran down my face, but he didn’t even flinch.

All he cared about was holding me still so Bella could search my bag.

Ryan, had you forgotten I was your sister, too?

You’d promised to protect me once.

Bella yanked my bag open and pulled out the five thousand dollars in cash.

“Still going to deny it?”

I tried desperately to explain. It was my prize money. The school had given me a check, and I’d cashed it at the bank myself.

No one listened. No one believed me.

Ryan looked at me with nothing but cold anger. He dragged me toward my room, then glanced at our parents.

Dad gave a grim nod.

Ryan took my phone and shoved me inside.

From the other side, Dad activated the magical seals on the door and window. The pack used them to confine members who broke its rules. Once they were in place, I couldn’t open either exit.

“Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” Mom shouted through the door.

For three full days, I had nothing to eat or drink.

No one even checked on me.

On the fourth day, Adrian came to the house.

I begged him through the door to let me out.

His voice was cold. “How dare you steal something I bought for Bella?”

I heard her crying.

“Adrian, this is all my fault. I should have taken better care of your gift.”

He spoke gently to her.

“I’ve been too kind to her. She’s forgotten her place. Now she thinks she can take what’s yours.”

Whatever hope I had left faded with every word.

At last, I understood. I could only count on myself.

That night, once everyone was asleep, I pushed myself up from the bed and pressed a hand against the seal on the window frame.

We’d learned about this in potions class. Blood from a close relative could weaken the caster’s seal. But breaking it this way could leave my wolf too weak to shift for weeks.

I had no choice. No one was going to let me out.

I bit my fingertip and traced Dad’s runes with my blood, over and over. Then I poured the last of my strength into them.

Cold sweat soaked my back. At last, the glowing marks went dark.

I opened the window and jumped.

I would leave this house behind and start a new life.