第4章

I let the tears come and made my voice sweet and apologetic.

"You're right. I know I was wrong. It's just one spot—I shouldn't have fought Melissa over it. Please don't be angry, don't send me away. I'll do whatever you say and stay out of her way."

My father's expression softened.

"That's better. Family matters most."

My mother rubbed her forehead wearily.

"Once Melissa leaves, you can go to class. There's some breakfast Greta made in the kitchen—eat?before you go. And don't make?us?look as though we..."

Now!

The moment they turned, I ran with everything I had to the living room and blocked Aurora before she could leave.

"Don't go! They lied. I'm Winnia. She is Melissa!"

The exchange earlier had already made Aurora suspicious.

But when the pack's Alpha and Luna both confirmed that Melissa was Winnia, she let it go.

In her mind, no birth parents would ever want anything but the best for their child, let alone give an?Academy?spot to someone else.

Still, one mix-up after another over the girls' identities had left Aurora thoroughly displeased.

She turned to my parents, who had come after me.

"Alpha Thorold, Luna Seraphina, who is this? Which of them is Winnia?"

Melissa recovered first. She looked at me with fake hurt all over her face.

"Little sister, you fight me for anything I want. That's fine. I know you've been spoiled your whole life, and I'm generous enough to give way. But I made that formula, and I won't stand here and let you lie to the Academy. Their work saves wolves—there's?no room for error. So stop being so difficult."

Seraphina took the hint and pretended to cry.

"I'm sorry. I spoiled her."

She pointed at me.

"This is Melissa. She's been lazy and always looking for shortcuts since she was small. She refuses to learn anything. She insists on fighting for this spot to ruin Winnia's future. I'm sorry to have wasted your time."

Thorold nodded.

"That's Melissa—nothing?gets through to her. She's been a troublemaker—we?don't know what to do with her. But Winnia is different. She's hardworking and reliable. She won't disappoint you."

They played their parts perfectly, like worn-out parents dealing with a problem child.

Even Aurora could not help looking at me strangely.

I did not care. I grabbed her hand and spoke in a rush.

"They lied. I am Winnia. Believe me, I made that formula! I have proof. I can show you."

Aurora shoved my hand off, her eyes full of contempt.

"Enough. I have no time for your games. Your?own?parents say this about you. Would they slander their?own?daughter?

"Do you have any idea how much work goes into developing a serum formula? How dare you steal Winnia's work? That is well past mischief. It is genuinely vile! I will notify the entire Academy and make sure you are never admitted in any capacity."

My body wouldn't stop shaking.

I had dreamed of entering the?Academy?since I was ten.

I had worked toward it ever since.

And it was all ruined simply because I had found my birth parents.

I forced myself?to stay calm?and stepped forward again.

"I have proof. I can show you it was me."

Thorold cut me off harshly.

"Greta,?put?Melissa in her room now. Don't let her bother our guest again."

Greta's hands closed around me like iron clamps, her nails sinking deep into my shoulders.

Despair flooded over me.

My place had been stolen, I was about to be locked up, and I had not received a scrap of the family love I had hoped for.

What kind of birth parents had I chosen?

Just as Greta was dragging me toward the cellar, the front door burst open.

A squad of werewolf warriors charged in. The middle-aged man leading them lunged over and kicked Greta off her feet.

Red light burned in his eyes. When he saw the marks on my shoulder, his gaze turned ice-cold.

"Winnia, these two were too blind to see your worth, and they hurt you. So I'm taking the Tervo pack and giving it to you instead."