Chapter 5

"Maeve? Are you saying you're..."

"Shoot her!"

Jace's roar cut off Alaric's question.

A second later, a sharp gunshot rang out. A silver-laced tranquilizer dart pierced my shoulder.

The sharp pain made me lose my grip and fall to the floor.

I realized then that the moment I walked in, Jace had ordered snipers to aim at me, ready to blow his own sister's head off at any second.

Catching my gaze, Jace carefully shielded Stella behind him, walked up to me, and slapped me hard across the face without a second thought.

My head snapped to the side, ears ringing.

"What did Stella ever do to you? You've hurt her so many times and she took it, but you're so petty you can't stand her. Now you want to kill her? And pretending to be Mom? Anna, you make me sick!"

Jace's eyes were full of disgust.

Stella peeked out from behind him, raising an eyebrow smugly.

She mouthed: I told you, bringing up your mom wouldn't work.

I ignored her taunt, spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and looked up at Jace.

"Kidnapping? Are you blind or just stupid?"

When I first heard about it, I knew something was wrong.

For the past ten years, the pack's core power had been stable, crushing any rogues or rivals. There was no way rogues could break into our territory and kidnap the Alpha's daughter.

"Stella staged the whole thing just to make you feel sorry for her!"

Jace's face didn't change. He just looked disappointed.

"Still making excuses."

"I know Stella better than anyone. She's sweet and kind. She would never do something like that!"

Alaric chimed in. "Exactly."

"Anna, stop shifting the blame. How did your mother and I end up with a daughter like you?"

Looking at Jace and Alaric defending Stella unconditionally, I found it utterly absurd.

I wiped away a tear from laughing and asked softly, "Why do this? Anna is your real sister."

I really didn't understand.

When they were little, Jace was so protective of her.

When Anna made a mistake, he would hide her behind him, puff out his chest, and say to punish him instead.

When she cried, he would hold her on his lap and clumsily hum soft lullabies.

That was why I felt safe leaving ten-year-old Anna behind to guard the Sanctuary.

I thought with her father, brother, and mate protecting her, she would be safe and happy.

But they'd rather believe a stray orphan than their own flesh and blood.

Jace pursed his lips, about to speak, but Alaric's voice rang out.

"Because Stella is my biological daughter, too."