They Tricked Me Into Giving Away All My Love

After my mother posted that message in the family group chat, she waited a long time. No reply ever came.

Ella leaned on her mother Selena's shoulder and bit her lip.

"Mom, is my sister still mad at me?"

Selena patted her hand gently, her voice soft. "This has nothing to do with you, sweetheart."

"Ivy's been like this since she was little. The minute she's unhappy, she ignores everybody until the whole family comes running to coax her."

Ethan, her brother, couldn't help scoffing.

"She's eighteen. And she's still pulling the silent treatment?"

"Last week she got cornered by two rogues at the border. She didn't even mind-link me. She called the patrol instead."

"Mom, whatever you do, don't reach out first. Or she'll think she's got us wrapped around her finger again."

On the other side of the living room, Victor, their father, sat on the sofa. In front of him was the notice the Sharing Hall had just sent.

[All listed feelings have been shared in full.]

He glanced at it, and his tight brows finally relaxed.

"Well. At least she didn't let me down."

Making Ivy share her feelings had just been an idea he came up with on the spot.

Emotion Sharing had gotten very popular in werewolf society the last few years.

An Empath could draw a feeling out of one wolf and let another wolf feel it as their own.

Grieving mates borrowed comfort. Young wolves facing their first shift borrowed courage from their elders.

To Victor, it was no different from lending someone a warm coat. Feelings grew back.

Besides, they never meant for Ivy to actually pay off any debt.

The debt was just a story. The Empath who drew up the list was an old friend of Victor's.

All they wanted was for Ivy to share a few small feelings, to prove she was willing to make a sacrifice for the sister who had been lost for so long.

Who could have guessed she would actually go through the whole list?

Ethan picked up the notice, flipped through it, and raised an eyebrow.

"Wow. She actually went for it. All of it? She must've thrown in every happy afternoon she ever had."

Selena didn't care at all.

"Oh, a few nice moments from when she was little. A few times somebody made a fuss over her."

"That girl was always loved. She's got plenty to spare."

Ella lowered her eyes. She looked a little guilty.

"But... won't she be really upset?"

Victor reached over and stroked her hair. He didn't even try to hide whose side he was on.

"Over sharing a few feelings? How upset could she be? It's not like it hurts her."

"She can't fall apart over something this small."

The moment he said it, his device rang.

The Sharing Hall was calling.

Victor answered. The person on the other end sounded very formal.

"Mr. Victor, Ms. Ivy's final share has been completed."

"This last share runs much deeper than the others, so we're required to confirm with you again. Should all of it go to the recipient you designated?"

Victor glanced at Ella beside him and didn't even think about it.

"Yes. All of it. To my younger daughter."

The person on the line paused.

"Sir, wouldn't you like to review the list of what she shared first?"

Victor frowned, annoyed.

"What's there to review? She decides what to share. You want me to babysit her now?"

"Just finish it. We have a welcome banquet tonight. Don't hold us up."

Not long after he hung up, Ella suddenly pressed a hand to her chest.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Dad... I don't know why. I just feel so safe with you. Like I've known you and Mom my whole life."

"That's how it was always supposed to be."

Victor said it like it was obvious. "You suffered out there for eighteen years. She owes you."

Selena smiled and agreed. "If your sister's willing to share that with you, it means she's finally growing up."

"When she comes home tonight, don't hold anything against her, okay?"

Ella's eyes went a little red. She nodded sweetly.

"As long as she comes home, I don't want anything. I can have the Empath share it all back with her."

Ethan frowned and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Share it back? Are you kidding? You suffered out there for eighteen years, and she got to live the life that should've been yours."

"So she gives a little back. So what? She owes you that much."

Just then, Arthur walked in.

He was carrying an elegant gift box. He set it down on the coffee table without much care.

"Ivy's dress."

Selena opened the box and looked inside. Her smile went a little stiff.

It was a dress from last season.

It was obviously a return. There was even a crease along the waist that hadn't quite been pressed out.

Arthur ran a hand over the skirt, his face blank.

"She always had to have the most expensive tailor. She even picked the gold thread on her dresses."

"You let her get away with everything. That's why she turned out so vain."

"Putting her in last season's dress will knock her down a peg."

Selena nodded over and over.

"You're right. You always think of everything."

Arthur took out his phone and sent me a voice message.

"Seven tonight. Ella's welcome-home banquet. You'd better be on time. And you're apologizing to her in front of the whole pack."

"If you mean it, our engagement still stands."

After he sent it, he looked at the chat, which stayed silent, and frowned a little.

"The last time I saw her, she looked at me like I was a stranger."

"She's gotten pretty good at acting."

Selena smiled, completely sure of herself.

"That's just her being stubborn. Right now she's probably off somewhere crying her eyes out."

"Let her cry it out. Once she's done, she'll come home on her own."

Victor picked up his teacup. There was no room for argument in his voice.

"She can come home."

"But before she walks through that door, she apologizes to Ella."