When They Kick Out the Wrong Pup

After I went missing, my so-called parents filled my spot with Danae. And when they found me?Left me behind. Again.Now, ten years later, they show up like they've got some claim on me.Newsflash: I've already got new parents.The second our eyes met, she froze—probably caught the frost in mine. Didn't last, though. That fake smile kicked in fast. She reached out like a pat on the head."Wow. Still got that temper after all this time in the sticks."I stepped back. Her hand hovered, then dropped."Nyra, Mommy knows you're upset we didn't come sooner. But Danae's sensitive. If you came back too early, she might've felt... unloved. I just didn't want her hurt. Can't you see Mommy meant well?"'Meant well?' Please.She twisted herself in knots for Danae. Not once for me.The wolf standing behind her gave me a look like I reeked of trash."You might be my sister by blood," he said, "but if you make Danae cry, I'm not letting it slide."The she-wolf claiming to be my mom didn't

"Don't act like we're close. I don't remember having a sister."Danae's eyes glazed over instantly. "I know I took everything from you. I shouldn't even be here. I'll leave—I swear, I'll disappear."She spun around, dramatic as hell, but Derek caught her and yanked her into his chest."Nyra," he growled, "I told you—bully Danae again, and don't even think about stepping back into our pack."Right on cue, Danae ramped up the sobs. "Derek, don't. I stole her life. I'll give it all back."She started unclasping her jewelry pieces. "Here. Take them. They're yours."Then she looked at Ember. "Mommy, I'm sorry—I can't be your daughter anymore."Ember went full pity-mode. She turned to me. "Seriously, Nyra? She's already broken. Why keep pushing? I told you—you're both my daughters. Can't you make room for her?"Danae held out the jewelry like it was a peace offering. "These are things you could never afford. I get why you're bitter. But maybe try seeing it from my side—I just wanted

While they were still frozen, I kicked the wolves off and sprinted straight into Mom's arms.Tears hit hard."Mom, they accused me of stealing—and tried to strip-search me. In public."Danae, busted and boiling, snapped, "Nyra Northcrest, you DID steal it! I was just taking back what's mine!"Mom locked eyes with Danae, who was already turning beet red. She stepped in slow. "My daughter only wears the finest. Why would she ever want your knock-off junk?"Ember, pale and shaking, finally found her voice—and aimed it at me."So that's why you won't call me Mom. You clung to power. But hear this—no matter what you say, I'm your real mother!"Right. Coming from the same wolf who tried to disown me ten minutes ago. Total joke.Mom didn't blink."So you're her birth mother. The one who dumped her in the borderlands like trash? A she-wolf like you lost the right to be called 'mother' a long time ago."No one ever talked to Ember like that. Her face went from pale to flaming red."H

The deal they'd bled for? Torched in seconds.Back at Northcrest, Conall lost it—rage snapping loose as he slammed Ember to the ground."I told you to stay the hell away from Nyra! Do you even get what you've done? We can't afford to piss off the Alpha King!"But Ember wasn't hearing a word. Curled in a corner, shaking, whispering on loop:"No... No... Nyra will come back. She's my daughter. I gave birth to her... I did."Conall's fists clenched. "You've lost it. To her, you're nothing. Just a stranger she regrets ever meeting."He barked at the servants. "Tie her up before she spirals again. I won't let her take this pack down with her."***After the party, we kept things chill—just a quiet birthday dinner for Mom.She took one bite of cake, then paused. "Nyra, who matters more—your birth mother or the one who raised you?"I froze, fork mid-air."You do," I said. No hesitation.She smiled, kept eating.Faolan tugged on my sleeve. "You're my sister. Nobody's changing that