Chapter 1

My soul drifted out of my body five minutes before I died. I floated into the pack's healing center.My mom, Lucia Sweeney's, face was twisted with worry as she prayed. "Linda, don't scare me… Please open your eyes. You're breaking my heart…"Meanwhile, my dad, Marvin Harper, was seething. His fury burned through the tent. "If Connie had protected her, Linda wouldn't be lying here! I swear I'll tear her apart later!"I stood quietly nearby, a dull ache swelling in my chest.Was blaming me the only thing Dad ever knew how to do? There was barely any skin left on me. What more punishment could he possibly want?A few healers discussed quietly at Linda Harper's bedside.Once they confirmed she only had a few scrapes and no broken bones, one of the elder healers spoke up carefully. "Chief Healer Lucia, Connie is suffering from silver poisoning, and her condition seems critical. Should we…"Mom's gentle expression instantly twisted into disgust. "Is she putting on that pathetic act

Chapter 2

To my family, all they lost was just a burden. As for me, I lost my life and wolf in the face of their indifference.Just as expected, Mom's face instantly turned cold when my name was mentioned again."What was the point of sending a selfish werewolf like her to study healing back then? She probably came back from Centrill City with a twisted mind!"On the bed, Linda wore an obedient expression. She said softly, "Don't be angry, Mom. It's bad for your health. Connie always has her own thoughts. I'm sure she had her reasons."Mom gently stroked her head. "Linda, you're just too kind. That's why Connie keeps bullying you and stealing your opportunity."Linda always knew how to act thoughtful and sensible—that was how she won all their love. I knew it all too well. My wolf was already dead now. But even if I kneeled before them and rasped out how Linda had lured me into a silver mine and pushed me toward the rogues, they would only sneer and slap me across the face. They would j

Chapter 3

Linda was discharged a few days later. She had fully recovered under the family's attentive care. On the other hand, they didn't spare me a single glance, although I was right next door, poisoned by silver. Mom had packed Linda's bags early that morning. Dad parked the SUV right outside the tent so she wouldn't catch a chill on her way out. Even the usually composed Nathan crouched down to help her put on her shoes, unwilling to let her bend over.On the way home, Mom was still fuming. "Connie's heartless! She hasn't shown up once to visit Linda. She even blocked our mind-link! What kind of sister acts like that? Just wait till we get home—I'll skin her alive!"Dad shot her a cold glance. "I told you long ago that she's nothing but trouble. I'll make sure she learns her lesson."My chest tightened at the word "lesson". Memories came flooding back like a tidal wave.Mom had always favored Linda. Everything good went to her, while I was left with nothing. All of that was becaus

Chapter 4

Linda sank onto the couch the moment she stepped inside the house. When she complained that she was hungry, Nathan immediately rushed into the kitchen. He said he'd personally cook her a nutritious meal himself to help her recover.Nathan always took pride in his "warrior dignity" and never set foot in the kitchen. Yet now, he was holding his phone and scrolling through recipes. He was worried that Linda hadn't fully healed or had caught a chill somewhere.Dad took out a limited-edition dress embroidered with rubies. He said it was a "recovery gift" for Linda. Meanwhile, Mom had redecorated Linda's entire room with moonlight grass and fresh flowers, hoping the cozy scene would lift her spirits.As for Linda, she was simply lounging comfortably on the couch, holding up the dress against herself. Yet, even that tiny motion made everyone tense, afraid she might get hurt.My soul came back with her, too. This house was full of all my memories, but it felt cold and biting now.Suddenly

Chapter 5

Mom froze when she heard those words. Her pupils shrank in shock.She forced herself to recall the accident from that day. Her brows knitted tightly as she spoke with absolute certainty."That's impossible. Connie and Linda fell into the silver mine pit at the same time. Linda has already been discharged, so how badly could Connie be hurt? Don't think I can't see through her little act. She's just trying to get my attention, fighting with Linda for affection!"I'm warning you two—stop putting on this pitiful show. Don't help that heartless girl who abandoned her family!"Seeing that Mom didn't believe her, the trainee healer let out a long sigh. Her tone was tinged with fatigue and pleading. "Chief Healer Lucia, I swear I'm not lying… If you don't believe me, you can go to the morgue and see for yourself."Doubt finally flickered across Mom's face. She paced back and forth across the room, each step heavy and hurried.She cursed under her breath. "You people are insane. How dare

Chapter 6

A few days later, perhaps out of some belated sense of guilt, Mom finally arranged a simple yet respectable memorial for me.Some distant relatives and former acquaintances came, along with a few healers sent by the healing center where she worked.The trainee healer who once secretly treated my wounds was there, too. Holding a bouquet of common mountain-grown moonbell, she stood before my gravestone and whispered, "I'm sorry. If I had just been a little braver back then, maybe things wouldn't have ended like this."She was the only person who had ever truly tried to pull me out of the abyss. Even now, she was the only one at this funeral willing to admit her fault.Ironically, Mom stood at my grave and had the audacity to say, "Connie's always had a strange temper. She just couldn't let go of the past. She tried to hurt Linda and ended up getting herself killed."Yet, she was the very woman who had shoved me into that darkness.Everyone present knew how blatantly she favored L

Chapter 7

When the truth came out, Dad, Mom, and Nathan stared at Linda in utter shock. The air froze in a deathly silence.Mom finally reacted. She lunged at Linda, clutching her collar with both hands. "Linda! How could you be so cruel? You took your own sister's life!"Mom completely lost control. Fueled by rage, she raised her hand to strike Linda, but the guards quickly stepped in to stop her.This was the first time in all these years that I'd seen Mom try to hit her.Linda had already seen how things would unfold. She sneered and turned to face Mom directly, her gaze icy."Cruel? Weren't you the one who taught me that? Am I the murderer here? You were the one who called in all the healers that day and deliberately stalled Connie's treatment. If it hadn't been for you, I never could have ended her life so easily."Her words were like a knife, plunging straight into Mom's heart.Mom froze, as if the weight of all those tangled memories had wrapped around her soul. The guilt tore into

All Chapters of A Family in Pieces: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7