"She wasn't your real mother," Mia said softly. "She was just—"

"Don't."I growled, my eyes flashing. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Mia flinched, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. She turned to James. "See? She hates me. I try so hard to be a good sister, but she—"

"Enough." James's voice was sharp, his alpha power pressing down on me. He turned to me, his eyes hard. "You're coming to dinner tonight. And you're coming to the gathering next week. That's final."

"No, I'm not." I gritted out.

"Yes, you are." He stepped closer, his alpha dominance pressing harder against my wolf. "You're my mate. I am your alpha. You'll attend both events, you'll smile, and you'll support your sister. Do you understand?"

I stared at him. The alpha I had loved for eight years. The alpha who had murdered our pups.

"Fine," I said quietly. "I'll come."

Satisfaction flashed across his face. "Good. Dinner starts at seven."

He turned and guided Mia out of the room, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh.

The door closed behind them.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door with a glare on my face. My wolf paced angrily in my mind. She wanted revenge.

James had no idea of the storm that was coming for him.

Olivia's POV

At 7:00, I walked downstairs wearing a simple black dress.

James was in the living room with Mia. When he saw me, he frowned.

"You're wearing black?"

"I have no reason to celebrate," I said quietly.

His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

Mia, meanwhile, was wearing a flowing pink dress that made her look radiant and glowing.

"You look beautiful," James told her softly.

She beamed. "Thank you."

He didn't even glance at me.

The doorbell rang.

"That'll be your parents," James said, heading to the door.

I watched him greet my mother and father with warm hugs and handshakes.

My mother spotted me and frowned. "Olivia, why are you wearing black? This is a celebration."

"I cannot celebrate when Alice is still fighting for her life," I said simply.

"Oh." My mother's expression didn't change. "Well, that's unfortunate. But tonight is about Mia and her good news."

Of course it was. They didn't care about anything else.

We moved to the dining room.

I sat at the far end of the table. James sat at the head with Mia on his right and my parents on his left.

They chatted and laughed amongst themselves, completely ignoring me, almost like I was an outcast.