I began moving toward the door with my suitcase when Sonya suddenly spoke up, “Alpha, I overheard you wanted to celebrate Dustin’s birthday with the pack. You didn’t skip it to go on that mountain trip with me, right? Kristen’s upset...”
Craig’s voice softened, “Don’t worry. I know what matters. We can celebrate with them anytime, but once the snow melts, those peaks won’t be the same again.”
I scoffed, the coldness in my laugh cutting sharper than any blade, and kept pulling my suitcase toward the exit. Craig seemed to notice my resistance and hurried after me, grabbing my wrist with irritation. “It’s the middle of the night. Why are you rushing off now?”
He caught sight of my red, swollen eyes and hesitated. “Is that celebration really worth all these tears?”
His gaze, tinted with something almost like pity, fell on me. “Let me clear my schedule next month. I’ll spend time with Dustin then, alright?”
Next month? What next month did Dustin have left? If Craig truly cared, he wouldn’t be throwing empty promises around so casually. I yanked my hand free. “No, thank you.”
He stared at his open palm, stunned. He never imagined the person who clung to him so desperately would now pull away like a stranger. Trying to regain his footing, he stepped forward, but Sonya intercepted him, gripping his arm.
“Alpha, this is my fault. Even though I knew Dustin’s sickness wasn’t real, I shouldn’t have competed with a child for your attention. Now Kristen hates me for it.”
What?
“Faking... his illness?” My mind blanked, disbelief and rage crashing over me all at once. Before I could stop myself, my hand struck my sister’s cheek with a sharp slap.
The flicker of guilt that had briefly surfaced on the Alpha’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, fierce anger. He instinctively moved to shield Sonya behind him, narrowing his eyes as he fixed them sharply on me. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s your sister!”
I paid no mind to his outburst, directing my cold, unwavering stare straight at Sonya instead. “Mind your language. Whether or not we share blood, you have no right to disrespect my son.”
Sonya’s face fell, wounded and uncertain, as she looked up at Craig, her voice barely steady. “Alpha, please don’t let me come between you two. If Kristen won’t admit Dustin is pretending to be sick, then I’ll stop bringing it up.”