Mavin’s birthdays had always been special to me. Every year, I planned them, making sure everything was perfect. But now, I wouldn’t even be allowed to see him.
Avery turned back, a smirk curling on her lips. “You should get used to this, Ofelia. You don’t have a place here anymore.”
When Mavin’s birthday arrived, I sat alone in my room, staring at my phone. They had left without me, and the silence of the mansion felt suffocating. A notification popped up.
Avery had posted pictures online.
Gavin, Avery, and Mavin stood together, dressed in matching outfits. The caption read: A happy pack. Finally complete.
Tears blurred my vision. The comments were full of praise, people celebrating their reunion, calling them the perfect pack. As if I had never existed. As if I hadn’t spent years raising Mavin, loving him like my own.
Was he happy? Was he forgetting me already? The thought twisted like a knife in my gut. I wiped my tears away, forcing myself to breathe.
A noise outside broke through the silence.
I sat up, heart pounding. I wasn’t expecting anyone. The packhouse was empty except for a few guards. The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors.
Then, a low growl.
Rogues.
I scrambled to my feet, my body trembling. The front door burst open, and figures poured in. Their eyes glowed red, their snarls cutting through the air. My blood ran cold.
They weren’t here by accident.
I turned and ran, my heart slamming against my ribs. My sickness made me weak, but fear gave me strength. I needed to get out. I needed to survive.
Heavy footsteps followed me as I dashed down the stairs. The rogues were bigger than me, stronger. If they caught me, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
A sharp pain shot through my chest as I reached the back door. My vision swayed, but I forced myself forward. Just a little more. Just a few more steps—
A shadow loomed behind me. I gasped as a strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back. A hand covered my mouth before I could scream. My body froze as a low, unfamiliar voice whispered against my ear.
“Don’t move.”
Then, in one swift motion, a small grenade was tossed onto the floor.
A thick, gray smoke exploded around us, filling the air with the stench of wolfsbane. My knees buckled, and darkness crept into my vision. The last thing I saw before everything went black was the outline of a man pulling me into the shadows.