Her words tore into me, sharp and precise. The twins snickered. Corinne leaned closer, eyes glittering with cruelty.
“Seriously, Mum, it’s depressing,” she said. “It’s like you cook just to make a point. Burnt edges everywhere, as if that’s your silent protest. But don’t worry—we get it.”
I shrank into myself, fading into the corners of the room, a presence barely acknowledged in the house I lived in. Their voices stripped me bare, leaving nothing but bone and ache. Still, I stayed silent, biting back the bitterness before it could escape.
Then Alpha Thorne’s voice cracked through the space, sharp as a lash.
“Where’s my wallet?” His stare snapped straight to me, heavy with accusation. “You took it, didn’t you? Always sneaking. Always hiding. You hide from respect. From duty. From everything. Pathetic. Envious. Worthless.”
I shook my head, but my denial didn’t matter. His hand struck my face with brutal force, the sound ringing out like something breaking. My vision blurred as pain exploded across my cheek, blood rushing from my nose. Inside me, my wolf screamed, thrashing against the cage I had locked her in for years.
I hit the tile floor hard, the cold biting into my skin as the metallic scent of blood filled my lungs.
Camille gasped theatrically. “Oh, Alpha,” she cooed, pulling the wallet from her bag, her eyes flicking to mine with a private smile. “Looks like I took it accidentally. Silly me.”
The setup was flawless.
The degradation, complete.
They grabbed their luggage, voices light and unbothered.
“I’ll bring you a souvenir magnet,” Julian said cheerfully.
“I’ll get you a keychain,” Corinne added.
“And we’ll bring you all our dirty clothes, Grandma!” the twins howled, their laughter slicing deeper than claws ever could.
The door slammed shut, leaving behind a silence so sharp it felt like it could draw blood.
I didn’t cry.
I didn’t scream.
I stood up calmly, walked to my room, and dropped to my knees. From beneath the bed, I pulled out the bag I had hidden years ago. My hands didn’t shake. I packed only what truly mattered. Everything else could decay alongside them.
At the airport, my phone vibrated.
Stay home while we’re gone. A week. Don’t screw anything up.
Another message followed immediately.
I shouldn’t have hit you. But you pushed me. If you weren’t so jealous all the time, things wouldn’t end like this. You bring it on yourself.