The scent of damp earth and pine needles was clinging to me as I slipped through the shadowed woods towards the Alpha’s compound. The air was filled with the energy of celebration. Laughter, deep and resonant, mixed with the rhythmic drumming that echoed through the trees.
Sophie, my twin sister, was standing at the center of the festivities, radiant in her hand-stitched elegant gown. The intricate beadwork shimmered in the moonlight, highlighting the graceful lines of her lean, powerful form. She looked every inch the future Luna of a Cascade pack, every inch the beloved child of Silver Moon Pack.
My parents were hovering near her, their faces etched with pride and a possessive affection that sent a pang of loneliness through me. Their hands were rested on her shoulders, their touch lingering, as though they still couldn't believe she was truly back with them. They had once looked at me that way, their eyes filled with warmth and unwavering love.
That was before. Before Sophie had returned.
Seven years ago, when she was found after vanishing during a rogue wolf attack, I’d dared to hope we could finally be a family again. But her first words upon her return had shattered that fragile hope.
“Sister, why did you throw me before the rogue wolves and ask them to take me as their slave?
Sophie’s accusation hung in the air, thick and heavy, poisoning the bond between me and my parents. Suddenly, I was no longer their daughter, their kin, but a villain, blamed for Sophie’s disappearance. The warmth I’d known was gone, replaced by a bitter frost that permeated every aspect of my life.
Even now, years later, their distrust lingered in their every glance, every word, every strained silence directed at me.
At the celebration, Sophie spotted Kaid and me entering the celebration. Her dress swirled around her as she moved, making her the undeniable focus of every eye.
Her smile was bright, almost too bright as she greeted us, “Sister, Kaid, you made it! I was worried you wouldn't come."
Then, as if remembering something, she placed a delicate hand to her throat, her expression shifting to one of exaggerated concern. “Oh, I’m sorry, sister. I forgot... you are still struggling with your wolf form after the Change. Did I just speak too loud? I should be more patient. It must be difficult for you to accommodate different tones of us, werewolves, especially with your… sensitivity.”
Her words were dripping with honeyed sweetness, but her eyes, sharp and intelligent, were gleaming with cruel amusement.
My mother, who had been watching from nearby, let out a low, guttural growl, her lips curling back to reveal her sharp canines as she said,“If it weren't for her, You wouldn't have been sold as a slave in the first place. How can she even blame you? If anyone's at fault, it's her. Now even losing her wolf, she is a disgrace to the pack.”
Her voice was laced with venom, tearing at me with the force of a physical blow. My father remained silent, but his gaze, hard and unforgiving, was mirroring her sentiment.
I lowered my eyes, my breath catching in my throat. It wasn't the first time they'd treated me this way. It wouldn't be the last. But the familiarity didn't lessen the pain—it only deepened it.
Before I could respond, Kaid stepped forward, his usually easy going demeanor hardening. He placed a protective hand on Sophie’s arm, his touch surprisingly firm and affectionate before he said in ancient language, not knowing that I had already mastered the ancient language just to surprise him on his birthday.
“Sophie, Sara isn’t like that. She will not mind, Don’t worry. Besides, she doesn't understand ancient language.”
“Oops…” Sophie grinned, her words filled with malice as she continued, “ I had almost forgotten how many times she brought shame to our family by her lack of knowledge. I hope my sister isn't holding you back, Kaid. I truly feel pity on you for having to get married to my sister.”
Kaid's silence on Sophie’s remark was another kind of heartbreak to me. So, even his discomfort while seeing me being mocked was a facade in the past or it was allowed to Sophie to treat me however she wanted?
He then presented Sophie with a small, intricately carved wooden box, his movements deliberate and reverent, as though offering a sacred artifact. “Sophie, this is for you.”
Sophie’s face lit up, her smile radiating pure joy as she accepted the gift. “Thank you, Kaid. You’re always so… thoughtful.”
As she opened the box, a glint of silver caught my eye. My heart clenched.
The claw pendant.
The Alpha’s ancestral claw pendant—a symbol of strength, leadership, and unwavering loyalty. The one that Kaid had told me was lost during the rogue attack, the same attack that took Sophie.
Now, the truth stared back at me, gleaming under the moonlight. The pendant wasn’t lost. It had never been meant for me. It was always hers.
