His words didn't sting-my heart was gone, replaced by a void where once love had howled.
I remembered begging him on a broken leg, his promise to protect me fading as he sent me back to the asylum.
Now, I smiled, baring half-healed fangs.
"Thank you, Jason Davis," I purred, "for teaching me what real monsters look like."
At my icy demeanor, Jason Davis shows no relief-instead, his wolf eyes flicker with annoyance,. He clears his throat, but Annie Charles slides between us, her diamond ringdug into the electrocution scar on my arm.
"Sister, I'm thrilled you're back!" she purrs, her nails pricking my skin.
"No one makes a better bridesmaid. I've been so bored without you to... play with."
I bare my teeth in a smile, fangs glinting:
"Oh, little sister, I've longed for this reunion more than you know."
Memory howls: when Mother and Father built their empire from nothing, I ran wild as a street pup, covered in grease from their factory machines.
Just as Father's business thrived-when I thought we'd finally be a real pack-Annie's mother arrived, reeking of wolfsbane and ambition.
Together, they drove Mother to her grave, using hexes and silver-tongued lies.
The day Annie stepped into our manor, she smashed Mother's memorial plaque, claiming my room as her own.
She framed me for theft, banishing me to the storeroom-stifling, reeking of mold.
Every time I emerged, Annie would sneer, pinching her nose:
"Filthy mutt-you stink of stray dog."
She forbade me from the table, so I scavenged scraps from the garbage, enduring her kicks and claw swipes when she grew bored.
Once, starving, I ate cake she'd thrown out.
She sewed my mouth shut with silver thread.
When the nanny tried to help, Father ripped the stitches free, snarling:
"You shame me! If only you were half as obedient as Annie-maybe then I could love you."
He fired the staff, leaving me to clean the manor alone, my lips throbbing with poison. Even then, I dreamed of his approval-of a birthday cake, baked with love.
Now, watching Annie's manicured hand rest on Jason's arm, I recall how she smashed my fingers with a silver mallet when I touched her piano.
"Your hands were lovely," I murmur, tracing the scars on my knuckles.
"Pity they're so... ruined now."
Annie jerks back.
"You're mad! Just because I'm mating Jason-"
"Enough!"
Jason pulls her close, his scent clouded with protectiveness.
"Annie is innocent! You'll never accept that I chose her over a monster like you."
Father's palm connects with my cheek, rings biting my skin.
"You should have died in that asylum! You're no daughter of mine-just a rabid cur!"
I bow my head, hiding a grin as blood trickles from my lip.
They're right-I did die.
The gentle Yuki who craved their love perished in that electrocage.
In her place stands a demon, born of a wolf's fury and a pact with darkness.
My hollow chest hums with anticipation-soon, they'll taste the silver they so freely gave.
