The restaurant was more luxurious than I expected.
From the moment we walked in, I felt out of place. The scent of wine and roasted meat filled the air, but instead of stirring hunger, it knotted my stomach tighter.
“Miss Lyanna,” the hostess greeted with an eager smile, bowing slightly as though she had been expecting her. “What an honor. Your table is ready.”
“Thank you,” Lyanna replied, her voice lilting like music.
Marcus and Adrian both straightened at her side, their faces proud, as if they were the ones being honored. I walked behind them, nothing more than a shadow trailing after the people who should have been my family.
Jeremy clung to Lyanna’s hand, tugging her along with boyish excitement. His laughter rang out, drawing affectionate glances from strangers at nearby tables.
When we reached the table, the staff pulled out chairs with practiced grace. One for Marcus, one for Adrian, one for Lyanna. They seated her between the two of them, as though she were the centerpiece of our group. Jeremy scrambled into the chair beside her before I could even move closer.
That left me at the far end of the table, across from no one, half-hidden in the shadows of the candles. The chair scraped against the floor as I pulled it out myself, the sound sharp and lonely.
The waiter arrived, tall and professional, notepad in hand. His gaze settled immediately on Lyanna.
“Shall I bring the wine list?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” she said warmly. “Something smooth and rich, don’t you think, Adrian?”
Adrian chuckled, leaning closer to her. “I’ll trust your judgment, Lyanna. You’ve always had exquisite taste.”
Marcus nodded at once, as though Lyanna had spoken some profound wisdom. I stayed quiet, though a voice inside me longed to say something.
Maybe I wanted a lighter drink. But before I could speak, Adrian waved his hand dismissively.
“Lyanna will order for everyone. She knows what’s best.”
The words sank into me like a stone sinking into cold water.
When the waiter asked about food, I tried again. “Could we add a simple chicken dish—”
“That won’t suit the evening,” Marcus cut in sharply. “Don’t ruin the celebration with something so plain.”
Lyanna leaned forward with a soft laugh. “I was thinking of the lobster. It’s always been my favorite here.”
My chest tightened.
“I can’t eat shellfish,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “It makes me sick.”
But Adrian gave me a hard look, his lips pressed thin. “Don’t start this again, Clara. Stop making everything about yourself.”
Marcus sighed, visibly annoyed. “You’ll be fine if you don’t overreact. You’ve always exaggerated these little things.”
Lyanna tilted her head, her expression the picture of innocence. “Oh dear, I didn’t realize. Are you sure it’s that serious?”
“Yes, it is—”
Adrian cut me off, sharp. “You’ll eat something else, then. The rest of us will have the lobster.”
The waiter glanced at me briefly, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but when no one else spoke up for me, he nodded and wrote the order.
I sat back in my chair, my stomach twisting.
They had just ordered the very thing that could harm me, dismissing my words as if I were nothing more than a petty inconvenience. The humiliation burned deeper than hunger ever could.
When the first round of wine arrived, the table bloomed with conversation. Lyanna spoke about her promotion, about the responsibilities she had taken on with such grace and dedication.
“It wasn’t easy,” she admitted modestly, lowering her lashes. “But I tried my best, and it seems it has been rewarded.”
Marcus’s face softened into admiration. “You’re an inspiration, Lyanna. Truly. The pack is lucky to have you.”
Jeremy piped up eagerly. “Aunt Lyanna, you’re amazing!”
The three of them laughed, warmth glowing in their eyes, pride flowing freely. I sat in silence at the edge of the table, clutching my glass with both hands to hide the trembling in my fingers.
Every word of praise heaped on her carved another wound in me, another reminder of how little I mattered.
When the waiter returned with the main dishes, the scent of lobster filled the air, buttery and rich. Plates gleamed with shells and lemon wedges, steaming and perfect.
Only my dish was different.
It was a plain salad, hastily arranged, set in front of me like an afterthought. There was not even a hint of chicken on it.
Jeremy scrunched his nose. “Why aren’t you eating the same as us, Mama? Didn’t you want lobster?”
Before I could answer, Marcus scoffed. “She’s just being difficult again. Don’t pay it any mind.”
Lyanna reached over, placing a gentle hand on Jeremy’s. “Your mother just has different tastes, darling. Don’t worry.”
Her words weren’t kindness.
They were pity wrapped in sweetness, designed to make her shine brighter while highlighting my failures. My cheeks burned as Jeremy nodded, still clinging to her hand more than mine.
The laughter, the clinking of glasses, the endless praise for Lyanna filled the night.
When dessert arrived, it came with sparklers and clapping from the staff. A small cake, topped with cream, was placed proudly in front of Lyanna.
“Congratulations on your promotion!” the waiter announced cheerfully.
The table erupted again with joy. Lyanna leaned close to Jeremy, pulling him toward her with a radiant smile.
“Help me blow out the candle, Jeremy,” she whispered.
He did. His small breath joined hers, the flame snuffed out in perfect unison, a picture of mother and son.
I could not move.
My fork lay useless in my hand as I watched, my heart shattering with every cheer, every laugh, every congratulation that did not belong to me. No one remembered that tonight was supposed to be my mating anniversary.
The feast I had prepared sat at home, waiting for a family who never intended to come.
When the applause quieted, Adrian raised his glass toward Lyanna.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of sincerity I hadn’t heard from him in years. “For bringing us all together tonight.”
The wine burned as I swallowed it down, bitter and sharp, but it was nothing compared to the bitterness lodged in my chest.
That’s when I felt a sudden fire in my throat as I started to choke.
