I was cursed.
I had only three days left to live.
Today, my wolf powers vanished completely.
Before I die, I've agreed to give my last shred of life force to my sister.
My mate, Thane, was ecstatic.
To shield my sister, Lina, I took the fall for plagiarizing the ritual formula she had stolen.
My family and my mate were pleased, telling me I had finally matured, finally become the perfect mate and daughter in their eyes.
So why did they weep, once my body was cold and stiff?
————————
1
When I learned I was going to die, I accepted it with a strange calm.
My mate, Thane Blackwood, approached me, his expression grim.
“Celeste,” he began, “Lina’s life force has always been weak. Her wolf is feeble, her healing ability almost non-existent.”
“Her life force is failing.”
“She needs a compatible transfusion to survive.”
He presented a contract to sever our mate bond, making his intention to cut our ties chillingly clear.
He hesitated for a long moment.
“Your life force is the most compatible with Lina’s,” he finally said, his jaw tight. “And if you refuse the transfusion… you’ll have to sign this instead.”
“Lina doesn’t have much time… she wants to experience a bonding ceremony before she passes.”
“I’ve talked to your parents, and they agree I should do this.”
“Celeste, I love you.”
“We’re just… we’re doing this so Lina doesn’t die with regrets.”
“Once she’s gone, we’ll get back together. Okay?”
I stared at the contract in Thane’s hands.
Ever since Lina’s life force began to fail, my entire family had been pressuring me to give her mine.
But what they didn’t know was that my own life force was weakening.
When they found out I had refused, they were utterly disappointed.
They relentlessly accused me of being ungrateful.
“Celeste, your sister is dying.”
“She just needs a little of your life force to survive.”
“How can you just let her die?”
My parents refused to listen to my explanations.
Instead, they kicked me out of the family estate.
“Someone as ungrateful as you doesn’t deserve to be a part of this family.”
“If you won’t save Lina, then get out!”
Now, even my own mate was backing me into a corner.
Give up my life force, or watch him complete a bonding ceremony with Lina.
I was dying anyway.
What difference did it make?
“I agree,” I said softly.
Thane looked shocked.
His head snapped up.
“You will? Truly?”
“That’s… that’s incredible! Lina has a chance!”
He burned the contract on the spot.
He urged me toward the healer’s tent.
Mom and Dad had received the news too.
They arrived in a flurry.
Mom was already there, crying as she clutched Lina.
“Oh, Lina, you have a chance!”
“You’ll be able to stay with me forever…”
Fearing I’d change my mind, Dad had the healer quickly draw up the ritual consent form.
The moment my signature was on the page, my parents visibly relaxed.
“Celeste, you’ve finally matured,” Dad said.
“You’re starting to care about your sister.”
“Don’t blame us for being biased.”
“Lina’s been through so much. She needs our love.”
“But we won’t treat you unfairly either.”
“You’ll still receive your share of the pack inheritance.”
I shook my head.
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
“Give it all to Lina.”
“I won’t need it.”
Mom’s eyes widened for a second.
She patted my arm, her tone instantly chiding. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Of course you’ll need it!”
“Even if your mate is the future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack and can give you a comfortable life, you can’t disregard your family heritage.”
My mind drifted.
It all started five years ago, when I apparently failed to be there as Dad’s life force was waning.
Lina had stepped in, allegedly giving a part of her own life force in my place.
Because she’d “saved” Dad, my parents insisted I owed her an unpayable debt.
That I had to be better to her.
From that day on, Lina got everything.
She began targeting me, framing me for things I never did.
This made Mom and Dad resent me even more.
Eventually, no matter what I did, it was always wrong.
I used to defend myself.
Now, I just stayed silent.
My attention snapped back to the present as Mom rushed to Lina’s side.
Dad and Thane followed close behind.
They all crowded around her.
It was a perfect picture of a loving family.
I stood alone in the corner, a stranger to my own family.
