The next morning, as the first light crept through the window, I woke up and realized it was my birthday.

In years past, Theodore would've been up at dawn, buzzing with excitement, planning something special. He'd insist on cooking me a bowl of longevity noodles himself, even if they turned out a gluey mess, and he'd hover until I ate every last bite. He'd surprise me with gifts-sometimes crates of gold and silver jewelry, sometimes quirky trinkets I'd never seen before, or even a whole sky lit up with lanterns that must've cost a fortune.

Growing up, no one but Theodore ever remembered my birthday. Those years with him were the warmest days of my life.

Now, I'm back to being invisible, forgotten.

My eyes stung as I got up and shuffled to the kitchen. I rolled up my sleeves and cooked myself a bowl of longevity noodles, just like he used to. As steam rose from the pot, I could almost see him, back when he was still my sweet pup, circling me on my birthday, calling me "Sis" and begging me to make a wish to "never leave him."

I took a bite, but a tear fell into the bowl, blurring the broth.

A commotion outside snapped me out of it. A group of delivery wolves hauled in stacks of ornate gift boxes, and the head merchant grinned at me. "Lillian, these are birthday gifts from Theodore, picked out special for you."

I froze, staring at the boxes, hardly believing my ears. "These. are for me?"

"You bet!" he said, gesturing to the pile. "Finest silks from the southern packs, a pearl from the deep seas, a gold phoenix hairpin-every one chosen by Theodore himself. Said they're for his heart's mate. And all these years, he's been coming to us to pick out gifts for you, so that's gotta be you, right?"

My fingers trembled. Theodore had showered me with gifts like these before, back when I was his heart's mate. But now? This merchant must've gotten it wrong.

I opened my mouth to explain, but he was already gone, leaving the boxes behind.

Before I could process it, the courtyard gate slammed open with a bang. Sophia stormed in, flanked by a pack of maids and servants, her eyes landing on the gifts. Her face twisted into a scowl.

"Lillian, you've got some nerve!" she shrieked. "Stealing my stuff?"

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

She jabbed a finger at the gifts, sneering. "These are my birthday gifts from Theodore, and you've got the gall to snatch them? Know your place!"

I started to say it was a mix-up, that the merchant delivered them to me by mistake, but Sophia didn't give me a chance. With a snap of her fingers, her maids rushed forward, one of them pinning my shoulders.

Crack!

A slap landed hard across my face, the sting spreading like wildfire.

"You filthy she-wolf!" Sophia spat. "A hunter's daughter, thinking you can take what's mine?"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

More slaps, one after another, left my cheeks swollen and my vision swimming. Blood trickled from my lip, and the pain made my head spin.

"You think you can compete with me?" Sophia grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Theodore's heart is mine. You're just a lowlife who took advantage of him!"

I was dizzy, my face throbbing, blood dripping down my chin. But something in me snapped. I tore free from the maid's grip and swung back, my hand connecting with Sophia's face in a loud smack.

She screamed, stumbling back, a red handprint blooming on her cheek.

"Lillian! You dare hit me?!" she screeched, clutching her face, eyes wide with shock.

Sophia was shaking with rage, about to lose it, when footsteps echoed from the courtyard.

"What's going on?" Theodore strode in, his eyes flicking between us before landing on Sophia's swollen cheek. His brow furrowed instantly.

"Theodore!" Sophia threw herself into his arms, sobbing like a storm. "She stole the birthday gifts you sent me! I came to talk it out, but she wouldn't give them back-and then she hit me!"

Theodore's face darkened as he turned to me. "Lillian, you've got some nerve."

I clenched my fists, my voice hoarse. "She's the one who-"

"Theodore, look at my face!" Sophia cut me off, tilting her head to show off her red cheek. "I came here in good faith to get my gifts back, and she lashed out like this. Her face? She did that to herself, tripping or whatever. It's got nothing to do with me!"

Theodore's eyes went cold. Without even letting me speak, he snapped, "Lillian, you've gone too far."

"Take her to the shrine hall. She's to kneel and reflect."

My whole body stiffened. I stared at him, disbelief choking me. "You're not even gonna ask me? You just believe her?"

Theodore's expression didn't waver. "Sophia doesn't lie."

Sophia's eyes gleamed with smug triumph, but she put on a pitiful act. "Theodore, she hit me, and you're just gonna let her off with kneeling? Are you. still soft on her?"

"Soft on her?" Theodore's brow creased. "She's nothing to me but a stranger."

His words sliced into my heart like a jagged blade.

I flashed back to a time when I'd gone out to buy him some pastries and got held up for an hour. When I got back, he was curled up in a corner, eyes red, clutching my clothes in a trashed room. The second he saw me, he broke down, wrapping his arms around me and sobbing, "Sis, I thought you left me."

I'd held him close, my heart breaking, and promised, "I'll never leave you. Never."

But now.

He called me a stranger.

A bitter laugh escaped me, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Sophia's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Since you've got no feelings for her, Theodore, I want her to pay for laying a hand on me."

Theodore's gaze flickered, but he didn't stop her.

My eyes widened. Before I could react, two burly maids grabbed my right arm and twisted it hard.

Crack!

Pain exploded through me, so intense my vision went black. Cold sweat poured down my face as I gasped.

I looked at Theodore, trembling, but his face was stone-cold, like none of this mattered to him.

"Take her to the shrine hall," he said flatly. "She doesn't leave until I say so."

They dragged me to the shrine hall, my right arm throbbing, numb from the pain. I knelt on the icy floor, staring at the ancestral tablets, a hollow laugh bubbling up as my heart ached.

The Theodore who'd cook me longevity noodles, who'd cling to me and whine like a pup-he was gone for good.

The shrine hall was pitch black. My knees went numb, my vision swimming as the pain in my arm screamed. I bit my lip, refusing to make a sound, even as the agony nearly knocked me out.

I don't know how long I lasted before my body gave up. Everything went dark, and I collapsed onto the cold floor.

When I woke, I was sprawled on the cot in the side yard. My right hand was bandaged, but even the slightest twitch sent pain shooting through me like a hot poker. Gritting my teeth, I propped myself up, dug through my bag for the salve I always kept, and started re-dressing the wound. The powder stung like hell, sweat beading on my forehead, but I clamped my lips shut to keep from crying out.

Back when I got so much as a scratch, Theodore would lose it, fussing over me, blowing on the tiniest cut and whining, "Sis, it's gotta stop hurting." Now? My hand's broken, and he doesn't even glance my way.

I let out a bitter laugh, gripping the salve jar so tight my knuckles whitened.

Two days later, I was out in the yard drying herbs when the gate creaked open. Theodore stood there, dressed in dark riding gear, straight as a pine.

"Pack up," he said, his voice flat like he was talking to a servant. "You're coming with me to the hunting grounds."

I blinked. "Hunting grounds?"

"It's the autumn hunt," he said, giving me a quick, cold look. "You're a hunter's daughter. Sophia wants you to guide."

Pain jabbed my chest, and I instinctively clutched my skirt. "My hand-"

"Your legs aren't broken," he cut me off, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Don't ruin her day."

He turned and walked off, like looking at me a second longer was too much effort.

I stood there, nails digging into my palms. He knew my hand was broken, but he was dragging me to the hunting grounds anyway.

Deep in the forest, ancient trees loomed overhead. I led the way, using my left hand to push through thorny brush. Sharp branches scraped my arms, leaving bloody streaks.

Behind me, Sophia's voice dripped with sugar. "Theodore, this trail's so rough."

"Hold onto me," he replied, soft as anything. "Watch your step."

I didn't look back, but I could picture him guiding her, careful and protective-the way he used to hold my hand when he was still my pup, stumbling through rocky paths.

"Hey!" Sophia's voice cut through, sharp. "Aren't you a hunter's daughter? Can't you find a decent path?"

I pressed my lips together and kept moving.

Then, a flash of motion-a deer darted through the trees.

"Theodore, look at that deer! It's gorgeous!" Sophia squealed. "I want it!"

He chuckled, indulgent. "Hang on, I'll catch it for you."

He spurred his horse and vanished into the woods.

The second he was gone, Sophia's smile dropped like a mask. She sauntered over, and before I could react, she shoved me hard.

I yelped, tumbling down the slope. Jagged rocks and branches tore at my clothes, slicing my skin. Pain seared through me, my vision blurring as I screamed, "Help!"

Theodore's horse thundered back at the sound, but before he could reach me, Sophia let out a delicate cry. "Theodore! I twisted my ankle."

Without hesitation, he wheeled his horse toward her.

I watched, heart in my throat, as he scooped her up and rode off. The pain in my chest hurt worse than the fall.

Biting back the pain, I dragged myself up, my ankle twisted, and clawed my way back to the trail.

Sophia's eyes widened in mock surprise when she saw me. "Back empty-handed? What kind of hunter's daughter can't even catch a rabbit?"

I was pale, shaking. "I'm just the guide."

"So guides can't hunt?" she scoffed, turning to Theodore. "She's slacking. Shouldn't she be punished?"

Theodore glanced at me, his face blank. "Yeah."

Sophia's grin turned vicious. "Lock her in the beast cage. Let her play with the animals."

My head snapped up. "What?"

Before I could argue, guards grabbed me, shoving me into an iron cage with a snarling beast.

I screamed as it lunged, dodging as its claws ripped through my clothes, blood welling up. Outside, Sophia and her posse of high-born she-wolves laughed.

"Look at her! Almost looks better like this!"

"Born to roll with beasts, that one."

"Thinking she could rival Sophia? Pathetic."

I bit my lip, dodging the beast's snapping jaws, its foul drool splattering my face. Instinctively, I glanced outside.

Theodore was covering Sophia's eyes, murmuring, "Don't look, you'll have nightmares."

In that moment, the beast's teeth didn't hurt half as much as the agony tearing through my heart.

By sunset, they let me out. My body was a mess of blood and torn flesh, not an inch of me unscathed. Theodore had already taken Sophia back to the den.

I limped back to the Hawthorne estate, blood staining the path behind me. My vision flickered, and I collapsed at the gate.

When I came to, I was on the cold cot, my body feeling like it'd been crushed.

"You're awake!" a young maid said, her eyes red and teary. "You scared me half to death."

I forced myself up. "Get me. a carriage."

"A carriage?"

"Yeah," I rasped. "For three days from now. I'm leaving Delmora Town."

She nodded, about to reply, when the door swung open.

Theodore stood there, hands behind his back, his gaze like ice. "Leaving Delmora Town? Where do you think you're going?"