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.

Father locks me in the storeroom to "reflect," fearing I'll taint Annie's mating ceremony to Jason.

Through the splintered door, their laughter mingles with the clink of goblets.

I curl in the shadows, scratching their names into the floor with a broken nail: Jason. Annie. Father.

The slap on my cheek still stings, but it's nothing compared to twenty years of hunger, of being beaten with silver-tipped canes.

Killing them would be too kind.

No-they must howl as I did, taste the same despair.

Exhaustion drags me under.

Half-dreaming, I feel hands groping my body-memories of asylum orderlies with silver coins in their pockets.

I jerk awake, fangs bared, meeting Jason's whiskey-clouded gaze.

His breath reeks of bourbon and... arousal.

"Jason Davis-what do you want?"

I snarl, slapping his hand away.

He blinks, wolf eyes clearing to reveal lust and scorn.

"You lured me here, Yuki. Still playing the innocent pup?"

His fingers brush my electrocution scar.

"Guess I need to teach you manners-again."

Three years, and he's still the same.

He forgets he wasn't drugged that night; he forgets he begged for more.

Now he reeks of lies, trying to pin his sins on me.

But I'm not the weak she-wolf he remembers.

My hand slides toward a cracked vase.

I almost spared him, once.

Recall the day he saved me from Annie's lackeys, when they held my head in a gutter, forcing me to lick her shoes.

He threw his coat around my bleeding shoulders, said: "Come to me if they hurt you. I'll protect you."

That promise bound me tighter.

Even after he took my virginity, even after he tossed me in the asylum, I clung to it.

No more.

Now I want to tear out his heart, see if it beats with remorse or just more lies.

Jason's fingers tighten on my wrist, eyes fixed on the scars crisscrossing my chest.

"Why... so many wounds?"

Moonlight filters through the window, highlighting each silver burn, each bite mark.

He mutters: "I told the director to be gentle..."

Gentle?

As if "teaching rules" didn't mean electroshocks and broken bones.

As if they didn't relish hurting a pup without a pack.

Before I can strike, the door bursts open.

Annie stands there, fake tears in her eyes.

"Jason! What are you doing with her?"

Jason jerks back as if burned by silver.

All concern vanishes.

"Yuki seduced me! She'll never accept we're mating."

Father storms in, cane raised.

"Filth!" He strikes my spine. "

Should've let you die in that asylum!"

Annie pretends to pull him back.

"Father, she's not worth it. Send her back before the wedding-we can't have her shaming our packs."

Father nods, dragging Jason away.

As they leave, Jason glances back-for a second, his gaze flickers with doubt.

But Annie tugs his arm, and the moment dies.

I laugh softly, retrieving a rusted hammer from under a tarp.

Jason had his chance to see the truth. To choose mercy.

Now, the only mercy he'll get is a quick death.