When I finally found my voice, it was brittle—a shattered thing.

"So you’ve already decided to sever our bond?"

Luke’s patience snapped.

"Emma, it’s just to heal her wolf! Fiona’s practically family—why can’t you care for her for once? You’ll still be my true mate, not her."

I opened my mouth, but Jim cut me off.

"mom, Fiona’s kind. We all love her. Why can’t you just try? She’s suffering in the infirmary!"

The words died in my throat.

Six years of love. Six years of sacrifice.

And in the end? I was discardable.

Not just to my parents. Not just to Kane, but to my own mate and my own pup.

I met Luke’s gaze, my voice dead calm.

"Alright. I’ll sever it."

His breath hitched. "You—you mean it?"

Then—he scrambled for the papers.

"Here. Sign it. No take-backs."

I could feel my wolf’s heart bleed. Tears blurred the page as I signed.

Six years erased in a stroke.

I turned to leave—

Luke grabbed my wrist.

"Emma… you did the right thing."

"Once Fiona’s better, I’ll reclaim you. I promise."

Jim hugged me, beaming.

"mom! I’m so proud of you! You’re finally being selfless!"

Their happy faces and joyful laughter tore the last flickering flame of hope within me to shreds.

I had once feared this world enough to stay—for them—trapped in this infirmary prison. But now? Now I prayed for death to claim me swiftly.

I wanted nothing. No one.

I quietly stood up and shuffled toward the kitchen for water, my throat parched, when a black void swallowed my vision.

The floor rushed up to meet me.

"Emma?!"

Luke's voice echoed.

When I forced my eyes open, their twin gazes of disgust pinned me to the ground.

"See, Dad?" Jim spat. "mom's at it again—another pathetic act. She faked collapsing to guilt-trip us."

Luke sneered.

"We had a deal, Emma. The bond stays severed until Fiona recovers. Did you really think this cheap theatrics would change anything? That I'd stay if you played sick? You always resort to these tricks."

Clawing at a chair, I dragged myself up.

The mirror showed a lie—herbs masked my decay, but my wolf's dying whimper echoed in my bones.

Three days. That's all my organs had left.

"If you're done wasting our time," Jim snapped, "we're visiting Fiona."

"I'll join you." My voice was ice. "There are documents for her to sign."

Luke didn't even flinch. My parents must have broken the news already.

Fiona lounged in her infirmary bed, peeling grapes like a queen holding court.

"Emma! How... thoughtful since you came to visit me."

Her sugary tone couldn't hide the triumph flashing in her eyes—the look of a thief admiring her stolen crown.

"Oh Emma!"

Mom gushed, clapping like a trained seal. "Aren't you lucky? Fiona's taking all those tedious companies off your hands! Now you can... oh, I don't know, pick up "

I slowly placed the insurance documents on the bedside table.

”Here is my insurance money as well. I think it’s better to transfer it to Fiona.”

However, there was no response—just a long, heavy silence.

"Emma…" Luke's voice was uncharacteristically hesitant.

"You’re really giving everything to Fiona? Your companies… even your insurance?"

His confusion caught me off guard.

This was my mate who had always insisted Fiona deserved more—who had never once questioned her lies. Now, of all times, he hesitates?

Then Father shattered the silence, his voice dripping with approval.

"Emma, finally, you’re being the sister you should have been all along! If only you’d shown this kindness sooner. It’s a relief to see you’re no longer so… selfish."

Kane’s lips curled into a smile—one he hadn’t wasted on me in years.

"Yes, Emma. Family should take care of each other. I’m glad you’ve finally learned that."

Their joy should have gutted me. But all I felt was a hollow ache.

Not for the wealth I’d lost—but for the answer to a question I already knew.

Would they even care when the truth came out?

Then the blood came.

A slow, warm trickle from my nose stained my clothes crimson.

"Emma?!" Mother’s voice was shrill with panic.

I wiped the blood away, my voice eerily calm.

"Tell me, Mom… would you miss me if I died from this sickness?"

She recoiled as if I’d cursed her.

"Don’t be absurd! Your wolf is the strongest among us. The Moon Goddess would never let illness take you!"

Dad nodded, already turning back to Fiona.

"Your mom’s right. Fiona’s the one we should worry about—her wolf is still weak from the attack."

Jim, ever the devoted pup, rushed to Fiona’s side.

"Exactly. Mom—I mean, you always recover soon. But Fiona needs us."

Something inside me snapped.

Not anger. Not grief. Just…

finality.

I turned to Jim, my voice a whisper.

"You’ve always wanted Fiona to be your mother, haven’t you?"

A beat of silence.

"Congratulations. From now on, she is. I won’t stand in your way anymore."

“Really? So wonderful, Mom. I never thought you’d agree this time.”

I gently smiled.

"Yes, Jim." My voice was hollow, the last thread of hope snapping.

"From now on, you can call Fiona 'Mom.' She’ll be with you forever."

Jim’s face lit up with triumph.

"You’re the best, Mom! I love you!"

He pressed an eager kiss to Fiona’s cheek, his laughter ringing through the room like a victory bell.

My parents exchanged smug, satisfied glances, as if they’d finally won some long-awaited battle. Kane ruffled Jim’s hair approvingly, while Luke fussed over Fiona like she was made of glass, murmuring for her to rest.

I stood there, invisible.

They were the perfect family—warm, whole, united.

And I?

I was the spare part, the forgotten shadow.

Not a single glance. Not a word.

So I left.

I walked toward Moon Lake, the place I’d begged them to take me for years.

"Next summer," they’d always said, "when things are less busy."

Lies.

Empty promises.

Now, I’d go alone.

But my body betrayed me. Halfway there, my wolf gave out—her strength spent, her spirit broken. My legs buckled, and the world was spinning.

I had one last lifeline.

With trembling fingers, I dialed the number I hadn’t dared call in years—the one who might still care for me.

Then—the darkness filled in my eyes.

My eyes fluttered open to the sterile white of the infirmary.

The clock on the wall ticked mercilessly.

Five hours. That’s all I had left.

And there, beside me—Alice.

My once-best friend, now clutching my hand like it was the only thing tethering me to this world. Her sobs came in jagged gasps, tears streaking her face.

The irony wasn’t lost on me.

Years ago, she’d begged me not to mate with Luke.

"He’ll destroy you," she’d warned. But I’d been blind, cutting her off for daring to question my choice.

And now?

Now, as death crept in, she was the only one left at my side.

"Emma…"

Alice’s voice broke.

"What did they do to you?"

Her fingers trembled against my wrist.

"Your wolf—they say her organs are failing. How could Luke let this happen?"

I tried to speak, but my breath came in shallow rasps.

"Alice…" I managed, "When I’m gone… just… make sure I have a quiet place to rest."

My strength failed. I collapsed back, my chest heaving.

Wordlessly, Alice reached for my bag, pulling out the documents. She didn’t need to ask—she already knew.

One hour.

The world blurred at the edges.

Then, my phone lit up in Alice’s hand. Three messages from Fiona:

【Congratulations, Emma—you’ve officially lost everything to me. Was it worth it?】

【Did you really think they’d choose you? You were never family. Just a placeholder.】

【Disappear already. The world won’t miss a loser like you.】

Alice’s grip on my hand tightened. For the first time in years, I didn’t feel alone.

I closed my eyes, Fiona’s face flashing in my mind—my greatest mistake.

The memory burned like poison:

That rainy night years ago, when I found her—a starving orphan, shivering by the trash bins.

My foolish kindness made me bring her home. I begged my parents to feed her. I made Kane buy her new clothes.

And what did it earn me?

Within weeks, she had stolen my room, my family, my life.

My parents doted on her while criticizing me.

Kane remembered her birthday but forgot mine—even though they were just one day apart.

My belongings became hers.

My love, her trophy.

Fiona’s whisper still haunted me:

"Why should you have everything when I had nothing?"

"I’ll take it all—your family, your wealth, your future. I’ll never go back to being that starving rogue again."

I had believed, naively, that one day my family would see through her lies. That they’d realize I was the one who truly loved them.

But I was wrong.

Every time I spoke the truth, they accused me of jealousy, pettiness, cruelty.

Luke and Jim—my own mate and son—chose her too.

So I accepted it. I was the one who didn’t belong.

Ten minutes left.

My vision darkened. My breath grew shallow.

Then—the phone rang.

Alice answered, but my mother’s voice cut through before I could speak:

"Emma, buy a mango cake on your way home. Fiona’s discharging from the infirmary tomorrow."

Kane’s voice, cold and dismissive, followed:

"I’ve cleared out your room. You agreed to give it to Fiona. Don’t forget to take your things."

Click.

Even now—at my deathbed—they only cared about her.

Alice wept beside me, her words lost in the void.

Then, my wolf smiled—her voice soft, comforting.

"We’re going home now… where there’s no more pain."

And at 8:00 PM, Emma took her last breath.

Age 27.