I headed to my room, patched up my arm, and started packing.

Screw waiting three more days.

That slap? It shook me clean. No one in this house wanted me here.

Better to leave on my own than wait for the day they threw me out like garbage.

As I packed, it hit me—barely anything here was mine.

Since Callie moved in, Dad and Ryell stopped giving me gifts. Even my allowance dried up.

I'd been juggling school and part-time shifts just to survive. Barely home these days.

Maybe that was a blessing—less to carry.

My eyes landed on an old photo. And yeah, it punched me in the gut.

Years ago, Mom broke the mate bond with Dad. Then she left for Stormcrest Pack's Alpha. When the news dropped, Dad cried all night.

He held Ryell and me close, voice shaking as he said he'd failed as a mate. That's why Mom left.

But as a father? He swore he'd do better. Swore he'd protect us no matter what.

Ryell—tiny, fierce—clenched his fists and promised to be my knight. Said he'd keep his little sister smiling. Said he'd never let me cry like Mom did. Never let me leave.

And for a while... they meant it.

Whenever I got sick, Dad rushed home to take care of me.

Back in middle school, a pack of rogues locked me in a shed.

Ryell found me. Fought all five of them alone. Bloodied, shaking—he made every last one apologize to me.

After that? No one dared touch me.

Everyone knew I had a brother who'd tear the world apart for me.

Jovan was just as good. Brought me his mom's homemade cakes.

Once, I mentioned craving ice cream. Middle of the night, and he drove across the city just to bring it to me.

When I asked why, he looked right into me.

"Maria, I love your smile. I just want you to be happy."

Those words wrecked me. I believed him—every damn word.

So when Dad asked on my eighteenth birthday if I'd consider being Jovan's mate, I didn't even blink.

I saw our future—Jovan at my side, Dad and Ryell always guarding me like the pack they swore to be.

Then the next day, Callie showed up.

And everything snapped sideways.

She had a talent—always knew how to steal the spotlight the second I was alone with Ryell or Jovan.

Again and again, she hurt herself and blamed me. Like it was a game.

She'd lose her doll, then fake the innocent tears. "Maria, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take your things. Can I have my doll back?"

Then she'd bruise her arms, scratch up her face, and run crying into Jovan's chest.

"Jovan, I swear I'll listen to Maria. Please don't let her be mad. I'll be good. Just don't let her friends hurt me again..."

Every time, she made herself the victim—and me the monster.

I tried to hold it together. But when I finally broke—

Dad and Ryell chose her.

Dad's voice was like ice. "I can't believe my daughter is this cruel. I'm disappointed in you."

Ryell slapped me. Pulled her in tight. "Did you forget what it's like to be bullied? I regret ever saving you. Stay away from Callie. Don't you dare hurt her again. Get out!"

Jovan? He cleaned her wounds with gentle hands, whispering to her like I never existed.

Then he bought her my favorite ice cream—just to make her smile.

"Maria," he said, "I want a mate who's kind. Your cruelty scares me. Maybe I shouldn't claim you in a rush."

They locked me out.

Ignored everything I said.

From that day on, this house stopped being mine.

Finally packed.

Just one suitcase—everything else? Left it behind.

I scribbled a note for the maid: [Trash the rest.]

Dragging my suitcase down the stairs, I froze at the corner. Voices.

Dad and the others—back with Callie.

They came in from the far side of the house, still clueless I was here.

Their voices spilled into the hallway.

"Lucky you barely ate any. Just a mild allergy. If it'd been worse, I wouldn't have spared Maria."

"She crossed a line. She owes you a real apology. From the heart."

Callie's voice, all sweet and fake: "No need. I'm sure Maria didn't mean it."

Ryell jumped in, all protective big brother. "Callie, you're too nice. Maria doesn't deserve that. Didn't you always want her garden? Make her hand it over as an apology."

Dad looked like he might object—

But then Callie lit up. "Really? I've always wanted to go in there, but Maria never let me."

Dad smiled. Said nothing. Which said everything.

A sharp stab hit my chest.

They didn't care. Not even about the garden Mom gave me—they wanted to hand it off to Callie like I was nothing.

I stepped out, voice low. "If Callie wants it, she can have it."

Callie's eyes locked on my suitcase. She lit up, barely hiding her excitement.

Ryell's smile dropped. He narrowed his eyes. "Giving it up that easy? What are you planning now? Don't let her near it till we sweep the place. Could be traps."

"I'll clean it now," I muttered.

Ryell scoffed. "Who asked you to?"

Callie ducked behind Dad, playing scared.

"Maria, don't be mad. I don't want your garden anymore, okay? I just wanted to see it. I didn't know you were so petty."

I stared her down, stone-faced. "If you want it, take it. I'm not coming back anyway."

Her eyes flashed—pure joy.

Dad's expression darkened. "Not coming back? Over a GARDEN? Now Callie's supposed to worry about YOUR feelings?

"You throw tantrums when things don't go your way? What a waste of everything I did for you. Just like your mother—restless and ungrateful."

It felt like a blade to the chest. I couldn't breathe.

How could he say that... about me—about Mom?

"I'm not— I'm leaving because the day after tomorrow I—"

"GET OUT!" Dad snapped. "You wanna leave? Then go! I don't care what you're doing. Life with Callie's gonna be way better without you.

"From now on, I have one daughter. Callie. She's a thousand times more loving than you ever were."

I didn't say a word. Grabbed my suitcase and walked out.

Snow was falling again.

The cold hit deep, straight to the bone.

I turned to grab an umbrella—

The door slammed behind me.

Ryell's voice followed, sharp and smug. "Since you're leaving, stay gone. This isn't a garbage dump. Don't come crawling back like some stray."

I gave a bitter smile, pulled my thin coat tighter, and stepped into the snow.

Flakes clung to me. The world ahead was nothing but white.

I kept walking.

The academy was shut.

No clue where I was going.

Just as I hit the gates, Jovan grabbed my arm.

"Maria, can't you just apologize to Callie? Ask her to forgive you? She's so kind—why can't you just accept her?"

Kind?

If she were really kind, why couldn't I accept her?

Because she was fake. Manipulative. Jealous. A liar.

But I didn't even feel like saying it anymore.

Jovan—the boy I once loved—

Felt like a stranger now.

There was nothing left to say.

My silence must've set him off. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard.

"Maria, why can't you just change? Apologize to Callie, swear you won't hurt her again—and I’ll claim you in public RIGHT NOW!"

I locked eyes with him, calm and done.

"Claim me? No. That's over. We broke up a long time ago."

That cold edge in my voice snapped something in him.

He shoved me down, snarling, "I gave you a chance. You're still this mean. Keep it up—karma's coming for you!"

He stormed off without looking back.

I got up, dusted off, grabbed my suitcase, and kept walking.

Catching a ride in the snow was hell. I was soaked through.

But I got lucky—someone pulled over.

I tipped the driver heavy.

Just as I climbed in, another car rolled up.

Ryell's plate.

He floored it, speeding straight toward me, yelling my name.

The driver glanced over. "You know him?"

I shook my head. "No. Drive."

Snow came down harder, turning the world into a blur.

As our cars passed, I thought I saw it—panic on Ryell's face. Worry.

Maybe I imagined it.

A wolf like him wouldn't look at me like that.