Akira’s POV

“Miss Akira, the tests confirmed it. You have lung cancer and it’s already in stage four. We cannot operate. Sorry.”

I collected a copy of the result and quickly read it. It is true. I am going to die. A drop of tear rolled down my cheeks, one of many tears I have shed in the past and would still shed in the future.

I tucked the death sentence in my purse and left the pack doctor’s clinic. I have begged the pack doctor, Theo Griffith, not to tell the alpha, my estranged brother. It would only add to the tension between us already.

It all started nine years ago, on my tenth birthday. My father, Axel Nightshade, was the alpha of our small pack and my mom was his beloved luna. They were so besotted with each other that we, the children envied them and had to fight for their attention. I remember my loving parents and smiled. Those were our years of happiness. I was raised as a little princess. My parents spoiled me and my brother, Gavin, spoiled me more. I was his little sister, very special to him. I still shudder when I see how much my brother presently hates me.

As was our habit, I had made a special demand for my tenth birthday from my parents. I wanted to visit the lycan king’s pack for a pups’ competition. I had met Kaida, one of the pups in Shadowmoon pack when I followed my mom to the capital a month before. She had challenged me to a duel during the Annual Pups Competition at the lycan king’s palace. That day happened to be my birthday and I wanted to prove to Kaida that our pack was not the weak pack they rumoured us to be. I wanted to represent our pack, win Kaida and make our Prime pack proud.

My dad had been a bit under the weather few days before my birthday, recovering from a recent pack attack. Mom had nursed him back to health and was even joking about it. So, I thought all was well and we could go for the competition. Gavin, my brother, supported me and we both persuaded our parents to give me the special birthday gift.

The day dawned bright and beautiful on the day of my tenth birthday. Aroma of sweet food woke me up from the bed. Mom, Dad and my dear brother Gavin, came to my room to serve me breakfast in bed, with a large cake, specially made for my birthday.

“Happy birthday darling pup,” my father said, “May you grow up strong and be the pride of our pack.” He gave me a beautiful scarf, latest brand that I had been longing for.

“Happy birthday my beloved princess, future luna of a great pack.” My mom said and gave me a big hug. She also gave me a gift, a gold bracelet, that I coveted when we visited the capital. I was so happy.

“Happy birthday to my favourite sister.” Gavin said and pinched me on my side. I squealed and got down from the bed to chase him. He ran to my father’s throne room, where he stopped beside his gift, a Chibi Maruko-chan toy, that I envied my cousin Lylah Silvermist for having, when I visited their pack with my brother two weeks ago! I jumped on my brother and we both fell on the ground. I was so happy I could die.

Tears stream down my face at those lovely memories. If only I had died then, maybe my parents would have been alive; maybe my brother would still be his happy self. Maybe I would be remembered for good. But fate would not be that favourable to me. No. It was my dad himself that hastened us up as we rushed to the competition. I made sure I splashed some of my birthday cake cream on Gavin’s face before we left. It was my custom to do that to him, no matter whose birthday it was. He pursued me to the car to retaliate and my daddy, our alpha drove off after we got in.

That was when the disaster struck. We were ambushed by a rival pack and my parents were not strong enough to conquer them. My dad did not take his gun with him because we were just attending a ceremony. He shifted and fought with the wolves while my mom took us pups and ran to hide. We heard dad’s screams at the same time that two rogues hit our mom on the head. Blood was streaming down her face, she was gasping for breath and she still held me and my brother tightly to herself, protecting us from the rogues. I was crying, my brother was crying. Gavin wanted to fight but mom shook her head. She was still holding us when I heard a gunshot and everything became black.

I woke up a day later, in my room. My brother was beside me but he was just staring into space. I heard low voices from the throne room and wanted to go meet my parents. I got up from the bed but fell back, still dizzy. Gavin looked at me but did not help me up. That was strange. My brother would rather get hurt than see me hurt. I turned to him to ask why he didn’t catch me, but what I saw in Gavin’s eyes nearly got me blind. His eyes were red, probably from crying, or something else. Those eyes were filled with hatred, regret and scorn.

“Gavin… what is it?” I reluctantly asked him.

“You killed them Akira. You killed mom and dad. Now we are orphans.” He snarled at me.

I fell back on the bed, too shocked to react. Then the memories came back to me: my birthday, the pups’ competition, the attack, mom running away with us, dad’s screams, the gunshot.

“Where is Mom and Dad?” I struggled to ask, in a mouse-like voice that I could not recognize.

“They are dead. And it’s your fault!” Gavin said and stormed out of my room. I wish I was dead there and then, now I have my wish.

Why should my death be delayed? The earlier it comes, the better for me. I thought as my mind went back to the medical report drilling a hole in my purse. Maybe things would not have gotten this bad between Gavin and if I had come into my wolf at my eighteenth birthday. But the Moon Goddess had joined others to plot against me. The ordinarily sad day had become sadder. It was already sad because each birthday I had after my parents’ death was spent in sorrow of their loss. I had hoped to come into my wolf and probably connect with them or do something special for our pack. But No, I was condemned to be wolfless, a reproach to our pack and an additional burden to my brother, who became the alpha of our pack two years ago when he came into his wolf. He had been tolerating me since our parents’ death but he let go of his restraints on my eighteenth birthday. I entered my den in the forest as I relived the saddest day of my life.

I had heard loud banging on my door and my brother burst into my room without waiting for me to invite him in. he checked my hair and my hands, looking any sign of my wolf. The disappointed look I saw in his eyes still bore into my soul, even now.

“Akira, you are wolfless?” I nodded in affirmation, there was nothing to say.

“That confirms it. You are cursed. I don’t have a sister like you.” He concluded.

“Gavin, I am sorry.” I started but he cut me off.

“I am your alpha and you will address me so!”

“I am sorry, alpha.” I corrected myself.

He turned his back at me, moved towards the door and said.

“Akira, your presence in this pack is a constant reminder of our weakness and failure. We cannot add your being a reproach to that list. You are banished from Prime pack.” He concluded, opened the door and left.

I was too stunned to talk. My brother banished me? Because I was wolfless? Something I had no control over. The only person I have left in the world has turned his back at me. I packed few of my things and left. I had walked for days before discovering this den in the woods, between our pack and the boundary of Crescent pack, our ally. This is where I have been staying for the past one year. Sorrow, shame, sadness and pain were my daily companion, this was why I did not realize that I had cancer until recently.

I sat down on the hay that served as bed in my den and brought out the medical report. I read it again. I had few months left to live. What should I do? Shouldn’t my only relative know of my plight? The words of Gavin came back to me: I don’t have a sister like you.

An anger rose in me at the unfairness of it all. Did I want my parents to die? Did I not want to come into my wolf? Did I want to live such a miserable life like this? They were not my choice! They were forced on me.

I stormed out of my den with the medical report in my hand. Whatever would happen can never be worse than what had already happened to me. I know it’s my brother’s birthday today. And I will give him a special gift, one he would be happy about, a permanent removal of his reproach.

Lively music was blaring from the throne room on my arrival to the pack. Alpha Gavin’s birthday party was in full swing. I saw our kitchen omegas, bearing heavily-laden trays of food and drinks into the throne room. My mouth salivated at the divers aroma of food fighting for recognition in my nose. I sniffed deeply, storing the aroma up for later use.The omegas ignored as if they did not recognize me. No problem, I would soon disappear from their lives anyway.

My cousin, Lylah, came out giggling on my brother’s arms. I saw a claim mark on her neck. Could it be? Has my brother claimed my cousin as his mate? I looked at Gavin, giddy with love and happiness, as he looked at Lylah adorably. My heart knotted in me and I gulped. That was how my brother used to look at me.

“What are you doing here?” My brother growled at me, the love in eyes replaced with terrible hatred. I almost wet my pant, but summoned courage, knowing this would be our last meeting.

“I came to give you my last birthday gift.” Lylah gasped, her hand flew to her mouth.

“Akira, you can not curse your brother. He has been so nice to you.”

“Can a Curse have the privilege of cursing another?” I thrust the medical report into my brother’s hand and turned to leave.

I heard the rustling of paper as he threw the envelope back at me.

“What insolence!” He snarled at me. “You were not invited in the first place. You have no place here now and in the future. Crawl back to the hole you came out from!”

I was hoping to gain his sympathy for the last time. How could my darling brother ignore his dying little sister. Gavin beckoned on two enforcers nearby.

“Throw this wolfless thing outside our border. If you see her near the border…”

I did not hear the rest of the instructions because as the enforcer pushed me, I fell down and fainted.

I woke up shivering. I tried to open my eyes but the headache was splitting. I struggle to a sitting position and realise I am really wet and cold. Who poured water on me? I open my eyes slowly to know where exactly I am. The pack doctor glared at me. I was back in his clinic.

“Akira, I told you to rest and take care of your body. How can you take such risks with your body condition?”

Though I don't understand what risk he was talking about. I perfectly understand one thing, I am not yet dead. And, I need someone to pour my annoyance upon, just like they poured water on me to bring me back to life. Theo Griffith was the perfect scapegoat. I glared at him and snarled. “Why did you bring me back? You should have left me to die!” I said and threw myself at him.

I glared at Theo, and got to my feet, my anger and frustration boiling over. But as I tried to take a step closer to him, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me to grab onto the nearest chair to steady myself. I felt like I was going to pass out.

"Please, Akira," Theo said, his voice softening. "You need to rest. Your body can't take this kind of stress."

But I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. I couldn't give up now, not when I had so much to say to my brother, to the pack. I had to keep going, no matter what.

As I stood there, a fit of coughing seized me, wracking my body with violent spasms. I felt a surge of panic as blood speckled my lips. Theo rushed to my side, his face etched with concern.

"Akira, stop pushing yourself," he begged. "You're only making things worse."

But I couldn't stop. I had to keep going. I took a step forward, but my legs buckled beneath me, sending me crashing to the floor. I felt a searing pain in my chest, like a knife twisting deep into my lungs. I knew then that my time was running out, that the cancer was spreading fast.

Theo helped me to my feet, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Please, Akira," he whispered. "Let me help you."

But I just shook my head, my vision blurring. I knew I had to keep moving, no matter what. I had to make my brother understand, had to make him see.

With a Herculean effort, I pushed myself up, my legs trembling beneath me. I took a step forward, then another, each one a battle against the pain and the darkness that threatened to consume me.

And then, everything went black.

I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. From the entrance of the pack house, I must have been rushed back to the pack hospital. I am now surrounded by the familiar scent of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines. Doctor Theo's face came into focus, his expression stern but his eyes filled with concern.

"Akira, you're going to be the death of me," he said, shaking his head. "You know you only have a few months left, and yet you're still pushing yourself to the limit. Why?"

I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse from coughing. Theo handed me a glass of water, and I sipped it gratefully.

"I...I just want to make things right," I whispered. "With my brother, with the pack. I don't want to leave with so much unfinished business."

Theo sighed, his expression softening. "You're a stubborn one, I'll give you that. But you need to take care of yourself, Akira. You're not going to be able to make amends if you're dead."

I nodded, feeling a pang of gratitude towards him. He was the only one who seemed to care about me, who treated me like family. My own family, on the other hand...

"Thank you, Theo," I said, my voice cracking. "You've been like an uncle to me, always looking out for me even when my own family doesn't want anything to do with me."

Theo's expression turned stern again. "Your family's a lost cause, Akira. But I'm not. And I'm going to make sure you get the care you need, even if it's just for a few more months."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. I was lucky to have Theo in my life, even if it was just for a little while longer.

I made my way out of the hospital room, determined to discharge myself and get on with my day. As I turned a corner, I suddenly found myself face to face with Gavin. My heart skipped a beat as I froze, scared that he might know about my illness. We hadn't really spoken in months, not since he banished me from the pack, until yesterday that I crashed his birthday.

The tension between us was palpable, and I could feel the weight of our unresolved issues hanging in the air. I didn't know what to say, or what he might say to me.

Just as it seemed like the silence was going to stretch on forever, Lylah appeared around the corner, a look of surprise on her face. "Oh, Akira! I didn't know you were... um... here."

I shook my head, trying to clear the awkwardness. "Just getting some fresh air," I muttered.

Gavin's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between me and Lylah. "What are you doing here, Lylah?" he growled.

Lylah hesitated, looking unsure of what to say. "I was just... uh... looking for you, Gavin. We need to talk about the pack's upcoming gathering."

Gavin's expression darkened, but he nodded curtly. "Fine. Let's talk."

And with that, he turned and stalked off, Lylah following closely behind. I watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. I knew I couldn't avoid Gavin forever, but for now, I was just grateful to have dodged another confrontation.

As I watched Lylah follow Gavin, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. I remembered the day our parents died, the day our lives changed forever. Lylah had lost her parents too, in the same brutal attack that took mine.

After that, Gavin had taken it upon himself to become a surrogate brother to both of us, trying to fill the void left by our parents' passing. But as time went on, I noticed that Gavin's behavior towards Lylah changed. He became more protective, more caring. He started to include her in pack decisions, seeking her opinion and valuing her input.

And Lylah, in turn, looked up to Gavin with a devotion that bordered on adoration. She would follow him anywhere, do anything he asked of her. It was as if she had transferred her feelings of loss and loyalty from her parents to Gavin.

I felt a twinge of jealousy, mixed with sadness. I had once been the only recipient of Gavin's protection and care, but now it seemed he had transferred those feelings to Lylah.

As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Gavin and Lylah walking together, their heads bent in conversation. They looked like a couple, a partnership forged in grief and strengthened by shared responsibility.

I sighed, feeling like an outsider looking in. I had once been part of their inner circle, but now I was just a ghost from their past, a reminder of a time they would rather forget.

But then, I noticed something…different. Gavin’s steps were not straight and confident as usual. Something was wrong. I approached Gavin, my heart racing with concern. "Gavin, brother, are you okay? You look pale," I said, reaching out to touch his arm.

But before I could even make contact, Gavin's expression twisted in rage. He grabbed my wrist, his fingers closing around it like a vice.

"Don't call me that," he growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "I only have one sister, and that's Lylah. You need to learn to respect me as your Alpha, Akira. Not as your brother."

I tried to pull away, but Gavin's grip only tightened. I felt a surge of fear as he pulled me closer, his face inches from mine.

"You're not my sister anymore, Akira," he spat. "You're just a pack member, a weak and disobedient one at that. Banished member. Don't forget your place."

I gasped, trying to speak, but Gavin's grip on my throat was choking me. I felt my vision start to blur, and just when I thought I was going to pass out, Gavin released me, shoving me away with a snarl.

"Remember, Akira," he warned. "I'm your Alpha. Show some respect."

I stumbled back, gasping for air, my eyes fixed on Gavin's retreating back. I knew then that I had lost him forever, that our bond as siblings was irreparably broken.