Abandoned by My Alpha, Reclaimed by My Power

I was never meant to be seen in this house.

That truth had settled over my life like dust over old bonesquiet and impossible to ignore. In this den, I existed only in the shadows: unnoticed, uncelebrated, unclaimed. No one spoke my name with pride. No one lifted a howl for me beneath the moon.

And yet I had never asked for much.

I never longed for jewels carved from moonstone, nor the ceremonial silver blades the pack elders carried at their waists. I never demanded feasts in my honor or garlands of night-blooming flowers woven through my hair.

All I had ever wanted was a promise.

Just one.

A journey beneath the open sky.

A voyage across the endless sea.

Scott had whispered those words long ago, when the world still felt young and the bond between us had not yet grown cold.

I remember that night clearly.

The moon had been fullbright as polished boneand its light spilled through the forest like silver rain. I had just turned eighteen moons, standing barefoot on the moss-covered earth outside my fathers territory.

Scott stood behind me then, his arms loosely around my waist, his breath warm against my hair.

One day, he murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple, when the packs burdens grow lighter, I will show you the world beyond these lands.

His voice carried the quiet certainty of an Alphas vow.

Just the two of us, he promised. Across the sea, beneath unfamiliar moons.

Back then, there had been fire in his eyes.

Back then, I believed him.

But that was before the endless territorial wars, before rival packs clawed at our borders, before the bond between us became little more than a title.

Before I became his mate in name

and his servant in truth.

Now, beneath the blood-orange glow of my forty-eighth full moon, no one remembered.

No howl rose in my honor.

No feast waited in the great hall.

The pack moved through their evening routines as if this night were no different from any other. Warriors returned from patrol, mud on their boots. Young wolves laughed near the hearth while elders drank their bitter herbs beside the fire.

No one greeted me.

No one noticed.

Still some foolish part of me hoped.

Perhaps this year would be different.

After the evening hunt, I found Scott alone in the Alphas chamber.

He sat beside the stone hearth in the broad chair that marked his authority. In his hands he held one of his ceremonial claw sheathsa weapon forged from steel and etched with silver runes.

He polished it carefully, as though it were sacred.

The firelight flickered across the blade.

My heart beat harder with every step I took.

Scott I said softly.

He didnt look up.

The silence stretched tight between us.

Do you remember, I asked carefully, what you promised me on my eighteenth full moon?

He paused.

Which promise? he replied casually.

The words struck harder than any blade.

You said we would travel beyond the forests, I continued quietly. When the pack no longer needed you so desperately when our son was grown. We would cross the sea. Just us.

At last Scott laughed.

The sound was hollow.

Gods above, he muttered. You cannot be serious.

He finally lifted his gaze, studying me with open disdain.

You truly believe you deserve such luxuries?

His eyes swept over me.

Look at yourself, Evelyn. Youre thin as a dying branch. One strong wind could snap you in two.

His lip curled.

If you stepped onto a ship, the captain would think you carried some sickness.

My throat tightened.

But today is

Today is what? he interrupted.

Youre no longer the girl who ran through moonlit forests with wild hair and bright eyes. The world does not bend for you anymore.

His voice turned colder.

Not the way it does for Liora.

The name cut through the room.

Liora.

My sister-in-law.

The woman Scott now called his chosen mate.

She was everything I was notyoung, radiant, golden-haired. Wherever she walked, wolves turned their heads.

Scott never corrected them.

She represents this pack well, he continued calmly. She travels with our envoys, meets allied Alphas, and upholds our image.

Then his gaze fell on me again.

You, Evelyn belong behind the scenes. Managing the den. Keeping things running.

Behind me, laughter erupted.

I turned slightly to see the twinsFenrir and Orionlounging near the doorway. My grandpups had grown tall and strong.

Yet their eyes held no warmth.

Grandma, Fenrir snickered, you look like some shriveled forest ghost.

Orion wrinkled his nose.

Yeah. And you smell like damp moss and rotting prey.

Their laughter filled the chamber.

No one stopped them.

Across the room, Kaelmy only sonleaned against the stone wall.

Hey, Ma! he called. Wash my hunting cloak later, will you? My mates busy.

He pointed toward the pile near the door.

And dont ruin the white one again.

Something inside me snapped.

I am not your servant, I said quietly.

The room fell silent.

What did you say? Kael barked.

I said I am not

A flask struck the floor near my feet.

Then what are you? Kael demanded. You dont hunt. You dont patrol. You contribute nothing!

My claws pressed painfully into my palms.

I raised you, I said steadily. Fed you when you were too small to hunt. Stayed awake through your fevers. Protected you when rival wolves threatened our territory.

My voice trembled.

I worked long before your claws ever grew.

Fenrir scoffed.

Maybe you shouldve worked on fixing your smell.

Orion grinned.

You reek like death. Even the pups flinch when you pass.

Their laughter rose again.

Scott didnt even glance at me.

He simply turned the polished blade beneath the firelight.

We hold great power in this pack, he said calmly.

Then he looked at me.

But I will not waste it on unnecessary servants. You already live here. You have two capable hands.

His tone turned dismissive.

Why hire help when the woman of the den can do the work herself?

The woman of the den.

That was my title.

Yet nothing here belonged to me.

Not the lands.

Not the silver in the pack vault.

Not even a single coin unless I begged for it.

And whenever I did ask, Scott demanded proof for every purchase.

Every pelt.

Every copper coin.

---

Later that night, when the den finally fell quiet, I slipped into our chamber.

From the back of the closet, hidden beneath folded blankets, I pulled out a small crimson satchel.

It was worn with age.

Scott had given it to me years ago during our journey through Naplesback when our bond still felt unbreakable.

I stared down at my hands.

They were no longer the hands of the woman I once was.

The skin rough.

The fingers thin.

Once, I had been someone.

Evelyn Sterling.

Daughter of a feared Alpha.

A woman born with fire in her veins.

For love, I abandoned everythingmy birthright, my territory, my familys legacy.

I believed Scotts bond would be enough.

That his love would sustain me.

But now

I was nothing more than a shadow drifting through a pack that no longer saw me.

No territory. No crown. No power.

I closed the satchel slowly.

Enough.

Perhaps the greatest gift I can give myself beneath this full moon

is freedom.

Freedom from this pack.

Freedom from this family.

And most of all

freedom from him.

The next dawn brought no peace.

I first heard about the feast from Fenrir. He practically swallowed the news along with a handful of dried root chips.

Liora reserved the entire upper hall of the Luciana Den! he said excitedly. Can you believe it? Grandpa says its a huge celebration. Just for the family.

I paused mid-sweep, the broom resting against my shoulder.

Us? I asked quietly.

Orion snorted, flicking crumbs from his fingers.

Youre not going, Ma. Grandpa said youre not really up for it. Look at you.

Not up to it.

As if I were weak. Frail. Something broken that must be hidden from guests.

By twilight, the den was nearly empty.

Scott groomed himself carefully before leaving, applying the rare scent he only wore during council gatherings or when meeting rival alphas. His navy ceremonial tunic hung perfectly over his broad shoulders as he adjusted Fenrirs and Orions collars like a proud elder preparing his heirs.

Kael stood nearby in his finest attire, his posture straight with quiet arrogance.

Remember, Scott said calmly, smoothing the boys sleeves, Liora arranged this gathering because she cares about us. She is family.

We know, Grandpa, the twins replied in cheerful unison.

Then Fenrir added without hesitation, Thats why we love Liora more than Grandma Evelyn.

My breath caught in my throat.

But they were already turning toward the door.

No farewells. No promises to bring something back. Not even a glance in my direction.

The door slammed behind them.

The sound echoed through the den like the lid of a coffin.

Silence followed.

I stood alone in the center of the hall, my soft house slippers barely making a sound on the cold stone floor. A basket of folded pelts rested in my arms.

My stomach growled faintly.

I hadnt prepared a meal.

Why bother?

Out of stubborn curiosity, I activated the viewing orb in the sitting room.

The crystal sphere flickered to life.

They were already there.

The Luciana Den glowed with bright lanterns and polished chandeliers. Musicians played a soft melody while wolves in formal attire gathered around long banquet tables.

And there they were.

Liora stood at the center, wrapped in a luxurious fur stole, her golden hair gleaming beneath the light. Scott stood beside her proudly. Kael and his mate smiled as though they were heirs greeting the pack.

Fenrir and Orion wore small ceremonial tunics, sipping fermented berry juice with exaggerated elegance.

A heralds voice echoed faintly through the orb.

A private gathering in Morocco. Lioras grand return. The family behind one of the most powerful trading clans in the region.

I searched the reflections.

Frame after frame.

But I wasnt there.

Not in the background.

Not in the whispers.

Not even in the shadows.

They raised their glasses in celebration while I sat alone, nursing a cup of bitter, lukewarm tea.

I wiped a smudge from the glass door beside me, trying to erase the image clawing its way into my chest.

Then the orb caught a brief moment.

Liora leaned toward Scott and whispered something in his ear.

They laughed together.

My son joined them.

I couldnt hear the words.

But I knew.

The cruelty settled in my chest like frost.

---

Hours later, just past the witching hour, the front door creaked open.

For a moment, hope stirred in my chest.

Perhaps my son had returned.

But it wasnt him.

Liora entered first.

Her heels clicked confidently against the marble floor as she guided Scott inside. He leaned heavily against her, clearly drunk, his tunic slightly disheveled and his eyes unfocused from too much wine.

Oh, Evelyn, she said lightly when she noticed me standing near the staircase. Still awake?

She held Scotts arm with easy familiarity.

Kael and the twins are resting in my quarters, she continued. Too tired to travel back tonight. But Scott cannot sleep anywhere unfamiliar.

Her smile sharpened slightly.

Poor thing.

I knew the lie immediately.

She had come for only one reason.

To make sure I saw.

I promised I would take care of him, she added sweetly. Thats what family does, isnt it?

Then she reached into her bag and tossed a small container toward me.

It bounced once on the floor before rolling to a stop near my feet.

Leftovers, she said casually. You look like a dying sapling, sister-in-law. Truly. You should take better care of yourself.

I didnt move.

My hands curled into tight fists.

Ill help Scott upstairs, she continued with a slow smile. I know you two no longer share a chamber. He told me.

Her eyes glinted cruelly.

Said your side of the den smells like failure and regret.

My hand twitched.

For a moment, I almost struck her.

The urge burned through me like lightning.

But for what?

My heart was already splintering.

And then came the final blow.

Scott lifted his head slightly and smiled at her with drunken affection.

Youre perfect, he slurred softly. Not like her. You youre everything, Lizzy.

They climbed the stairs together.

I remained frozen where I stood.

Her laughter followed them down the hallway like a curse.

And in that moment, I understood something terrible.

They hadnt destroyed me.

They had replaced me.

---

I waited.

Not out of hope.

But because I needed to know how far their cruelty reached.

The clock passed midnight. Then one. Then two.

Upstairs, faint light still glowed beneath the door of the chamber that had once been mine.

I sat on the edge of the couch, my robe wrapped tightly around my shoulders. My tea had long since gone cold.

The den smelled faintly of citrus polish and betrayal.

Perhaps she had fallen asleep in the guest room.

Perhaps

A soft thump echoed from upstairs.

Then another.

Not loud.

But unmistakable.

My blood turned cold.

Slowly, I stood.

Each step up the staircase felt heavy, deliberate, like walking toward a grave.

The hallway stretched long and silent.

The door to our old chamberthe chamber that now belonged to herstood slightly open.

And inside

Liora and Scott were tangled together on the bed, their bodies close beneath the dim lamplight.

Her hair spilled wildly across her shoulders as she leaned over him. His hands gripped her waist as though she were something precious.

Their laughter drifted through the half-open door.

My legs weakened.

My throat went dry.

Lioras voice broke through the quiet room.

Oh dont stop, she murmured softly.

Scott answered with a low groan.

Youre perfect, he breathed. Always you, Lizzy.

That was enough.

I turned and fled down the stairs.

I didnt cry.

Instead I collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the lower hall, breathing hard as if I had just escaped a hunt.

Their voices still echoed in my ears.

He was fifty.

She was forty-five.

And neither of them felt even a trace of shame.

This was never just betrayal.

It was erasure.

They didnt simply want to humiliate me.

They wanted me to disappear.

To fade from the den I had once built with my own hands.

I curled against the cold floor, trembling.

But something inside me had already begun to change.

A woman who survives this does not remain broken forever.

She remembers.

She sharpens her claws.

She learns to haunt quietly. And she waits.

I woke before the first light brushed the treetops.

Before the ravens began their harsh cries. Before the wolves in the outer dens stirred from sleep.

No mindlink call summoned me. No pack howl demanded my presence.

Just instinct.

The instinct of a woman who had spent decades rising before everyone else, serving a family that had long since forgotten she was once their Luna.

No tears came.

No ache twisted in my chest.

Only breath.

In. Out. Empty.

I washed my face with cold water from the basin, tied my hair into a low knot, and rubbed a small amount of balm over my cracked lips. Nothing elaborate. Nothing beautiful.

Just enough to look presentable.

Enough to endure another day.

When I bent to retrieve the cleaning cloth beneath the bed, my hand brushed against something hidden beneath the wooden frame.

The red satchel.

I pulled it out slowly.

The leather was worn from years of secrecy.

Inside were the things I had hidden away from the pack: small silver coins earned from trading pastries with nearby villages, a moonstone ring from my maiden pack, and a faded photograph taken when I was eighteenbefore I became Scotts mate.

Before the erosion began.

In that photo, my smile was fearless.

My eyes were bright.

My shoulders carried the confidence of a young she-wolf who believed love meant partnership.

I closed the satchel and carried it downstairs like a quiet promise.

The kitchen was dark and cold.

I lit the hearth and began preparing breakfast for the pack.

Eggs cracked into the pan. Bread sliced. Meat placed over the fire.

The movements came automaticallyseasoning, stirring, flippinglike some ritual I had repeated for half my life.

I fed the pack before I ever fed myself.

The kettle was just beginning to whistle when I heard them.

Bare feet against the wooden floor upstairs.

A soft laugh.

Then another.

Low. Satisfied.

They entered the kitchen moments later.

Liora walked in first, wrapped loosely in one of Scotts tunics. The fabric hung open at the collar, revealing bare legs and tangled hair that still carried the scent of him.

Scott followed beside her, freshly washed and relaxed, as if the night had purified him.

Coffee, Evelyn, Liora said lazily, leaning against the counter like she had lived there all her life. Mine with cream. His strong.

I handed them the mugs without speaking.

Scott didnt even glance at me.

He drank and then said flatly, Make bacon and omelets. Lizzy likes them cooked properly. None of that over-salted nonsense you used to make.

Liora smirked.

Shes careful about my figure, Scott added with a chuckle. Though I dont think it matters much.

Liora tilted her head, smiling sweetly.

Well, not everyone wants to look like a dried twig.

I smiled politely.

Not because it amused me.

Because survival sometimes required smiling.

I cracked the eggs into the pan and listened to the oil hiss.

They talked freely behind me.

About the Luciana Den gathering.

About the luxurious guest chambers.

About the soft sheets and the wine.

Their laughter filled the room while I cooked for them like a servant.

Then the front door burst open.

Everyones here! Kaels booming voice echoed through the den. Let the celebration continue!

Lyra followed him inside, excitement glowing on her face.

Mom, look! she squealed, holding up a beautiful leather bag. Liora gifted this to me last night! Can you believe it?

She twirled happily.

And these earrings too! Shes so generous.

Behind them, the twins burst in like a storm.

Fenrir wore dark glasses despite the dim morning light. Orion carried something enormous wrapped in parchment.

Lyra laughed brightly.

Liora gave us the entire penthouse suite at the Luciana Den. We slept like royalty!

And the bathing room, Kael added while pouring wine into a goblet. Huge marble basin. You could swim in it.

It was barely morning.

Orion and Fenrir tore away the parchment covering their surprise.

A giant portrait emerged.

The image showed the family gathered at the Luciana Den feast.

Liora stood proudly in the center.

Scotts arm rested around her waist.

My sons stood beside her.

The twins were in front, smiling brightly.

I wasnt there.

Look, Grandma, Orion said with a smug grin. Dont we look like a real family?

Fenrir shrugged.

Too bad you werent invited. You looked more like the house servant anyway.

Laughter erupted around the room.

Scott chuckled.

Lyra nearly doubled over.

Liora sipped her coffee calmly.

Dont worry, Evelyn, she said sweetly. Ill leave some of my dresses in your wardrobe. Perhaps some perfume too.

Her eyes glimmered with cruelty.

Theyll be tight, but Im sure youll manage.

Scott studied the portrait with satisfaction.

Dress a corpse in silk, he muttered, and its still a corpse.

Disappointment still clings to her scent.

More laughter.

Orion and Fenrir slapped each others hands triumphantly.

And me?

I gathered their empty plates.

One by one.

I washed them quietly while staring through the window at the blooming lemon tree outside.

They believed this humiliation was the end of me.

They had no idea what happens when a Luna finally stops begging to belong.

---

That night, when the pack finally quieted and the laughter faded into drunken sleep, I returned to the main hall.

The portrait hung above the hearth.

Large.

Impossible to ignore.

Kael had positioned it perfectly so every visitor would admire it.

A flawless family.

A perfect pack.

A lie.

I hadnt heard Scott enter behind me.

Jealous again? he said with bored contempt. You stare at that portrait like its supposed to give you meaning.

I didnt answer.

He scoffed.

If I could turn back time, Evelyn, I would have left you in your provincial pack.

His voice hardened.

I should have taken Liora as my Luna from the beginning. Shes superior in every way.

He stepped closer.

Class. Intelligence. Knows how to run a pack.

Then he kicked me.

Hard.

Pain exploded through my knee and I collapsed onto the stone floor.

The cold surface pressed against my palms.

Familiar.

Almost comforting.

Tears slid down my face without permission.

Not from the pain.

But from the sound of his footsteps leaving me behind again.

Enough dramatics, he muttered.

Youre too old for them.

He walked away.

Moments later I heard his voice through the faint pack mindlink.

His tone changed completely.

Warm.

Playful.

Hey, love, he murmured to Liora through their private link. Already missing you.

I wiped my face slowly.

His voice carried excitement I had not heard in years.

Im packing now. Soon well be sailing again. Just you and me beneath the moon.

He laughed softly.

This voyage is going to be unforgettable.

I didnt follow Scott.

He strode through the den with Liora at his side, laughter spilling from him like a young wolf on the night of his first hunt. His voice carried easily through the hall as he spoke into an enchanted comm-scroll, teasing her about moonlit swims and golden wine as though I werent crouched on the cold stone floor, my knees throbbing and my heart splintered in silence.

I rose slowly.

My joints creaked beneath the weight of thirty years of quiet obedience. My hand dragged along the floor as I steadied myself, gathering what little remained of my pride.

I stepped into the washroom and closed the door softly behind me.

The mirror showed a woman I barely recognized.

Swollen eyes. Red cheeks. Hair tangled and dull.

A shadow.

Or perhaps the ghost of a girl I had once beenbefore love stripped away my name and silence stole my voice.

There was no funeral. No ceremony.

Yet I mourned all the same.

Not for him.

Not even for the life we had built.

I mourned for myselffor the girl who had once been whole.

Then footsteps passed the doorway.

Scott.

He didnt knock. Didnt pause to see whether I still breathed.

He was still laughing, still warm and humanbut only when speaking to Liora.

Then he stopped just long enough to throw the words over his shoulder like a blade.

Pack my things. We leave at dawn. A sea voyage.

No please.

No glance.

No acknowledgement that a soul had ever shared this den with him.

I nodded instinctively.

Not that he was looking.

I dried my hands on the crooked towel and crossed the hallway into his chamber.

Chaos greeted me.

Ceremonial tunics tangled with hunting leathers. Boots scattered across the floor. Wolf pelts thrown carelessly across chairs.

An Alpha living like a spoiled pup.

I began folding the garments.

Linen shirts. Dark cloaks. Travel pants.

I polished his cufflinks with the edge of my sleeve and arranged his enchanted amulets neatly beside his grooming potions.

My elbow brushed the small table beside the bed.

A leather folder slid to the floor.

Expecting trade records, I bent to retrieve it.

And froze.

Inside was a travel ledger stamped with the seal of the Luciana shipping clan.

Names written in elegant ink:

Scott Morroco.

Liora Morroco.

Kael Morroco.

Lyra Morroco.

Fenrir Morroco.

Orion Morroco.

Not a single trace of me.

No companion mark. No Lunas name beside the Alpha.

The sea voyage I had dreamed about since I was eighteenthe one he once whispered about beneath the old oak tree at the edge of the pack territoryhad never been meant for me.

Three days from now was Lioras birthday.

He had never remembered mine.

I folded the ledger carefully and returned it to the table.

Then I packed his trunk.

Boots polished until they shone.

Clothes folded with precision.

Healing herbs and strength tonics arranged like offerings for a long journey.

The door burst open.

Ma, Kael called casually, stepping inside without knocking. Pack my things too. Lyras busy.

He held a mug of ale, completely at ease.

And dont forget the twins, he added. Orion needs his rune tablet. Fenrir wants the blue swim tunic. And pack some snackstheyll get restless during the voyage.

Of course they would.

And so I packed.

Small tunics rolled carefully. Shirts folded. Lyras perfume tucked between cloth to keep the glass safe.

Travel rations sealed inside enchanted pouches.

Each item placed neatly inside their trunks.

With care.

With habit.

With the same quiet devotion that had built this household.

When I finished, I returned to my chamber and closed the door.

The silence pressed in around me.

I sat on the edge of the bed, trembling as memories rose uninvited.

I was eighteen again.

Back before Draven had become Scott.

Before the man who would one day kick me to the floor and erase my place in his life.

Evelyn, he had said once, gripping my hand tightly beneath the moonlight, I swear Ill take care of you. Always. No matter what happens.

My heart had fluttered at his words.

Youll never have to worry, he promised softly.

I had smiled, unguarded and hopeful.

Even if the world turns against us? I whispered.

Especially then, he said.

I remember another night.

The pack slept nearby while we lay beneath the silver glow of the moon, our fingers intertwined.

I dont care about rank or power, he murmured fiercely. You are my future. Well build a life no one can touch.

I laughed then.

Young.

Fearless.

You make me believe in forever.

And he kissed me like he meant it.

Like forever had already begun.

But forever ended the day my father discovered us.

The Alpha of my birth pack stood before me like a storm given flesh.

You cannot drag our bloodline into this disgrace, he said coldly. If you marry that boy, you will no longer be my daughter.

I love him, I said, my voice trembling but determined.

You love a shadow, my father replied. And shadows devour everything.

Thirty years later, the boy who had sworn to protect me had vanished.

In his place stood a man who kicked me aside and prepared a voyage for another woman.

I sat there in the quiet room, watching the past crumble into dust.

And for the first time in years

I smiled.

Not gently.

Not kindly.

Bitterly.

I walked to the corner of the room where an old communication stone rested on a small wooden stand.

No one in the house used it anymore.

I placed my palm against its surface and whispered the activation rune.

The stone glowed faintly.

A distant connection stirred.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a voice answered through the crystal.

Hello?

Older.

Heavier.

But unmistakably familiar.

My throat tightened.

For a moment I could not speak.

Tears slipped down my face as I gripped the glowing stone like a lifeline.

Father, I whispered, my voice breaking.

Its me.

Evelyn.

The communication stone was still warm beneath my palm when my fathers voice came through.

Calm.

Heavy with the weight of years.

A quiet strength forged from long seasons of waiting.

Come home, Evelyn, he said.

The simple words cracked something open inside mesomething I had buried beneath decades of silence.

Ive been waiting for you, he continued softly. Twenty years, Evelyn. Twenty years.

Twenty years.

Twenty years of wondering if I would ever hear his voice again.

Twenty years of holding my pride like armor while my life slowly withered away.

And me

Too stubborn.

Too afraid.

Too broken to reach for him.

My knees nearly gave way, but I caught the bedpost before I fell. Slowly, I lowered myself onto the mattress.

Tears spilled freely now, burning through the emptiness inside my chest.

Im coming home, I whispered.

My voice was barely more than breath.

Like a ghost brushing against the world.

He didnt answer immediately.

Only the steady sound of his breathing traveled through the stone.

Solid.

Grounding.

A lifeline stretched across twenty years.

I ended the connection before my voice betrayed me again.

---

The door creaked.

Draven stepped inside like a shadow slipping through the crack.

His eyes were sharp, cold, searching.

Predatory.

I know you saw the travel scroll, he said with a smirk, as though this humiliation were some shared joke.

Six names only.

He counted them casually.

Me. Liora. Kael. Lyra. The twins.

His smile widened.

Thats all.

My throat tightened.

You left me out on purpose, I said quietly.

The words trembled despite my effort.

His expression hardened.

When I return, he said slowly, Ill buy you a diamond set from the southern traders.

He shrugged.

Maybe take you somewhere nice. The island territories. Something to make up for it.

A consolation prize.

Like tossing a scrap of meat to a wolf you had already beaten.

Then he turned and left the room without another glance.

The door closed behind him like the lid of a coffin.

---

Morning came.

The kitchen smelled of sizzling meat and toasted bread.

I moved automatically, preparing breakfast for the pack.

Omelets.

Bacon.

Fresh bread.

The sounds of laughter drifted from the main hall.

The twins voices rang with bright excitement.

This voyage will be incredible! Kael shouted. The greatest sea journey the Luciana traders have hosted!

Liora arrived soon after, her arms filled with food containers from the market.

She dropped them onto the table with dramatic annoyance.

I refuse to eat Evelyns cooking, she announced loudly.

Her eyes flicked toward me with open contempt.

Its dry. Tasteless. Like chewing tree bark.

She laughed softly.

Exactly like her.

The twins giggled.

Liora crossed her arms and tilted her head thoughtfully.

Family meals used to mean something, she said loudly enough for everyone to hear. Now they only remind us how pitiful some people are.

Her gaze swept over me slowly.

Evelyn tries. Bless her heart.

She smiled cruelly.

But you cant polish a stone thats already cracked.

Kael leaned against the counter.

Honestly, Mom, he added casually, why pretend? Your cooking feels like punishment.

Lyra laughed brightly.

Every burnt edge feels like revenge.

Liora opened another container and placed it proudly on the table.

Eat, everyone, she said grandly. Real food.

We leave in an hour.

The family gathered around her offerings eagerly.

They ate and joked as though I werent even there.

A servant.

A ghost.

Just before they departed, Dravens voice cut sharply across the room.

Where is my coin pouch?

His gaze locked onto me immediately.

Accusing.

You took it, he said flatly. Thats what you do. Hide things. Hide responsibility.

I shook my head silently.

His hand struck my face before I could speak.

The blow sent me crashing to the floor.

Warm blood trickled down from my lip.

Liora gasped theatrically.

Oh! she exclaimed sweetly.

Brother-in-law, forgive me.

She reached into her purse and revealed the missing pouch.

I must have taken it accidentally while searching for my earrings.

Her eyes met mine for a brief moment.

Triumphant.

Another humiliation completed.

The family gathered their bags and prepared to leave.

Dont worry, Mum, Kael said lightly. Ill bring you a souvenir from the voyage.

Lyra smiled sweetly.

A pretty charm, perhaps.

Dirty laundry, Grandma! the twins sang, sticking out their tongues.

Then the front door closed behind them.

Silence swallowed the house.

---

I didnt cry.

I walked straight to my chamber.

I knelt beside the bed and pulled the red satchel from beneath it.

I packed only what mattered.

The silver coins.

The moonstone ring from my birth pack.

The photograph of the girl I used to be.

Everything else stayed behind.

I left the den before the afternoon sun reached its peak.

A carriage waited at the edge of town, heading north toward the mountain territories.

As I climbed inside, the mindlink stirred faintly.

Dravens voice.

Guard the house while were gone. One week.

Another message followed soon after.

Sorry about earlier. But you provoked me.

Always jealous.

Always ruining things.

I smiled.

Not from happiness.

From clarity.

I severed the mindlink connection completely.

Blocked him from my thoughts.

His voice vanished.

Gone.

I leaned back against the carriage seat as the road carried me farther away.

Farther from the den that had never truly been my home.

For the first time in thirty years

I was finally going somewhere that was.

Home.