“Daddy, I want blood oranges!” I yelled, tugging on my dad’s pants.

“Shelly! Don’t be a brat.” My mom was quick to scold me, but I rolled my eyes. There was a reason I asked my dad, not her. She was such a killjoy sometimes.

“It is alright, hun. She is the birthday girl.” My dad’s chuckle reached my ears, and I smiled. He lowered himself until he was at eye level, and he held my hands. “Shelly, you know we don’t have any of the trees nearby. You still have a birthday to attend, and there will be cake. I can also get normal oranges for you if you wish.”

“No!” I whined, refusing to hear anything. It was my birthday, and it was only right that I get what I want.

“Alright, your mom and I would go get some for you after your party.”

“Yay!” I clapped in excitement, already knowing that I had my dad wrapped around my fingers. “I want to come with.” I whined, looking at him with those puppy eyes that I know he can’t resist.

“You know we can’t go, baby; there are rumors of a rogue pack camping around there, and it could be dangerous.” My mom interrupted us, prying my hands from his pants.

“I am the alpha; no one can mess with me.” My dad bragged, puffing his chest out, and my mom managed to smile. “It could be a family picnic; what do you think?”

I know my mom was already sold by the family picnic, and she reluctantly shrugged her shoulders in agreement.

***

“Are you happy?” My dad asked me as we sat under the blood orange tree, but I was too engrossed in my feast to reply. The juices stained my lips as I drank, and I could only nod my head to show my excitement.

“She is such a pig.” I heard my elder brother Samuel grumble under his breath, but I pretended like I didn’t hear him. I wasn’t going to allow him to ruin such a happy moment.

“See, I told you nothing was going to happen.” My dad told my mom, but she just ignored him.

We were still eating happily and chatting when our ears pricked as we heard what was a growl, and immediately our laughter ceased.

“What the hell is that?” My brother was the first person to jump on his feet, and he stared in the direction of the growl and everyone jumped to their feet, my dad pushing me behind him.

“I want you to grab your sister and run, in case of anything.” My dad was telling my brother, but tears were already brimming out of my eyes.

“No, I don’t want to leave you.” I protested, but my brother had a tight grip on my hand, and I knew he would never let me have my way.

We heard them before we saw them, and they slowly emerged from the shadows. Six ferocious rogues close in on us, their canines long and extended and dripping with saliva as they anticipated their meal.

“Samuel run!” My dad yelled, and at the same time, the wolf pounced on us. But my brother was already dragging me away, and we ran through the forest, the tears streaming down my eyes uncontrollably.

A wolf was quickly gaining on us, and he jumped, getting ready to pounce, but my brother leaped forward, positioning himself between us.

And I opened my mouth and screamed. Then everything went black, and I crashed on the floor.

I could almost taste the heaviness in the air as I woke up. The sorrow hung in the air, refusing to leave, and I needed no more to tell me what had just happened.

“You kill them.” My brother’s voice was barely above a whisper, and I couldn’t say anything. He was right. “Your selfishness and greed had finally killed our parents. I hope you are happy now that they are dead, but don’t ever think of crossing my path again. You are dead to me.”

His words shattered me, leaving me in broken pieces, but I watched him go, unable to say anything.

And for the remaining year I lived there, I had learned to avoid him and everybody until I had become a ghost.

I wasn’t even allowed to attend my brother’s coronation.

For years, I was an outcast, and this continued until it was my eighteenth birthday, and it was time to shift. I sat there alone in the cold forest ground, waiting for the shift to happen. But when the morning came, it was clear that something was wrong with me.

That was the first time my brother came to my room after a long time. “I have received news that you didn’t shift yesterday, and it is very obvious that you are cursed, and I can’t allow such in my pack anymore.”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean?” I sat up on the bed, unable to believe my ears.

“You are banished!” He spat out, his words dripping in venom, and he stormed out of my room, but I heard his last whisper. “I hope you die.”

Before I could process his words, two warriors burst inside my room, and they bundled me out of the pack amidst the sneering of everyone.

**

My stomach growled in protest, and I rubbed my belly, walking further into the forest in search of food, when I lost my footstep and fell down, blacking out.

I woke up in an unfamiliar place, the stench of antiseptic and blood so strong that it almost had me gagging.

“I see you are awake.” The man said, his eyes filled with compassion as he looked at me. “I am sorry, but I have bad news.”

I didn’t even react when he talked, when he told me I was terminally ill and would likely die. I have been living without a wolf for so long that it was bound to happen.

I think my brother was right; maybe I was truly cursed.

**

I stood in front of the packhouse I once grew up in. Samuel had worked tirelessly for the pack, and he had refurbished the pack, and even now I could hear the loud music blasting from the common room in honor of his birthday.

I entered inside and waited in front of his room, clutching the papers in my hand. The sound of laughter echoed through the hallway, and Samuel appeared together with my cousin, their laughter ceasing as they saw me.

“You win.”

“Shelly?” My brother’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he rubbed his eyes to see clearly.

“You win. I am going to die.”

I flung the papers in his face, feeling a little satisfaction when the papers flew and cut him. A tiny droplet of blood trickled down his face, but it was quick to heal. “What is all this?”

“Shelly?” Liecia's eyes widened as she looked at me, as if she were seeing a ghost. “How did you get here?” I don’t know which one hurt—seeing my brother act like a stranger or seeing Liecia behaving like I was leprous.

We had all been close, but I guess that was all a memory.

“I have stage three cancer. I know it is funny; werewolves don’t get sick, but I don’t have my wolf, so it was bound to happen.” I told him, watching his reaction. Something flashed in his eyes—sympathy—or I was probably daydreaming, and he took a step back.

“I knew you were cursed, but I didn’t think you would bring it here.”

“Samuel, I am literally dying.” My voice broke as I spoke, and it was taking everything in me not to break down.

“It is Alpha Samuel to you,” he spat out with such venom that goosebumps spread all over my arm. “I thought I was clear when I told you that I didn’t want to see your face again. Goddess knows what curse you have brought back with you. I know you want to kill me the same way you killed our parents, but that is not going to happen.”

A flash of pain went through my chest at the mention of our parents, and I rubbed my chest, trying to soothe the pain, but he had already turned to leave, taking Liecia with him, so I followed behind him. “I didn't kill them! You knew they were attacked by rogues. We were together!” I yelled after him, tears brimming down my eyes.

I chased after him, screaming the words for all to hear, but the rain had begun pouring, drowning out my voice. He halted when he got to the door and glared at me. “I don't know what stupid paper you are talking about, but I don’t want you in my life again. Take this and get out!” He bellowed, flinging the paper into the downpour, and I watched in horror as it landed on the floor, the rain beating down on it until it was unrecognizable.

I didn’t hear them coming, but hands grabbed me, and they began to drag me out, disregarding my screams, and they deposited me outside of the pack.

I collapsed on the bare floor, sobbing in pain even as the rain continued to lash down on me. I wept until I was exhausted, and I picked myself up to begin the long journey home.

My shoulders shook with each step, my body trembling from the cold, but I continued the journey home, dragging myself through the puddle until I saw the lone cottage that stood away from the pack, and I entered inside, collapsing at the door.

The rain had seeped into my bones, weakening me, and with a deep sigh, I closed my eyes, surrendering myself to the darkness.

“Shelly?” I heard the voice of my brother, and I blinked my eyes, hoping it wasn’t a dream.

“Samuel? Is that you?”

"Yes, Shelly, it is I.”

“Samuel!” I cried out, wrapping my hands around him and digging my nails into his neck to confirm that he was indeed the one in the flesh. And I broke down as I got my confirmation, tears streaming down my eyes.

“Shelly, it is alright. I am here.” He tried to console him, rubbing circles on my back, but I continued crying, holding onto him tighter.

I don’t care if it was going to turn out to be a dream; I was just happy to be with my brother.

“Shelly?” I turned my head to the sound of the voice, and then I saw them—my dad, standing tall and strong, with my mom by his side. They wore identical smiles; their gazes were locked onto mine, and the dam broke.

“Dad, mom? Is this real?”

“My baby.” My mom opened her arms for me, and I wasted no time running into her arms.

Yes, she was real.

The familiar scent that always clung to her clothes filled my nose, and I dug my nose deeper into her neck, inhaling her scent.

“Dad.” I cried out as I ran to his arm, and his warmth enveloped me like a thick blanket.

“Shelly, how have you been, sweetie?” My father whispered as he stroked my hair gently. “Please stop crying. It breaks my heart to see you in so much pain. We will always be here for you, and I know you will be fine.”

“Dad?” His voice grew fainter as he talked, and when I looked at him, he was fading away, along with my mother.

“Mom? Dad?” I screamed, running towards them, but the more I ran, the more they faded. However, I refused to give up, and I continued running, unable to let them go.

“We will always be with you.” Their faint whisper echoed across the room, and in an instant, they were all gone.

“Noooooo!” I cried out in despair, and I woke up in my bed.

I slowly opened my eyes, taking in my immediate surroundings, but the familiar comfort of my bed was nowhere to be found. Instead, I was hit with the metallic stench of blood, its overpowering aroma filling my nostrils and making my stomach churn.

I gagged, my body recoiling from the overwhelming scent, and just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room, until Dr. Theo's worried face came into view, his forehead etched with deep lines of concern.

“Shelly?”

“I know, I know.” I sighed, interrupting him before he would go off, but who was I kidding?

He would never keep quiet on things like that.

“Shelly, you don’t have to kill yourself any faster before the sickness kills you. That was a foolish thing you did, walking all the way here in the heavy rain.” His words lashed on my skin like strokes of cane. “You were lucky I came to check up on you, and I had to rush you to the clinic. Please don’t do this to yourself.” His voice broke as he finished talking, and I knew he was only concerned about me.

I reached up, taking his hands in mine and gently squeezing it. “I know, it was a foolish thing I did, and I apologize. I promise to take care of myself better.” Dr. Theo reluctantly accepted my apology, and he squeezed my hand in return.

“Please take care of yourself, Shelly.”

“I will, and Dr. Theo, thank you. I can’t even begin to thank you enough for looking after me like a daughter even when everyone abandoned me and the only family I have wants nothing to do with me. Thank you.” A lone tear escaped my eye, rolling down my cheek.

“I will always be here for you, Shelly, no matter what happens.” I allowed the doctor to fuzz over me, and I looked at him, my eyes following him as he took my vitals.

“Am I good to go?” I asked him, and I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he released a deep breath, unable to lie.

“Everything looks good and you are fine, but you have to take it easy; you can’t go stressing yourself.”

“Of course, but I think I will prefer to rest at home. Thank you so much.” I stood up and wore my shoe, bidding the good doctor farewell, and I made for home.

But as I opened the door, I bumped into my brother, and the sudden momentum made me stagger, but I was quick to right myself before I fell down. “Samuel?” The shock was obvious in my voice; he was the last person I was expecting.

But his face turned sour as he heard my voice, and he opened his mouth, ready to curse me out, when I spotted Liecia coming towards us, holding a pharmacy bag.

“Samuel, I got the drugs.” She held the bag up for him to see, but she hadn’t noticed me. My heart skipped a bit as I heard the word medicine, and a jolt of panic course through her veins.

“Samuel! Are you sick?” I held his hands, my eyes darting around his body looking for signs. “Are you dying?” This can’t be happening to me. Samuel was the only close family I had, and even though we were not on talking terms, I didn’t want anything to happen to him.

“Get your filthy hands off me! Don't you dare touch me.” He spat out with a biting venom, flinging my hands away.

“B-but b-brother?”

His hands wrapped around my neck in an instance, and he squeezed it tight, constricting my airflow. “Don't you dare call me that name! I am not your fucking brother! You are dead to me!” His eyes were cold as they glared at me. I don't know how he could possibly hurt me over and over, but he did it, and he wasn’t done. “I only have one sister, and that is Liecia.” He said, glancing at his cousin.

“S-samuel.” I stuttered, my tongue suddenly too heavy. I couldn’t believe the hatred I was seeing in his eyes, and it was all directed towards me.

“It is Alpha Samuel to you, and you need to start respecting me as your alpha.” With his final words, he hurled me to the ground, and I crumpled like a ragdoll.