I was standing at the top of the staircase, having a minor argument with my cousin, Emily. Her heels slipped on the polished marble, and she tumbled down the stairs. I gasped as I was horrified seeing her fall. Darek and Mike rushed to Emily’s side.

"Emily, oh my god!" Darek exclaimed while helping her up.

Mike glared at me, asking coldly,"What did you do?"

Darek's eyes narrowed as he accused me, "Janette, did you push her?"

My face turned pale as I explained,"No, Darek! I didn't touch her!"

Emily, looking dazed, pointed at me before responding,"You...you were standing right there. You must have..."

Mike stepped forward, saying,"We saw you arguing earlier. You're always jealous of Emily."

I suppressed my tears while saying, "That's not true! I would never hurt Emily."

Darek’s expression remained skeptical as he said,"We'll discuss this later, Janette."

I asked in a trembling voice, "Darek, how can you believe this? You know me, don't you? I would never harm anyone."

“Enough,” Darek’s eyes turned dark as he asked Emily in a gentle voice, “Emily, are you alright?"

Emily nodded. Her eyes were still locked on me. She further added,"I'm fine, thanks to you two. But I want answers, Janette."

My heart sank. I looked up at them. Hoping they would believe me, I said, "Please believe me. I didn't do it.”

***

It was my father's death Anniversary today. Two years ago, on this day my father left me forever. I got ready to go out and visit his grave. It had always been hard to see him in a graveyard. No one would like to meet their loved ones in the graveyards. Fortunately, I had two friends, Darek and Mike who always accompanied me there and never let me cry. I always wonder how difficult it would have been if I hadn't had them with me.

They used to come pick me up from my home and then go with me to the cemetery, offer flowers to my Dad along with me and tell him that they will always take care of me. However, I was getting late and they hadn't arrived yet. I wondered if they forgot the death anniversary of my father. But, how could that be possible? They never forgot anything related to me until Emily arrived.

I dismissed the adverse thought coming to my mind and came out of my room. I was just going to dial Darek’ number to ask him if he still remembered what day today was and suddenly Emily came before me, looking very excited.

“Janette,” She yelled from the door of her room, “Where are you going, all dressed up?” She asked while staring at me from top to bottom.

Emily was my cousin from my father's side. Two years ago, she offended the Alpha of a very sinister pack. Her mother asked help from my father, the Alpha of Silver wing pack. Though not being powerful and influential enough, my father went to save Emily. He managed to save her life but in that process, he couldn't save his own life and left me in this world all alone.

My Dad and Mom had taken divorce years ago. My mother left father's pack and settled down abroad. I lived with my father and now he was gone.

I couldn't help remembering how my father died saving Emily’s life by seeing her face in front of my eyes. I couldn't help feeling remorseful. I walked up to her and asked, “Have you seen Darek and Mike? Did they ask for me?”

Emily had been living with me for six months as her mother needed to go abroad and she couldn't leave Emily alone in her pack. She asked me to stay with her. Despite not being so fond of her, I couldn't refuse.

“Yeah! They came early in the morning but they didn't ask for you, my dear. They came to wish me.” She said while stroking her hair backward.

“To wish you? For what?” I raised my eyebrows.

“How can you forget, Janette? It's my Birthday, today. You should have wished me too.” She pouted.

“Oh, I didn't remember that. Have a great day, Emily. I wish you luck.” I wished her for her birthday before asking, “Where are they now? I’m getting late for my Dad’s cemetery.”

“They are decorating the hall for my birthday celebration. Do you know they brought a beautiful gown for me to wear to the party? It will look really pretty on me. Anyways, what are you going to wear in the celebration?” She asked excitedly, I chuckled. How could Darek and Mike forget my Dad's death anniversary and busied themselves in decorating the home for Emily's birthday celebration that was going to be held in the night.

I ignored Emily's question and walked past her while saying, “I’m getting late, Emily. I’ll talk to you after visiting my Dad’s grave.”

I didn't expect Emily to be full of herself as she came before me and kept asking me to stay and help her in preparing her birthday party. In annoyance I brushed her hands off. But, to my shock, she pretended to be pushed and rolled from the second floor down to the first, immediately drawing the attention of my two friends, Darek Collins and Mike Jones who just emerged from the main door.

Their eyes grew dark as they rushed to help Emily. After getting up, Emily looked up at me with pitiful eyes. She pretended as if I pushed her, even causing my friends to believe her.

The two of my friends looked at me with a pair of accusing eyes.

Despite my desperate plea, they didn't believe me and turned to Emily.

“We should immediately take her to the hospital.” Mike blurted out.

Darek went out to start the car while Mike carried Emily in his arms to bring her to the hospital, completely forgetting that today was the anniversary of my father's death.

I couldn't help recalling my childhood. When my father got divorced, he invited his friends, Daniel Collins and William Jones who were the Alphas of their respective pack. He had entrusted my care to Collins and Jones.

At that time their sons who were older than me, liked me very much and became my friends. Due to my congenital heart condition, Darek and Mike always took good care of me.

If anyone at pack school mocked me for not having a mother, they would stand up for me and beat the shit out of them. I was often envied for having two Alphas as my protector.

Soon, we grew older. I completed my graduation. Darek became a lawyer and Mike became a doctor—Mike’s choice motivated by the wish to one day perform surgery on me himself.

However, after my father’s death, Emily appeared and everything had changed. I shook my head and decided not to think about the past anymore.

I went to my father’s grave to say goodbye, deciding to leave this painful place and let the three of them be.

I returned home late at night to avoid Emily's birthday party. I didn't want to be a part of this party because I didn't want to see Darek and Mike happily celebrating the day and doing all sorts of funny things for Emily on which my father died. But, when I came back, I didn't find anyone at home. It turned out they hadn't returned from the hospital.

‘Is Emily’s condition really that bad?’ I thought. I remembered she wasn't injured much. She caught only a few scratches on her body. Though it was enough for my two friends to completely ignore me and think only about her whose worlds once revolved around me.

I took my phone out to call Emily and ask if she was alright. But, I was amazed by the number of messages she sent me earlier. She sent me several pictures of the birthday celebration in the hospital with a message that read [Doctor said I couldn't be discharged for two days. Hence, Darek and Mike planned to celebrate my birthday here. It's really fun to have two suitors crazy about you, isn't it Janette?]

Her texts were provocative. She had been doing it since the day she arrived at my home. First provoking me and then becoming a pitiful soul, painting me as villain before Darek and Mike. But, I was surprised with my two friends. How could they be so blind to always trust her and blame me? Didn't they know me well? Didn't they know my personality before? How could they be so easily fooled by her?

Even thinking that frustrated me. I had stopped explaining myself to them or trying to show Emily’s true color. I just let them be.

Since she had already answered my questions in her previous texts, I let go of the idea of calling her. Besides, she had Darek and Mike at the hospital to take care of her the whole night. What impact would it cause if I called her or not?

In the morning I received a call from my Dad's studio. Since I was secretly planning to leave this pack for good, I wanted to hand over his studio to his trustable person, his beta, Mathew to take care of it. One of the old employees of his studio called me and told me there was a minor issue in the paperwork. He asked me to go to the studio and look into it as soon as possible. I immediately got ready to leave for the studio. I was already getting late and my phone started beeping. Emily left me several calls. When I picked her call, she said, “Janette, my clothes got dirty since Darek and Mike kept rubbing cake all over my body. Can you please bring some clean clothes to the Hospital?”

I knew she called me just to show off her fun with my two childhood friends whom she snatched very easily. She wanted to continue talking but I cut her off and said, “ Emily, I have urgent work at my Dad’s studio. I can't talk to you right now and about the clothes, I’m sorry I can't help.”

Before she could say anything or show off to me, I hung up and left for the studio.

I handled the work at the studio and when I returned home I found Darek and Mike waiting for me in the Hall. They were my childhood sweethearts. So, I had shared the keys with them. They could easily come and go at my home. There was a time when they kept lying at my home and chill with me but now their arrival only meant for Emily. I ignored them in the hall, thinking it might be another visit related to Emily.

“Janette,” Darek called me from behind. I turned back to meet their gaze. With just one glance I could guess something was wrong. Mike walked up to me, saying, “Janette, how could you be so inconsiderate towards Emily?”

“What happened now?” I asked, trying to remember if I did something wrong.

“Emily asked you to bring clean clothes for her in the hospital but you refused rudely.” Darek accused me.

“You didn't even visit her in the hospital or call her for once to know how she is doing. How can you be so inconsiderate towards her, Janette? She is after all your cousin?” Mike added.

“I had some work,” I replied flatly.

“Which work could be so important that kept you from asking your cousin’s health?” James asked with a pair of dark eyes. I smiled sarcastically before saying, “Work like visiting my father's grave on his death anniversary, handling an issue caused in his studio. Do you want me to explain more?”

Darek and Mike glanced each other before looking at me with a pair of eyes that laced with guilt and surprise. Darek asked, “ Janette, why didn't you remind us that it was Uncle Max’s death anniversary? We would have accompanied you there.”

“Since when you have started creating drama out of everything, Janette? You didn't tell us anything just to make us feel bad for you and blame Emily for everything, isn’t it?” Mike threw an absurd accusation on me.

Before I could say anything, Mike’s phone rang. It was Emily’s call. They then completely ignored me and walked upstairs to bring her clothes. So, the guilt and concern in their eyes for me was just for seconds.

They came back with Emily’s clothes and were ready to leave. But, I stopped them.

“Wait… I have something for you two.” I said in indifferent voice.

I led them in my room and opened my wardrobe. I took out the bracelets they had presented me on my birthday. I had kept them very safe. But now, I took those bracelets and gave them back because saying, “Please take it.”

They looked up at me in confusion and asked why I was returning their birthday gift.

“The style no longer suits me. I might need a new one.” I replied in a flat voice.

“You are right. After you said this, I also think this bracelet doesn't look very good on your wrist. I think It will look good on Emily's wrist. What do you think, Mike?” Darek said while looking carefully at the bracelets. Mike eyes' shined brightly as he said in an excited voice, “You are right. It was one of the latest collections and very expensive. Emily would surely love it.”

Darek then turned to me before saying, “ Janette, you didn't give any gift to Emily on her birthday yesterday. I think it can be the best present you can offer to your cousin.”

“ Darek is correct.” Mike added.

They didn't go to the depth of my words and promised me to buy a new one for me that would suit me better.

“Alright,” I said flatly before turning to my wardrobe to close it. Only now did they notice my wardrobe that was all vacant.

Darek narrowed his eyes as he asked, “Janette, why is your wardrobe empty? Where are your belongings?”

“What is going with you, Janette? Is everything alright?” Mike asked in a concerned voice.

After my father’s death, his home was a heartache to me. It has always been difficult to live here without him. However, Darek and Mike were my biggest support. With them, I never felt alone. However, after Emily's arrival, their feelings for me had been shifting slowly. Most of the time, I stayed at home crying day and night, missing my father. Meanwhile they were busy making Emily feel comfortable in a new place. Seeing them moving around Emily day and night who was the cause of my father's death, my heartache. I couldn't tolerate it anymore. So, I decided to move out from this place.

I remained silent. I didn't want to tell them all this. Seeing me like this, they were worried. Darek asked in a more concerned voice, “Janette, are you having any trouble? Or you are going out on a trip? You can tell us. We will help you.”

Before I could say anything, Mike's phone rang. It was again Emily's call. He picked up the call and her pitiful voice sounded from the other end,

“Mike, where are You and Darek? I’m at the hospital alone. I’m feeling really bad. Can you please hurry up? I want to move out immediately.”

“Don't be scared, Emily. We are coming soon.” Mike comforted her before hanging up as if she was a kid who was scared in the hospital.

Both of them left immediately to bring Emily home, completely ignoring me.

I sighed and shut the door. At that moment, my phone rang. I picked up the call. It was my Mom.

“Janette,” she called me in a soft voice, “It was the death anniversary of your father yesterday. How are you now? I wanted to call you but I thought you had your friends to accompany you. I know they will never let you cry.”

My mother’s words brought tears to my eyes, but I suppressed them. She then continued, “Janette, I met with an accident yesterday and got hospitalized. I want to see you. Can you please come over and visit me when you have time?”

“Mom,” I called her anxiously, “ Why didn't you tell me earlier? How did this happen? How are you now?”

“I’m okay, dear. Don't be so worried. I didn't call you yesterday because I didn't want you to be so worried about me. It was already a hard day for you. It's just that I’m getting old. I don't know how many days I have left. I want to spend some more time with you.”

“Mom, please don't say that. You will live long and don't worry, I’ll immediately book a flight to come see you.” I replied.

“Janette, there is one more thing I want to tell you.” She paused for a while then continued, “ You see your father is no more and I’m getting old. It's time that you should also settle down and find a suitable husband for you so that your mother can rest in peace.”

“Mom, please don't worry about me so much.” I tried to stop her but she cut me off and continued,“Janette, hear me out please. I have fixed a date for you with Sebastian Moore. He is the Alpha of Knighthood pack, one of the most powerful packs among the kingdom. Earlier I didn't interfere in your personal affairs because I always thought you would pick one of your childhood friends as your husband. But, after knowing Sebastian, I think he will be the best choice for you.”

“ Janette, your father's pack was not strong enough and after his death, it's so hard on you to handle pack duties alone. Besides, many people in the pack oppose you because you are a girl. After you get married to Sebastian, your position in the pack will never be challenged and he will even help you in handling pack duties.” She added.

I remembered how my parents used to celebrate my birthday together every year, even after their divorce. They will joke how close I was with Darek and Mike that made them think I would surely marry one of them after growing up. On this, Darek and Mike would fight. They both used to take their names and say that I will choose them. Now, my father was gone and my two childhood friends had shifted their feelings.

“Janette, why are you not saying anything? Please, don't get anxious about what I said. If you already had someone in your heart, I would surely not force you. After all, both Darek and Mike are nice kids. I just wanted you to consider Sebastian as well. But, if you don't want…”

“I will consider it.” I replied in a stern voice and hung up.