Chapter 1

My brother is the Alpha of the Moonlight Pack, and I should have been the happiest little wolf in the pack.

But my brother's destined mate Selene accused me of bullying her.

In a fit of rage, my brother, the only family I had left in this world, sent me to the Pack Rehabilitation Center —a place for underage criminals and delinquent wolves.

For two years, I have been abused until I permanently lost my ability to shift, becoming the docile sister he wanted.

But when he discovered I'd lost my wolf and become a true Omega, he went mad.

"Skye, please, just call me brother one more time!"

After my brother's mate accused me of bullying her, my brother sent me to the Pack Rehabilitation Center for troubled young wolves.

I was finally allowed out after two years, but I had permanently lost my ability to shift because of the abuse. My brother went crazy when he found out.

……

On my eighteenth birthday, rain poured down as I was finally allowed to leave the rehabilitation center.

My brother didn't come to get me.

"Selene isn't feeling well. Come back on your own," he said over the phone, his voice ice cold.

I silently packed my things.

In the isolated center, the handlers claimed we disobedient children were possessed by demons.

They tortured us daily—burning, electrocuting, and forcing silver-laced potions down our throats under the pretext of "suppressing the demons within us."

Each act of resistance was met with even more brutal treatment.

The daily torture left permanent damage on my underage body. I discovered I'd lost my ability to shift into a wolf, so I could only slowly walk toward what I remembered as home.

The day my brother brought me here, the journey seemed so short.

Too short for me to explain that the burns on Selene's body weren't my doing.

Too short for my brother's anger to cool before he pushed me into that lightless cage.

But now, I walked for hours in the rain, my clothes completely soaked, and still couldn't find home.

Perhaps I no longer had a home.

Our parents died when we were young, leaving just my brother and me to rely on each other.

And now, for Selene's sake, he'd abandoned me too.

During my year at the center, he never visited once.

One time, when a silver whip damaged my spine, I desperately wanted to go home, desperately needed my brother.

But when I called, he hung up before I could finish speaking.

"Don't act pitiful in front of me."

My brother had discarded me, and I couldn't find my way home.

"What drama are you causing now? After a year inside, you're still this stubborn?"

My brother rushed into the Pack Patrol outpost, frowning at my drenched body as he launched into a tirade.

"Selene is sick today, that's the only reason I didn't pick you up. You're an adult now, you can shift into a wolf, can't you even find your way home? Did you have to make such a scene, expecting me to coddle you?"

"I'm sorry, brother. I didn't mean to—I'm just so tired. I couldn't cross Shadow Valley alone to get home."

My legs trembled. Just hearing his angry voice reminded me of my days at the center. A biological fear washed over me, my already shivering body growing even colder.

Seeing my brother's displeased silence, I dropped to all fours at his feet.

"It's my fault, all my fault. Brother, please forgive me. Don't—don't send me back there. I'll be good, brother."

The Beta guards were stunned. One helped me up, gently advising my brother, "She's barely an adult wolf. Crossing the valley alone is genuinely dangerous. Try to be understanding of your pack mate."

"Let's go home. Stop embarrassing yourself here," my brother said, his face ashen as he turned to leave.

I followed close behind him, matching his every step.

Before getting in the car, I carefully placed my jacket on the seat.

"What are you doing?" he frowned at me.

Eyes downcast, I whispered, "I'm dirty. I don't want to soil your car."

My brother's brows were tightly knit. I could tell he was upset, so I lowered my head further, trying to avoid his attention.

After a long pause, I heard his impatient command: "Get in!"

I'd been gone too long. This home where my brother and I had lived for over a decade was unrecognizable, transformed into something utterly foreign.

The photos of my brother and me that once hung in the living room had vanished, replaced by pictures of him with Selene.

The cream-colored sofa I'd begged my brother to custom order was gone, replaced by a pink one I detested.

My bedroom had become completely unrecognizable. All my belongings had disappeared, and the entire room reeked of another she-wolf's scent.

"Is that you, Skye?"

Selene emerged from my brother's bedroom with a smug smile dancing on her lips.

"You've been away so long, so I invited Selene to move in. Her leg—it's permanently damaged from when you burned her with that fire. You should help take care of her." My brother walked over, wrapping his arm possessively around Selene's waist. "I had someone clean out the small attic room. That's where you'll be staying now."

I glanced up at the dark room above. A musty odor wafted down—it used to be where they stored hunted game.

It was fine. At least I had somewhere to sleep.

At the rehabilitation center, eight of us were crammed into one airless cage.

During hot weather, I'd often wake in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, feeling like a boulder was crushing my chest, making it impossible to breathe.

But even that wasn't the worst of it. The most terrifying part was that one of the handlers was a pedophile. Not long after I arrived, one night while I was half-asleep, I felt someone touching me.

My eyes flew open to see a pair of hungry eyes staring down at me.

I tried to scream, but his hand clamped firmly over my mouth.

I couldn't make a sound. He was a mature wolf, and the enormous power difference made resistance futile.

I clearly saw the other girls open their eyes.

They witnessed everything but not one stood up to stop him.

After that night, I never again slept peacefully in that place.

By comparison, this attic—though small and gloomy—was clean and tidy. For me, having such a place to call my own was a blessing.

"Skye, I've taken your room and forced you to live up here. You're not upset with me, are you?" Selene's voice dripped with false concern, her smile barely concealing her taunting.

In the past, I would have lunged at such a fake, two-faced wolf.

I disliked Selene from our first meeting. I've always hated these manipulative females who cling to others, but she always found ways to haunt me.

At our middle school graduation party, she maneuvered to get me alone, then deliberately burned her own legs with fire.

When everyone rushed over, they witnessed the aftermath. Through her tearful accusations, they all branded me as the cruel girl who bullied her packmate.

I'll never forget that day—my brother cradling Selene in his arms while looking at me with disappointment, anger, and disgust mingled in his eyes.

"You've disappointed me beyond words. You're no sister of mine."

But I never hurt her.

That night, I waited for my brother at home for hours. He didn't return or answer my calls.

I never saw my brother come home. Instead, strange Betas burst into our house, dragged me into a car, and took me to that hellish place.

Without giving me any chance to explain, my brother threw me into the Moonlight Pack Rehabilitation Center—a place for underage criminals and delinquent wolves.

"I failed to raise you properly. Stay there and reflect on your actions. Atone for crippling Selene's leg."

From that moment, I knew I had lost.

Not because Selene was stronger, but because the scales in my brother's heart had already tipped toward someone else.

So even as she occupied everything that was once mine, how could I dare express any dissatisfaction?

"It's my brother's house. Whatever arrangements he makes are fine with me. This place is good enough. I'll stay here," I said softly, head bowed.

I couldn't quite read my brother's expression. He seemed displeased.

I grew increasingly uncomfortable. I was doing exactly as he wished—being patient and accommodating at every turn. Why was he still dissatisfied?

The most excruciating moment was having dinner with them.

The table was laden with a feast of delicious foods.

My brother carefully placed choice morsels on Selene's plate, making her beam with delight.

Meanwhile, I sat quietly with lowered eyes, gnawing on a cold, hard piece of bread.

"Why aren't you eating any meat, Skye?" Selene asked, pushing a plate of lamb toward me.

I didn't touch it, silently pushing it aside.

"Does Skye have some problem with me? She won't even eat the food I specially prepared for her." Selene's face crumpled with feigned hurt, and my brother's expression instantly hardened.

"Skye! Eat the food Selene prepared and stop this attitude right now!" he snapped.

I raised my head, my chest tight with an indescribable pain.

"I can't eat this," I said quietly.

Years of being force-fed silver-laced potions at the rehabilitation center had left my digestive system extremely fragile. Many foods were now off-limits to me.

Before, our family table never included things I couldn't eat. Now, almost nothing served was safe for me.

My brother—he didn't seem to care anymore.

"What do you mean you 'can't eat it'? Selene prepared it especially for you. Don't be ungrateful. Eat the meat." His voice had that dangerous edge I knew too well.

"It's my fault," Selene interjected with a theatrical sigh. "I made all my favorite dishes today. It's natural for Skye to be upset on her first day back. Skye, what would you like? I can prepare something else."

Her eyes gleamed with triumph and challenge.

But these tactics couldn't anger me anymore.

"She's a grown wolf now, not some delicate pup. If you can eat it, so can she," my brother growled. "Skye, stop making everyone uncomfortable. Be sensible for once."

His face darkened, brows furrowed tightly—the warning sign of his temper flaring.

Again, just like before—no chance to explain. In his mind, it was always my fault.

But the rehabilitation center had drilled into me that everything I had came from my brother. I must obey his commands or be labeled a delinquent deserving punishment.

Don't make brother angry, or everything becomes my fault.

"Fine. I'll eat it," I mumbled, lowering my head and shoving large bites into my mouth, desperate to defuse the tension.

Seeing me eat, his expression finally softened.

Fighting overwhelming nausea, I ate whatever Selene gave me.

But soon my stomach began to churn violently. My skin started itching uncontrollably, and I began to vomit. Even after everything I'd forced down came back up, I continued dry heaving painfully.

"Oh my!" Selene exclaimed with disgust, retreating into my brother's embrace. His first instinct was to hold her protectively, backing away from me as if I were garbage.

Only when I collapsed to the floor, unable to move, did he seem to realize something was seriously wrong.

"What's happening to you?" he asked, finally alarmed as he watched me slip into unconsciousness.

By the time they rushed me to the Pack healer's clinic, my breathing had grown dangerously faint. Fortunately, the timely medical intervention saved my life.

My brother sat beside my bed, completely focused on comforting the weeping woman in his arms.

"It's all my fault," Selene sobbed, burying her face against his chest. "If I hadn't forced her to eat so much, she wouldn't have gone into shock."

"Don't cry, this isn't your fault," he murmured, stroking her hair. "She's the foolish one. She knew her stomach was weak but ate carelessly anyway."

Huh. So it was my fault after all.

"You're awake, Skye!" Selene wiped her tears, turning to me with exaggerated surprise. Her face lit up with fake concern as she approached my bed.

My brother spoke before she could reach me. "Why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well? Why did you insist on eating when you knew you shouldn't?"

"I did say I couldn't eat it," I whispered. "But when I refused, you got angry."

My answer seemed to infuriate him even more.

"Are you doing this deliberately?" His eyes narrowed to slits. "Do you think playing the victim will make me feel guilty? Is this your way of getting revenge on me?"

I didn't understand why my brother kept misinterpreting me this way. I shook my head frantically, not knowing what I'd done wrong, but my time at the rehabilitation center had taught me that I must always admit fault if I wanted to avoid punishment.

"It's my fault, brother," I said, voice trembling. "But I didn't mean to—please—please don't be angry."

"You..." My brother stared at me, inhaling sharply. Then he grabbed Selene's hand and stormed out, clearly upset. He never came back to check on me.

After two days in the clinic, they demanded payment. But I had no money.

"Could I call someone from my family?" I asked timidly.

The healer raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Of course."

My brother didn't answer—not the first call, not the tenth. The healer who'd treated me grew visibly impatient as she watched me try repeatedly.

"Your medical bills?" she finally prompted.

"I'll pay them," I promised, though I couldn't meet her gaze. My face burned with embarrassment.

Another day passed. I still couldn't reach my brother, and the clinic staff came to press for payment again.

"You're not trying to avoid paying by staying here indefinitely, are you?" the head healer asked sharply.

"You seem to be of age," another added. "If you really can't contact your family, should we call the Werewolf Council for you?"

I didn't know how to explain my situation. "I could leave this as collateral," I offered. "I'll go home, get money, and come back to pay."

The healing crystal necklace around my neck was something my mother had placed there on her deathbed. During those unbearable nights at the rehabilitation center, this necklace had been my only emotional anchor. It was also the only valuable thing I owned now.

The healer reluctantly accepted my necklace, allowing me to leave.

"Is it... this direction?" For some reason, my memory had become unreliable. I kept losing my way.

After getting directions from the Pack Patrol, stumbling along because I couldn't shift into wolf form, it took me a full day and night to find my way home.

Outside the door, I shivered in the cold wind, but my key wouldn't open our front door.

I couldn't get in. Through the window, I heard them laughing inside.

"Do you like your gift?" my brother's voice was tender.

"This ring is beautiful," Selene gushed. "It's a top-grade healing crystal! Those are so rare."

"I saw it at the auction house and knew you'd love it," he replied. "I'd pay any price to make you happy."

The way my brother looked at her—so gentle, so loving. Selene nestled in his arms, her smile radiating joy.

For a moment, I felt disoriented. Every birthday in the past, my brother would prepare my gift weeks in advance, putting his heart into the selection. Back then, he'd look at me with that same gentle expression.

After knocking loudly for what seemed like forever, my brother finally opened the door.

"You?" He seemed startled. "Why did you come back without calling first?"

"The hospital was asking for payment, and I couldn't reach you..."

"What?" My brother frowned, but before he could finish, Selene approached us.

"Skye, come inside," she said warmly. "Are you feeling better? You need money for the hospital bill, right? I'll transfer it to you."

"I'll handle it," my brother interrupted, immediately sending me ten thousand dollars.

"Is that enough?" he asked curtly.

I nodded and turned to leave, intending to reclaim my necklace.

"Where are you going now?" he demanded.

"The healing crystal necklace Mom left me—I had to leave it at the clinic as collateral."

I had only taken a few steps when Selene caught my arm.

"It looks like rain," she said with false concern. "You just got out of the hospital. Don't run around. Let the driver get it for you."

I wanted to refuse, but my brother was watching me intently.

I knew that the moment I rejected Selene's suggestion, he would get angry.

But the driver returned much later without my necklace.

The healer claimed it had disappeared.

"How could it be gone? How? It was just one day! I said I'd come back with the money! I promised!" My voice cracked with desperation.

"Well," the healer shrugged, "the clinic sees so many people every day. We can't keep track of everything. Look, we'll waive your medical fees if that helps."

I grabbed the healer's arm, begging and demanding answers.

"Enough! Stop embarrassing yourself!" My brother yanked me away. "Mom's necklace! You carelessly handed it over to strangers! Now it's gone—whose fault is that?"

He apologized to the healer and dragged me out.

"I'll have someone look for it," he muttered. "Don't go making a spectacle of yourself. Screaming in a public place—what's wrong with you?"

His harsh words left me speechless.

I locked myself in the basement, unable to sleep through the night.

I couldn't understand why losing the necklace filled me with such terror and panic.

Perhaps because it was one of the few things in my life that still belonged to me—and yet I couldn't hold onto even that.

That night, I dreamed of my mother. She touched my face, smiling with such tenderness, her eyes full of concern.

"My darling, why have you grown so thin? Hasn't your brother been taking care of you?"

Fighting back tears, I threw myself into her arms and wept.

"Who's been bullying my daughter? I'll teach them a lesson. Is it your brother?"

"No, Mom. Brother is good to me." I couldn't stop my tears. "Mom, I miss you so much. I'm so tired. I lost the necklace you gave me. I'm useless."

I shut myself in my room for an entire day, not wanting to see anyone.

My brother never came to check on me, but Selene did.

When I saw her, I tried to close the door, but she tilted her head to display my lost healing crystal necklace hanging from her neck.

"How did you get that?" I gasped.

Taking advantage of my shock, she pushed her way into my room.

"Give me back my necklace!" I lunged forward, desperation in my voice.

"Why should I return it?" Selene stepped back, fingering the crystal pendant with smug satisfaction. "Your brother gave it to me. He said you don't deserve to wear it—only I do."

She dodged my reaching hands, flaunting her prize.

"That was from my mother! Give it back!" I shouted.

I could let go of anything else, but not this—never this.

I tried to grab it, but she kept backing away.

When I finally pounced, she sidestepped at the last moment.

Watching me sprawl helplessly on the floor, she laughed with cruel delight.

"Look at yourself," she taunted. "Where's that fierce wolf you used to be? You're more like a whimpering dog now."

As I struggled to stand, she kicked me hard in the back. When I tried to rise again, she stomped on my hand.

"Look at you. Living like this—what's the difference between this and being dead?" Selene twisted the knife deeper. "Skye, your brother doesn't want you anymore. You're the only unwelcome one in this house!"

She walked to the window, dangling my necklace over the edge, slowly loosening her grip. "You want this necklace? Ha! I won't give it to you."

"No!" I grabbed her leg and pushed with all my strength, lunging toward the necklace like a feral creature.

"Selene! You've already taken my brother! You've taken this home! Why won't you leave me alone?!"

I don't know how it happened. When I came to my senses, Selene was on the floor clutching her stomach in agony. There was a gash on her arm and a silver dagger with blood nearby.

"Selene!" My brother stood in the doorway, his face contorted with shock and rage as he shouted her name.

"My stomach hurts," she whimpered, looking at me with tear-filled eyes. "The silver hurt my wolf."

"Skye, why would you do this to me?" she sobbed.

My brother's slap came with his full strength. I fell to the floor, my head ringing.

"Skye! You're beyond cruel! All that time to reflect, and you haven't changed at all! I never want to see you again!" he roared.

He scooped Selene into his arms and rushed out. As they left, I caught Selene's vengeful glare.

Her lips silently formed the words: "You're dead now."

This scene overlapped perfectly with the graduation party memory.

An indescribable terror rose from deep within me.

I was going to be sent back to that lightless place! My brother didn't want me anymore!

No! I couldn't go back there!

Overwhelming fear made me break into sobs. I ran after them, grabbing my brother's arm. "I didn't use silver to hurt her! Brother! You have to believe me!"

"Get away from me!" he snarled. "She's pregnant, do you understand? You could have killed them both! I should have left you in that rehabilitation center forever! Skye, how did I end up with such a wicked sister? Why don't you just die!"

He shook off my hand and, just like before, walked away without looking back.

My face throbbed with pain, but one phrase kept echoing in my mind: "Why don't you just die?"

That sentence merged with the endless days and nights at the rehabilitation center when death seemed preferable to living.

"Brother, you don't know that I've thought about dying for so long..."

I rolled up my sleeve, revealing a maze of scars—evidence of the abuse I'd suffered at the center.

Standing by the window where the necklace had been thrown, I called my brother.

"Brother, if I died, would you believe me then? I didn't hurt her. She took the necklace Mom left for me."

"Then go ahead and die!" came his furious voice from the other end.

I dropped the phone, accepting my fate with a resigned smile. Then I picked up the silver dagger from the floor and aimed it at my heart.