I was still floating on the high of being chosen for the delegation when the conversation shifted. The house was buzzing with warmth, laughter, and excitement, all centered around Bridget’s pregnancy. It was impossible not to get caught up in it—Aunt Becca was already planning baby clothes, Uncle Cael was grinning from ear to ear, and even Calixto, who was usually so composed, looked like a kid on Yule morning.

I was genuinely happy for them. Pups brought joy to a pack, and I could already imagine the tiny feet running around the townhouse, the scent of fresh-baked cookies Aunt Becca would make for the little one, and the endless cuddles that would make even the grumpiest of wolves smile.

Still, I couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling gnawing at my chest. I’d barely gotten a “Congratulations” before the whole mood had shifted to Bridget’s news, and now it felt like I was a guest in my own home. But I pushed that feeling down. It wasn’t worth making a fuss. I could share the spotlight for a day.

“Hey, Lu,” Bridget’s voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up from my cup of tea, catching her eye. She was fidgeting, her hands playing with the edge of her shirt, and that was never a good sign. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something...”

My wolf, Rhea, immediately perked up, her ears metaphorically twitching. “Careful, Lu. Something’s off,” she warned, a low growl rumbling in the back of my mind.

“What’s up?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

Bridget glanced at Calixto, who gave her a small nod of encouragement. She took a breath, then spoke, “Since you’re going to be away with the delegation, and we’re expecting… we thought it might be a good idea if… well, if you moved out of the townhouse.”

For a moment, I just stared at her, convinced I’d misheard. Move out? The words echoed in my head, but they didn’t make any sense. “What?” I asked, my voice sounding hollow even to myself.

“You know,” Bridget continued, her tone cautious, like she was trying not to spook me. “With the baby coming, we need the extra space, and you’re going to be gone for who knows how long. It just makes sense, right?”

The room fell silent, everyone waiting for my reaction. I glanced around, hoping to see Aunt Becca or Uncle Cael looking as stunned as I felt, but they were both carefully avoiding my gaze. Uncle Cael was staring at his coffee cup, and Aunt Becca was fidgeting with her wedding ring, her usual bright eyes dimmed.

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “I’m… sorry, I don’t think I understand,” I said, forcing a laugh that came out too sharp. “You want me to leave… my home?”

“It’s not like that, Luann,” Calixto said, his voice gentle, but I could hear the edge of something else there—guilt, maybe. “You’re going to be with the delegation, and Bridget and I… we need the space. It’s just practical.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms to keep from snapping. Practical? I had offered them the attic when they needed a place, a warm, spacious area where they could have their own privacy, and now they were talking about my home like it was just another room in their nest.

“They want us gone,” Rhea snarled, her hackles raised. “After everything we’ve done for them.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “I get that you’re excited about the baby, and I’m thrilled for you, I really am. But...” I looked at Aunt Becca and Uncle Cael, silently pleading for them to back me up. “Is this what you want too?”

Aunt Becca’s lips trembled, and for a moment, I thought she might say something—anything—to defend me. But then she looked down, and my heart sank. “It’s just… Bridget is right, sweetie,” she said softly. “It would be more comfortable for them with the baby on the way. And you’re going to have your own things to focus on with the Black Tears Pack.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Comfortable?” I repeated, the word bitter on my tongue. “What about my comfort?”

My voice cracked, and I hated myself for it, for sounding so weak when I wanted to be strong. I didn’t want to cry in front of them, didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing how deeply they’d cut me.

Bridget stepped closer, her expression annoyingly sympathetic. “Just move out, Luann,” she said, and I almost laughed at how false it sounded. “You can’t freeload here forever.”

And when did I become a freeloader in my own property? Did she not know?

The chill of the night air cut through the thin fabric of my sweater, but it didn’t bother me. The townhouse had always been my safe haven, the one place I could retreat to when life got too complicated. Now, it felt like I was being pushed out of my own sanctuary.

I thought back to earlier in the evening, when I had gathered the courage to confront Aunt Becca and Uncle Cael. It had taken everything in me to hold my temper, but I needed answers.

I found them in the living room, quietly talking while Uncle Cael sipped his coffee. When I stepped in, Aunt Becca looked up and smiled, but I could see the tension behind it. She knew what was coming.

“We need to talk,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was pounding. “About the townhouse.”

Aunt Becca’s smile faltered. “Luann, sweetheart, I know you’re upset—”

“Upset?” I cut her off, and I could hear the sharpness in my voice, see Aunt Becca flinch. “I’m more than upset. You’re asking me to leave my own home, and now I find out that Bridget doesn’t even know it’s mine? What’s going on?”

Uncle Cael set his cup down, his expression carefully neutral. “We didn’t want to cause any unnecessary complications, Luann. Bridget’s family is… particular. If they knew she was living in a house that wasn’t ours, they would have opposed the marriage.”

Oh, right. Bridget was the daughter of Rosebud Pack’s Beta.

I stared at him, not sure I’d heard him right. “So you lied?” The words felt heavy, like I was dragging them out of my chest. “You told her the house was yours?”

Aunt Becca’s eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw the same warmth that had comforted me so many times before. “We did it for Calixto,” she said, her voice pleading. “He’s your cousin, your family. You know how much he loves her. The Rosebud Pack would never have allowed Bridget to marry him unless they were sure she’d be taken care of.”

“That doesn’t make it right!” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “You used my home to secure a marriage, and you didn’t even tell me? How long were you planning to keep this from me?”

“Luann, we didn’t want to burden you with this,” Uncle Cael said, but I could see the guilt in his eyes. “You were still in school, dealing with everything after your parents… it was easier this way.”

“Easier for you,” I shot back. “Not for me.” I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure. “I trusted you. After everything you did for me, I never thought you’d do something like this behind my back.”

For a moment, there was silence, and I could see Aunt Becca’s eyes glistening with tears. “Luann, please understand,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “After your parents fell into that deep sleep, we did everything we could to make sure you could keep going. We took care of the house, managed things… we thought we were helping.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. I had been grateful to them, so grateful that I hadn’t questioned anything. Aunt Becca and Uncle Cael had stepped in when I was drowning in grief and responsibilities. I’d handed over the keys to the townhouse because I couldn’t handle it, and they had promised to take care of things. But I never imagined they’d use it for their own plans.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I get it. I get that you were trying to help Calixto. But this isn’t fair. You’ve asked me to give up everything, and now you’re asking me to leave the one place that still feels like home.”

The scent of fresh lavender hit me as soon as I pushed the door open. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was wrong—too strong, too new. My room used to smell like cedar and my favorite jasmine incense, comforting and familiar. Now, it felt like I was stepping into someone else’s space.

Because I was.

My eyes darted around the room, and my stomach twisted as I saw the changes. My bedspread had been replaced with a pale blue quilt I’d never seen before, and there were fresh flowers on the dresser—another unfamiliar touch. My dresser, once lined with old books and framed photos, was now cluttered with perfume bottles, lotions, and a small jewelry box that definitely wasn’t mine.

Bridget had moved in… in the room I owned.

Rhea stirred, her hackles raised, and I could feel her claws scratching at the back of my mind. “She’s marking her territory. In our den.”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my breathing steady as I turned and made my way down the hall. My wolf’s instincts were screaming at me to confront her, to assert dominance and demand she move out of my space, but I knew I had to be smart about this. Bridget was pregnant, and any kind of confrontation could easily be twisted against me.

I found Bridget lounging in the living room, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when I approached, arching one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “Oh, Luann. I was just about to text you,” she said, as if she hadn’t commandeered my bedroom without asking.

“What are you doing in my room, Bridget?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and even. I could feel Rhea pacing, ready to snap at any provocation.

Bridget didn’t miss a beat. “I moved in there,” she said simply, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “The bed in the attic isn’t good for my back, and with the baby coming, I need all the comfort I can get.” She patted her belly, emphasizing the point.

I could feel my temper rising, but I forced myself to stay calm. “You could have talked to me about it first.”

She shrugged, giving me a patronizing smile. “I didn’t think you’d mind. It’s just a room, after all.”

Just a room? Rhea let out a low, rumbling growl, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from echoing it. “It’s not just a room,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could hear the tension in it. “It’s my room. My space.”

“Well, it’s not like you’ll be here for much longer, right?” Bridget’s smile widened, and there was something almost triumphant in her eyes. “You’re going off to play diplomat with the Black Tears Pack, and Calixto thought it’d be better if I was comfortable while you’re away.”

I felt a pang of betrayal at the mention of my cousin. “Calixto said that?”

“Yes,” she replied, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. “He understands how delicate this pregnancy is. We can’t take any risks, and stress is bad for the baby. You wouldn’t want to cause any stress, would you?”

Her words were sweet, but the underlying threat was clear. She was daring me to make a scene, to be the one who made things difficult. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, and forced a smile. “Of course not, Bridget. But this isn’t just about you. You should have talked to me.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she said with a light laugh. “You’re just upset because things aren’t going your way. But we all have to adjust, don’t we?”

Rhea’s growl grew louder, and I could feel her pushing at the edge of my control. “She’s taunting us, Lu. She thinks she can push us out, take over. We need to remind her who this territory belongs to.”

“I’ll talk to Calixto about this,” I said, my voice strained but steady. I needed to find out if he was really behind this, or if Bridget was just using his name to justify her actions.

“Oh, go ahead,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “He’ll tell you the same thing he told me—this is for the best.”

I turned and left the room before I said something I’d regret, my heart pounding as I made my way to the kitchen. Aunt Becca and Uncle Cael were there, sitting at the table with their heads bowed, talking in hushed tones. They went silent when they saw me.

“Did you know she moved into my room?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade.

Aunt Becca’s eyes darted to Uncle Cael, who looked down at his hands. “Luann, please try to understand,” Aunt Becca began, her tone gentle, almost pleading. “Bridget is expecting. It’s… sensitive. We thought it might be easier if she had the master bedroom while you were away.”

“Easier?” I repeated, my voice rising. “For who? Not for me, that’s for sure. You didn’t even ask me.”

Uncle Cael cleared his throat, still not meeting my eyes. “We’re trying to keep the peace, Luann. This pregnancy is important for the pack. Bridget is the Beta’s daughter, and we don’t want any trouble with the Rosebud Pack. You know how delicate the rivalry can be.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They were so worried about keeping the peace with the Rosebud Pack that they didn’t care about how it affected me, their own blood. And what did they mean by peace with that pack? We have been enemies for decades already!