When I stepped off the plane, the crisp scent of home hit me, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. After the wolfsbane pandemic, I have been studying abroad for so long, and the thought of reuniting with my family excites me.

Rocco, my brother, picked me up from the airport, and the whole drive home, we laughed and talked like old times. But as we pulled into the driveway, someone unfamiliar stood on the porch next to my parents, arms folded and a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Kaia,” Rocco started, pulling me out of the car and towards her, “this is Bonnie, my girlfriend…”

Rocco paused and the girl added, “Your future sister-in-law.”

Rocco smiled shyly and continued introducing us. “And this is Kaia Rivers, my sister I’ve been telling you about.”

I blinked, trying to process the sudden shift. She’s already sure she’s my ‘future’ sister-in-law! It’s a clear intention to be part of our prestigious pack. I glanced at Bonnie, who gave me a practiced, polite smile and extended her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Kaia," she said sweetly but faked.

I shook her hand, nodding politely but unable to shake off the strange feeling gnawing at me. The excitement of being home was still there, but now, something felt off. After catching up with my parents that night, I pulled my mom aside to ask about this Bonnie girl.

"She’s an intern at the company Rocco manages," my mom explained, giving me a knowing look. "Your brother brought her home a few months ago and said she’s the one. He’s completely smitten with her."

I sighed. Rocco had always been too trusting, especially with women. But something about Bonnie just didn’t add up.

The next morning, jet lag hit me hard, and I didn’t wake up until the afternoon. I dragged myself downstairs, still groggy, looking for food. While pouring myself a bowl of cereal, I heard her familiar voice behind me.

“Sleeping in, huh? Rocco’s been at work for hours,” Bonnie said from behind me, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorway.

I raised an eyebrow and thought, ‘What’s with the attitude?’

“Were you talking to me?” I asked, more confused than anything.

She rolled her eyes, the sweet act completely gone now. “Who else would I be talking to?” She walked towards me, her gaze calculating. “There’s no one else here, is there?”

I stared at her, half-amused, half-annoyed. “Look,” I said, my tone sharp. “We’re not that close, so don’t call me ‘sister.’ I don’t have an older sister in my family.”

Her eyes narrowed, but before she could snap back, the front door opened. Bonnie’s expression shifted in an instant.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you,” she cooed, her voice dripping with false innocence. “If you don’t want me to call you that, I won’t. I just thought it would bring us closer.”

My jaw nearly dropped. ‘Is she for real? She had flipped the switch so quickly, I almost didn’t recognize her.’

This was textbook manipulation, the kind you see in movies, not real life. Before I could respond, my mom and Rocco walked in.

Seeing Bonnie looking all fragile and upset, my mom immediately rushed over. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Rocco went straight to Bonnie. “Babe, are you okay?”

Bonnie sniffled, managing to squeeze out a tear. “It’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “Kaia just... doesn’t want me to call her ‘sister.’ I thought it’d be nice, but it’s fine. I won’t do it anymore. I just want us to get along.”

I stood there my mouth opened, dumbfounded. ‘Wow. Turning the tables against me, huh.’

My mom tried to smooth things over. “It’s just a misunderstanding. Kaia’s probably still tired from the trip, that’s all.”

Rocco gave me a look like I had somehow wronged Bonnie by not falling in line with her act. “Kaia has been such a grumpy pup since she was younger. She might not have adjusted to the time difference yet. But, Kaia, just take it easy, alright? Don’t take it out on Bonnie.”

Rocco started guiding Bonnie out of the dining area to go to their room upstairs.

I didn’t need to say anything. I could see it now—this wasn’t just about Bonnie trying to cozy up to the family. This was about being part of the pack.

I lost my appetite and threw my plate on the sink in the kitchen.

“Bonnie, what happened between the two of you?” My mom asked.

But I knew it was too late to say anything so I said, “Nothing. I’ll go back to my room.”

Walking to the stairs, I thought, ‘I’ll wait and see what else she has on her sleeve.’

The lingering feeling that something was off with Bonnie, kept nagging at me. No matter how charming she seemed, my instincts told me there was more to her than met the eye.

I tried to push it aside. After all, I had my own life to live. But Bonnie was surely finding her way to make my life miserable.

One afternoon, while catching up with my childhood friend Cole Vicar over coffee, her name popped up.

"So, how are you and your new sister-in-law getting along?" Cole asked in a casual tone, but the smirk on his face told me he knew more than he was letting on.

I rolled my eyes. Cole had always been the type to dangle information just to make me ask. He leaned forward slightly, that smirk never leaving his face, waiting for me to bite.

"Spit it out," I said, already impatient. "What are you getting at?"

His grin widened. "Well, rumor has it that your brother’s girlfriend—Bonnie, right?—was just an intern at your family’s company not too long ago. She didn’t waste time, though. Managed to wrap your brother around her finger faster than anyone thought possible."

I scoffed at what he said. "Yeah, I know that much. Rocco’s head over heels for her. What’s new?"

Cole’s eyes sparkled with amusement, clearly enjoying how little I knew. "Oh, there’s more," he said, pulling out his phone. "She’s not just the sweet, innocent girl she pretends to be. I’ve got the receipts."

He slid his phone across the table, and I stared at the screen. It was a series of screenshots from some group chat Bonnie was in with her friends. I didn’t want to look, but curiosity got the best of me.

[Rocco Rivers is already in my pocket. The young alpha-to-be, can you believe that? He’s head over heels for me.]

[Rocco took me home to meet his parents. The Rivers' house is so big, and they even have a housekeeper. I must hold onto this tightly.]

How could this girl be a two-faced bitch? Then, another message talks about me.

[Rocco's sister is coming home soon. I’m pretty sure the sister-in-law is always a potential threat. When she gets home, I need to give her a good lesson to put her in her place.]

My stomach tightened as I scrolled through the messages. Bonnie had been plotting this from the start. The way she talked about my family, about me, made my blood boil. She didn’t see us as people, just pawns in whatever twisted game she was playing. And Rocco—my poor, lovesick brother—was completely oblivious.

I clenched my jaw and handed the phone back to Cole. He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for my reaction.

"So, what’s your connection to Bonnie?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Cole grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. "I know people, Kaia. Let’s just say I have eyes and ears where it matters."

His casual attitude made my skin crawl, but he wasn’t the problem right now. Bonnie was. She had wormed her way into my family, and now she was making plans to solidify her place. Worse, she saw me as a threat and wanted to “put me in my place.”

The nerve of that girl.

"Why didn’t you show this to me sooner?" I asked.

Cole chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I wanted to see how long it would take for you to figure her out on your own. But you seemed too busy enjoying your homecoming."

I glared at him, but deep down, I knew he was right. I had been so wrapped up in my own world, assuming Bonnie was just another girlfriend Rocco would eventually get over. But this... this was different. She wasn’t just here for Rocco. She wanted control. She wanted power.

As I sat there, trying to process the weight of what I had just seen, Cole tapped his fingers on the table, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What are you gonna do?" he asked.

I took a deep breath, "I don’t know yet, but I’m not letting her get away with this."

Cole grinned, clearly satisfied with my answer.

"That’s the Kaia I know. Just don’t take too long. Girls like her... they don’t wait around. She’s playing the long game, and you’re already behind."

Despite my efforts to brush off Bonnie, something kept gnawing at me. I couldn’t help but observe her every move. It wasn’t hard to see her ambition.

On the surface, she came across as sweet, innocent, and unassuming—never seeming to want for much. But in reality, she had a way of getting everything she wanted without even asking.

My brother, Rocco, was entirely smitten by her. He'd gone from keeping things casual to offering her a full-time position at the pack's company.

What started as her occasionally staying over turned into her practically living with us. My parents welcomed her with open arms. They couldn’t see through her facade, though I was certain something more sinister was beneath that pleasant exterior.

Bonnie knew exactly how to charm her way into my family’s good graces. She was constantly showering my mom with praise, agreeing with every opinion, and flattering her tastes in fashion. And of course, my mom adored the attention, lavishing Bonnie with gifts in return. But Bonnie never bothered to hide her true colors when it was just the two of us.

One evening, when our housekeeper Mrs. Mirha brought me a late-night snack, Bonnie immediately demanded the same treatment.

“I want some too. Why is the housekeeper ignoring me? I want soup, and you can’t make it for me?” she snapped.

Mrs. Mirha, tired and flustered, ended up preparing it for her. I wanted to step in, but what would that accomplish? Bonnie was already winning everyone over, and confronting her in front of my parents would only make me look like the unreasonable one.

I once cautiously asked Rocco, “Are you sure about marrying Bonnie?”

“Kaia…”

“Do you truly know the kind of person she is?” I continued.

He just laughed it off, brushing aside my concerns as though I were a child. “Come on, Kaia. Of course, I’m going to marry her. You’ll come to like her, just give it time.”

No matter what I said, Rocco wouldn’t listen. His deep affection for Bonnie blinded him to the truth.

Things only got worse from there. Bonnie's confidence grew with every passing day, and she became bolder in her interactions with me. She barely even tried to hide her disdain anymore, knowing that Rocco and my parents had her back.

One day, as we passed by my bedroom, Bonnie casually remarked, “This room is really big. When I marry your brother, do you mind if we move in here? It’s got the best lighting, and I think it would be a shame if it stayed empty once you’re married off.”

I couldn’t believe the nerve of her. She’d had her eye on my room from the start. I glanced over at Rocco, who stood there silently, making no effort to correct her.

That was the final straw. I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. “You’re already planning on taking my room?” I shot back. “Aren’t you and my brother supposed to get your own home when you marry? Or are you planning to stay here and take over my family’s house too?”

My mother, of course, heard the exchange and immediately came over to smooth things over. “Kaia, don’t talk like that,” she scolded, turning to Bonnie to reassure her. “Bonnie, don’t take it seriously.”

Bonnie, ever the actress, put on her most innocent face. “Oh, Mrs. Rivers, it’s okay. Kaia’s just teasing me. When we marry, I don’t want to leave. I’d love to stay here and take care of you.”

‘She wanted to what?’ were the last words I shouted in my mind carelessly, which all the pack members heard through the mind-link.