Sixteen
The moment we entered, I noticed the entire pack bowing. The air felt heavy. Everything had changed–it wasn’t the Nightshade Pack I remembered. Their clothes were worn, their eyes hollow, like they’d been under siege, grieving. Like something terrible had happened.
What the hell was going on?
I turned to Lucas. “What’s going on here?”
He didn’t answer. The car stopped.
I stepped out, and some of the pack members glanced up at me. Shock flickered in their eyes… and something else.
Hope.
Hope for what?N
“Lucas,” I called again, more firmly. “What’s happening?“N
He just looked at me, serious as always. “Come with me. I have a surprise for you.“N
A surprise? I didn’t like surprises. Not from him.N
I followed, though. The pack house was eerily quiet. The Council stood still, heads bowed. Trembling. My wolf stirred inside me-
unsettled.
Something was wrong.
Then we went deeper–down into the dungeons. The guards stationed there weren’t from Nightshade. They were from Blackthorn.
Lucas gave an order. The guards opened a thick metal door… and I froze.N
Inside, hanging by chains, was a woman in a filthy brown dress, her arms stretched above her head. Her hair was tangled and greasy, her scent foul. The whole place reeked of rot.N
But I’d know her anywhere.
Monica.
My sister.
She lifted her head slowly, weakly. Her eyes locked on mine, and they widened.
“El…i…ra… I’m so sorry,” she croaked out, barely able to speak.
“Bring her out. Make her kneel,” Lucas ordered coldly.N
The fear on Monica’s face shattered me a little. She trembled as the guards forced her down, so weak her knees buckled, her face almost touching the floor.
“Please,” she sobbed. “Just kill me. I’m tired. I don’t want to live like this anymore.“N
“You don’t get to die,” Lucas snapped. “Not after what you did to Elira. She deserves justice.”
I stared at her. Broken. Filthy. And still… I couldn’t forgive her.
“You can do whatever you want to her,” Lucas told me.N
“Elira… please… forgive me,” Monica cried, tears falling down her cheeks. “I’ve suffered enough. I didn’t want this. I never wanted to be part of it. Just end it.“§
! swallowed hard, heart pounding. But instead of answering her…N
“I want to see my parents,” I said quietly, then turned away.N
Lucas followed. “They’re upstairs. In one of the attic rooms.”
”
The attic? My chest tightened. He wasn’t lying. The guards opened the door, and there they were my parents. Sitting on a worn divan, both thinner than I remembered, their eyes dim.
They stood when they saw me.”
My mother rushed over first. “Elira… my daughter, you came home.” She reached for me, touched my arms, and pulled me into a hug. Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s been five years… How are you?“N
Then my father joined us. His sadness hit me like a wave. He embraced me, for the first time in years.N
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.”
I didn’t say a word.”
“Elira… about what happened before… we never imagined your sister would become that way. Please, forgive us for turning a blind eye,” my mother said gently. “Monica is… she’s always been reckless. But she’s still your sister. Please forgive her.”
Of course. Still defending Monica.
Lucas snapped. “You still care about the daughter who betrayed Elira? What kind of parents are you?”
They flinched. “No–please, forgive us, Elira.”
I stepped back. Once. Twice. Thrice.
And walked away without a word.
“Eliral” my mother cried, voice breaking. “Please… come back. Stop this punishment. Come home. You’re still our daughter.”
We didn’t do anything to deserve this!” my father added, his voice desperate.
0445
7:38 P PM
ل
Ժ
I kept
walking.
out of the
pack house.#
All
eyes were
Lucas caught
I looked at him, my voice
on me. Like was the salvation they were waiting for.”
- up. “Elira-”
low and cold.
“This isn’t what 1 wanted.“N
20
