Chapter 2
"Who are you talking to?" Logan demanded.
He strode in, staring at my phone like he wanted to grab it out of my hand.
I hung up fast and set the phone face down on the table.
"A friend," I said.
Logan slammed the cup of hot milk down so hard that milk splashed everywhere and soaked through my lace tablecloth.
He snapped, "A friend? What friends do you have in Ethoria?
"Don't try to change the subject, Selena.
"You're apologizing to Lily today. End of story."
I sat down in front of the mirror and watched him behind me.
"I already told you, I didn't do a single thing wrong," I said.
Logan ripped his tie loose, and I could see the frustration written all over his face.
He said, "Why do you always have to be so damn stubborn?
"Lily's got a fever today because you scared her half to death out on the back hill.
"Do you know how pathetic her life is?
"She doesn't have parents. She doesn't have a dime to her name. She's got nobody but us."
I spun around and stared him right in the eyes.
"Logan, did you forget who scrubbed that slave brand off your neck? You guys are the Shadowfang Pack's hunting dogs, not some nannies for a human girl."
Logan slapped his palm down on the dressing table.
Perfume bottles wobbled off it and shattered all over the floor.
He yelled, "Dogs? So after ten years of bleeding and risking our necks for you, that's all we are, your personal hunting dogs?
"Lily showed us what real dignity looks like. All you do is grind us under your heel with your money and your contracts."
My chest felt so tight that I could barely breathe.
I replied, "If I'm nothing but a shell to you, then why are you still sticking around?
"Cameron and Silas already packed up and moved out to the back hill to be with her.
"So why don't you do the same and get the hell out of here?"
Logan's eyes bored into mine, burning with anger.
He shot back, "You think I wouldn't leave if I could?
"If the old Alpha hadn't forced me to swear an oath on his deathbed, I would've walked out of this suffocating nightmare years ago."
His words hit me like a freight train.
I finally understood. He hadn't stayed because he loved me.
He'd only stayed because of a promise.
I dropped my head so he couldn't see the hurt and bitterness in my eyes.
"Fine," I said, my voice flat. "I'm releasing you from your oath.
"You're free. Go now."
Logan froze for a second.
He hadn't expected me to let him go that easily.
Then he let out a cold, nasty laugh.
"What's your game here?
"You think if you pretend to let me go, I'll feel guilty and stay?
"Don't bother, Selena. I'm not falling for it," he sneered.
I stood up and pointed straight at the door.
"Get out," I said.
Logan turned and walked to the door, but then he stopped.
He said, "Let's all have dinner together at the manor tomorrow.
"Lily's going to be here, too.
"I hope you won't humiliate her in front of everyone again."
He slammed the door behind him.
I collapsed into my chair and couldn't stop shaking.
*****
The next evening, the dinner was held in the grand dining hall.
I walked down the stairs in a designer black dress.
The hall was already full of guests.
Cameron, Silas, and Logan were all huddled around one single chair.
Lily was sitting in it.
But that was my chair, and had always been mine.
I froze at the top of the stairs and watched them.
Cameron was cutting up Lily's steak for her.
Silas was holding a glass of juice and gently coaxing her to take a sip.
Logan stood behind her with his hand resting on the back of her chair.
Lily was wearing a white dress that obviously didn't belong to her.
And around her neck, catching the light for everyone to see, was a ruby necklace.
I couldn't breathe.
I recognized it right away. That was my mother's memento, the last thing she'd left me.
I marched across the room and stopped right in front of Lily.
"Take that necklace off," I demanded.
Lily flinched so hard that her fork and knife went flying off her plate and clattered onto the table.
She looked up at me with tears already welling in her eyes.
"Selena, I..." she whispered.
Logan jumped in front of her to block me.
"Are you losing your mind again?" he snapped.
I pointed at the necklace around Lily's neck.
I said coldly, "That belongs to me.
"Who gave you permission to touch it?"
Cameron didn't bother looking up. He smirked and kept slicing into his bloody steak.
"It's an old piece of jewelry that's been rotting in your safe for years. Lily had a rough day, so I let her wear it to cheer her up. What's your problem?
"You've got so much jewelry piled up in this manor. Are you going to die over one necklace?" he sneered.
I locked eyes with Cameron and didn't back down an inch.
"That's the only thing my mother left me," I shouted.
Silas jumped in with his usual sarcastic tone.
"You never shut up about your mother's stuff. What, you think someone's going to feel sorry for you?
"Lily doesn't even know who her parents are.
"She needs that necklace a hell of a lot more than you do," he scoffed.
Lily stood up and reached for the clasp.
"I'm sorry, Selena.
"I'll give it back. Please, don't be mad at them," she whispered.
She tried to unclasp the necklace, her hands shaking the whole time. And whether she meant to do it or not, her fingers snagged on the thin gold chain.
There was a sharp snap, and the ruby that carried the last trace of my mother's warmth ripped right off the chain. It hit the hard marble floor and split clean in two.
Lily screamed and conveniently fell straight into Logan's arms. And my brain went completely blank.