Chapter 3
The whole dining hall went dead silent.
The ruby bounced across the hard marble floor and kept rolling until it stopped somewhere far away.
A deep crack had split right across the surface of the gem.
My mind was completely blank.
I crouched down and picked up the broken ruby.
In my memory, my mother's smile crumbled into nothing.
Lily covered her mouth, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
She sobbed, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to.
"My hands are so clumsy. I'll pay you back, I promise."
She looked like she was about to collapse to the floor.
Logan grabbed her and pulled her tight against his chest.
"Pay her back? With what?" he said.
He spun around and yelled at me. "Are you happy now?
"You had to push her, didn't you? Now the necklace is ruined. Does that make you feel good?"
I clenched the ruby in my hand, and its jagged edge cut right into my skin.
"You think I forced her?
"All this happens because you guys stole from me," I shouted.
Cameron kicked over a chair, his anger boiling over.
His voice was sharp. "You call that stealing?
"This whole manor belongs to the Shadowfang Pack.
"You got lucky being born to be the Alpha's daughter. That's all."
Silas walked over and looked down at me.
"Selena, quit playing the victim.
"It's just a stupid necklace.
"Go buy ten more tomorrow. What's the big deal?" he sneered.
I stood up, and blood dripped from my fingers onto the carpet.
"Stupid necklace?
"Silas, back when you were half dead from hunger on the streets, my mother was the one who gave you food," I said, my tone cold.
Silas's jaw tightened, and his face twitched.
He turned away, frustration written all over him.
"That was a long time ago.
"You can't keep guilt-tripping us with favors from the past," he said.
Lily leaned into Logan's arms, sobbing so hard that she couldn't catch her breath.
"Logan, I really didn't mean to.
"I only wanted to know what it felt like to have a mom who cared about me.
"Why does Selena hate me so much?" she choked out.
Logan patted her back gently, his voice low and soothing.
"She doesn't hate you. She's jealous of you.
"She's jealous because you have the love of all three of us now," he told her.
Then, he turned to look at me, his eyes full of disgust.
"Selena, your jealousy makes you ugly.
"You're not even fit to lick Lily's boots," he said coldly.
I looked at the three men in front of me.
Once, they'd been my shield and my sword.
Now, they were poisoned daggers, stabbing straight into my heart.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Why bother explaining anything anymore?
In their eyes, Lily couldn't do a single thing wrong.
But me? Breathing was already a crime.
I let the shattered ruby slip from my fingers and fall to the floor.
"Fine. Do whatever you want," I muttered.
I turned and walked slowly toward the stairs.
Cameron's voice rang out behind me.
"Look at her, acting all high and mighty.
"She screws up and doesn't bother saying sorry," he mocked.
Logan's cold voice cut through the air.
"Forget about her. One day, that attitude of hers is going to cost her," he said.
I went back to my room and locked the door behind me.
I didn't turn on the lights. I walked straight to the window.
Outside, a black helicopter was circling in the night sky.
On the side of the helicopter, the dark gold crest of the Ethorian vampire royalty gleamed in the darkness.
My phone buzzed.
It was an encrypted message.
[Miss Goodwin, we've arrived over the manor. We're ready to take you home whenever you give the word.]
I stared at the screen and let out a long, heavy breath.
I opened my closet and pulled out a black travel bag.
I didn't take any of those expensive designer dresses.
I didn't take any of those priceless jewels, either.
I only packed a few simple outfits and my ID.
I left everything that belonged to me right there in the room.
The ridiculous, ten-year-long crush that had never been returned was included.
Heavy footsteps thudded outside my door.
Then, someone was turning a key in the lock.