Chapter 2

Back at the Blackwood Pack house, I felt like I could breathe again.

Griffin never bought me designer clothes or took me to fancy parties. He was strict, always making me draw until he was satisfied. He never had a kind word for me. But somehow, I felt comfortable here.

No one was forcing me to take all those skill classes anymore. No one was making me try to please the Lunas from every pack.

No one was making me wait on those lecherous Alphas who were old enough to be my dad or my grandpa.

Noemi's dream life was what I wanted to run away from.

*****

Time flew by. Soon, my 16th full moon was here.

That year, my mom arrived at the Blackwood Pack house with Noemi, ready to take Griffin and me back to the Moore pack.

I was dressed simply with no makeup, nothing fancy at all.

Noemi, meanwhile, was rocking designer brands and subtle makeup. She looked polished from head to toe.

She gave me a look full of disgust. "Country bumpkin."

I smiled at her and didn't bother to respond.

When the full moon came, it was Noemi's 15th birthday.

She was the pack's golden child, the one my parents had poured all their hopes into, so of course, they threw her a huge party.

Noemi was dressed in an expensive silk ballgown, with a touch of makeup. She looked like a doll, so delicate and beautiful that everyone couldn't help but stare.

I was still dressed plainly with no makeup.

I only wanted to blend into the background.

It was best that no one noticed me.

At the party, Noemi performed a breathtaking dance that had everyone cheering for her.

"Wow, Noemi's gorgeous."

"She's a natural. It'd be a waste if she didn't become a dancer."

"Noemi, you're incredible!"

Noemi was overjoyed as she basked in all the applause.

My parents looked so proud, their faces beaming.

I glanced over at Griffin, who was stone-faced.

I whispered, "Grandpa, Noemi's dance was amazing. Aren't you going to clap for her?"

Griffin snorted, his voice full of disdain. "A family obsessed with showing off. What's there to clap for?"

I smiled and kept quiet.

Griffin had a sharp eye. He saw through all their pretenses.

*****

After Noemi finished her dance, my parents sent her over to schmooze with the Lunas of the wealthiest Alphas from the top packs.

But Noemi was way too obvious about her social climbing. No matter how hard she tried to suck up to them, nobody was buying it.

The Lunas from the top packs didn't stick around for long. They thought the party was a snooze and left early.

As they were leaving, I overheard one Luna sneer to the others, "Noemi's parents are so desperate to shove her into one of our top Alpha packs. Who couldn't see that?"

I smiled and kept quiet again.

My parents tried hard to be clever, but they ended up outsmarting themselves.

The only guests who stuck around for Noemi's whole birthday were from small packs, about as well-off as the North Pack.

But my parents didn't think highly of them.

They told Noemi to keep her distance and not get too close to them.

By the time the birthday party wrapped up, it was already 11 PM.

Noemi couldn't impress the Lunas from the top Alpha packs, and that really pissed off my parents.

They tore into her right in front of Griffin and me.

My dad was livid. "I told you to sweet-talk them. Why couldn't you say something nice? What good is your mouth if you can't use it? Useless idiot."

"Mom, Dad, I said everything you told me to. If they don't like me, what am I supposed to do?" Noemi whined, sounding frustrated.

My mom was so disappointed. "Still making excuses? You're spending the night in the punishment room. Don't think about coming out."

With that, she had the servants drag Noemi away.

Griffin didn't say a word. He shook his head and let out a sigh.

Then he took my hand and led me upstairs to get some rest.

*****

In the middle of the night, I got up to use the bathroom.

After that, I decided to check on Noemi.

Noemi was locked up in the punishment room on the top floor.

There was no water or electricity in that room.

My parents had set up that punishment room for disciplining us.

Back in my previous life, I spent so many endless nights locked up in there.

Every time I disappointed my parents, they'd lock me up there.

They did it whenever I couldn't win over the Lunas, who were married to the top Alpha packs.

They did it whenever I failed to get their heirs to like me.

They did it whenever I couldn't get an Alpha to fall for me.

They'd throw me in there without a second thought.

That was why I was terrified of the dark.

Noemi had no idea that in my previous life, I lived in constant fear of the darkness.

I'd lie awake night after night.

I'd gone to every famous healer from every pack, but none of them could help me.

When Noemi dragged me down with her, I was already at the end of my rope, barely hanging on.

I wasn't even 25 back then.

Before I reached the top floor, I heard Noemi's sobs drifting down from above.

Her heart-wrenching sobs filled the night, casting a heavy gloom over everything.

I couldn't help but smirk.

This was the life Noemi had been dying for.