Thank you for the continuation—this chapter carries so
While I stood frozen, Laura suddenly leaned down and pinched Anne—hard.
The little girl burst into tears, her wails slicing through the silence like glass.
A door slammed open. Eliza came rushing out, her expression instantly softening as she swept Anne into her arms, cooing with concern.
Her gaze shifted to me—and turned to ice.
"Sienna, have you had enough?" she snapped. "They've already apologized. What more do you want? Laura knows you don't like her. That's why she moved out. Even after severing her mate bond, she still didn't dare move back in. Isn't that enough for you?"
She stormed over, yanked Drew away from me, and glared with the force of a slap.
"Don't waste your time on her. You've spoiled her far too much. She's always been like this—dramatic and ungrateful!"
Behind her, Laura's eyes welled with tears as she looked down at the floor.
"Mom... this is my fault," she whispered, voice trembling. "I shouldn't have come back. I know Sienna doesn't like me…"
The front door burst open.
Jake, my younger brother, stormed in like a bullet and shoved me aside, his arm protectively stretching in front of Laura.
"Sienna, knock it off. The only reason Mom and Dad put up with you is guilt. Let me be clear—Laura is the only sister I acknowledge. If you lay a hand on her again, don't blame me for what I do next."
No one defended me.
But that was nothing new.
I'd always known I didn't belong in this house. That I was the unwanted one. The mistake.
My parents treated Laura like a precious jewel—refined, poised, perfect.
They saw me as the opposite: selfish, graceless, difficult.
Jake and I were supposed to be close. We were children once, laughing in the woods, racing on all fours through the mist.
Now he stood against me like a stranger with a blade.
When I first returned home, my parents had looked at me with sorrow and guilt.
But over time, that guilt hardened. It twisted into resentment. Then disgust.
They said I didn't know how to act like a proper noble werewolf. That I was uncultured. Crude. Dishonest.
They said Laura was the daughter they'd always wanted.
Not me.
I pressed a hand to my chest, willing the ache to go quiet.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
Hadn't I known this all along?
Then why did it still hurt so much to hear them say it?
Tears slipped down my cheeks in silence. I didn't bother to wipe them away.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I didn't mean to blame Laura. This is her home too. She should move back in."
Jake paused, frowning in suspicion.
"You being nice? What are you up to? You better not be planning something shady again. You try to mess with Laura, and I won't hold back."
"That's enough, Jake!" Eliza snapped.
Then she turned to me, her tone instantly bright, like flipping a switch.
"There. That's more like it. Sienna's finally grown up. She's learned not to be jealous of how outstanding Laura is. Be a good girl and apologize properly, and Laura—kind and generous as she is—will forgive you."
"Yes, Mom."
I nodded obediently, choking down every last drop of bitterness burning in my throat.
This would be the last time I played the obedient daughter.
Today, I was leaving this house—for good.
---
I picked up the worn bag I had packed the night before. Just a few changes of clothes. Nothing they had bought for me. Nothing they had touched.
I didn't want anything that didn't truly belong to me.
"Sienna, where are you going?"
Eliza's voice followed me to the door. For a fleeting second, I thought I heard concern. A flicker, barely there.
I turned back with a calm smile.
"To buy something for Laura. Just a little gift to celebrate her return."
It was the first lie I'd ever told her.
And it felt like freedom.
Eliza visibly relaxed.
"Good girl. Don't take too long. Don't make everyone wait. Remember—Laura is family."
---
"Sienna, wait! I'll drive you."
Drew appeared, hurriedly tucking away his phone, panic flashing across his face. He'd just finished calming Anne down and now scrambled to grab his car keys.
But just as he turned toward me, Laura pinched Anne again.
Harder this time.
Anne wailed. Eliza rushed to her side again, instantly forgetting I even existed.
"Drew, don't worry about Sienna," she said firmly. "The villa's barely thirty minutes from the city. She'll be fine. But Anne—she needs someone right now."
Drew hesitated, caught in the pull of guilt and obligation.
He took a step forward—then stopped.
He looked at me, torn. Regret filled his eyes.
"Sienna… come back soon, okay? Anne's still young. She needs someone with her. I'll stay for now."
I didn't answer.
Didn't speak.
Didn't look back.
I walked through the door—and left everything behind.