Chapter 1

I was the real daughter. The true bloodline of Blackwood Pack, finally brought home.

But the second I stepped through the door, the fake one threw herself into my parents' arms, sobbing.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry—I just can't call her my sister.

She's the one from school. She told everyone my parents were just Omegas.

She said my bloodline was dirt. She said it to my face, in front of everyone.

And then she let her wolf loose on mine.

My wolf hasn't come out since. She won't even respond to me anymore."

Mom held her tight, stroking her back, murmuring soft things.

Dad turned to me. A low growl rumbled in his chest. His eyes were nothing but disappointment.

"I can't believe a few years outside this Pack turned you into this."

"Steward—get her out of my packhouse. Blackwood has no daughter who would attack other’s wolf."

I stood there, completely blindsided. My hands flew through the signs so fast they blurred.

I bullied her?

I'm mute. I don't even have a wolf. How could I have done any of that?

I stood in the front hall. Fingertips still cold from outside.

Victoria was draped over my parents, crying so hard she could barely breathe. Her face was buried against my mother's neck. Her shoulders trembled violently. When she finally looked up, the rims of her eyes were raw and red.

"Dad, Mom, you don't know what it's been like."

"After the last trial, I placed second among all the young wolves. She went around telling everyone I cheated—that Dad threaten the teachers. That I slept with Xavier to secure my ranking—things I can't even say—"

With every sentence, Mom's hand patted harder against her back. Dad's jaw clenched tighter.

I opened my mouth. Only air came out.

I hadn't spoken a word since I could remember. The healers said something broke in my throat at birth and never healed. My wolf never came either. No voice. No wolf. Just silence.

Over the years, I'd gotten used to it. Sign language. Paper and pen. That was how I talked to the world.

I raised my hand. My fingers barely started forming the sign for "no" before Xavier launched off the couch.

Three strides and he was in my face, towering over me. The disgust in his eyes was barely contained.

"Seraphina, how long are you going to keep this shit up? Victoria's wolf won't even surface anymore because of you. And you're still standing there trying to deny it?"

I froze. My hand hung in the air.

Xavier was Blackwood's only son. From the moment I walked in, he'd been glued to Victoria's side—soft eyes, gentle voice, like she was something precious.

When he looked at me, it was like looking at something scraped off his boot.

"Brother, don't say that to her…"

Victoria tugged gently at Xavier's sleeve. Her voice was soft as water. But every word drove a blade into my chest.

"Maybe she just wanted so badly to fit in. Maybe this was the only way she knew how. I don't blame her. Really, I don't…"

"That's because you're too damn soft!"

Mom pulled Victoria tighter. When she turned to me, her eyes could have frozen the room.

"Seraphina, we brought you home to give you a Pack. A family. Not so you could terrorize someone weaker. Whatever gutter tricks you learned out there—you drop them. Now."

Dad slammed his knuckles on the oak table. The whole thing shuddered. A vein pulsed at his temple.

"Any daughter of mine—even one raised outside these walls—should know what honor means. And what do you do? You walk through the door and hurt Victoria's wolf. You've shamed this entire Pack."

The servants huddled near the archway, not even bothering to keep their voices down.

"Heard she grew up out by the borders. Ran with the Rogues. No wonder she's rotten inside."

"Victoria is the sweetest shewolf in the whole pack. Who would do that to her?"

"Look at her, waving her hands around like that. Bet she's faking it. Playing the poor little thing so someone takes pity."

Those whispers needled into my ears like pins.

I drew a deep breath. Forced myself steady. Reached for the side pocket of my bag.

I had a notebook in there—from the academy. I could write it all down. Explain everything.

My fingers barely touched the zipper when Xavier grabbed my wrist.

His grip was crushing. His knuckles ground against my bones.

"What the hell are you pulling out? More lies?"

I struggled. Reached around with my free hand, dug into the bag. Managed to pull out the stack of paper.

Before I could unfold a single sheet, Xavier ripped it from my hands. Tore it in half. Then again. White scraps exploded into the air.

Paper drifted into my hair. I stared at him. Whatever warmth I had left went dead.

Victoria let out a sob—right on cue—and buried her face deeper.

"Xavier, don't. She was only trying to—"

Xavier cut her off. His voice dropped into a snarl.

"She's already crushed your wolf and you're still defending her? Someone like this doesn't deserve to walk free in our pack."

Dad's face went dark. Completely dark. He jerked his chin toward the steward at the door. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of an Alpha's command—low, final, and absolute.

"Throw her out. This pack has no such daughter."