Chapter 1: The Girl They Left Behind

My bedroom door was shoved open.

My brother, Conner, barged in, scoffing when he didn't see me.

"Aren't you a little old to be playing hide-and-seek and throwing tantrums?"

Normally, I would've argued back.

But this time, I just floated beside him, unable to make a sound.

Conner called my phone. It went unanswered. Annoyed, he raked a hand through his hair before picking up the journal on my desk.

There was only one thing written inside.

99.

The number of times they had disappointed me throughout my life.

Conner frowned, clearly not understanding what it meant. He tossed the notebook onto the floor before leaving another voicemail.

"Stop playing these stupid games. Ella wants your homemade cookies, so get back here and make them."

"It's her graduation day. Don't ruin it. Come home within an hour, and I'll forgive you."

Forgive me?

I almost laughed.

He was offering forgiveness to someone who was already dead.

Conner returned downstairs where laughter and music filled the living room.

"Sophie's not in her room," he announced. "She's ignoring my calls again. Same old trick. She'll disappear until we beg her to come home."

Dad sighed impatiently.

"We've spoiled her long enough. Leave her alone. She'll come crawling back tomorrow once she realizes nobody's chasing after her."

Nobody objected.

Not even Ryan.

My mate sat beside Ella with a gentle smile while she showed everyone pictures from her graduation.

She looked radiant beneath the decorations, surrounded by the family that had never truly been mine.

"Dad," Ella whispered softly, "what if something really happened to Sophie? Maybe I should text her."

She looked like the perfect younger sister.

Mom smiled proudly.

"You're always thinking about Sophie. You're too kind."

If only they knew what she typed before anyone could see.

"Hope you enjoyed getting attacked by those rogues. The party is so much better without you. I wish you'd just die."

She deleted the message immediately.

Then she replaced it with another.

"Sister, where are you? We're all worried. Please come home. If you're upset, take it out on me instead."

She proudly showed the message to everyone.

Mom hugged her tightly.

"This isn't your fault. Sophie is just being immature again."

Immature.

That word had followed me my entire life.

Today should have been different.

Today I was supposed to receive the Pack's Distinguished Service Award, an honor given only once every two years.

Knowing everyone wanted to celebrate Ella's graduation, I told them not to attend my ceremony.

I never wanted them to choose between us.

Instead, fate chose for them.

Just before leaving home, three rogue wolves forced their way inside.

"How did you get into our house?" I screamed.

One of them dangled Ella's keychain in front of my face.

"Don't bother fighting," he sneered.

"No one is coming to save you."

They dragged me into the basement.

I begged.

I cried.

I promised I would never tell anyone.

They ignored every plea.

When I fought back, my head slammed against the sharp corner of an old table.

Blood poured across the concrete floor.

Panicking, the rogues ran away.

Using the last of my strength, I crawled toward my phone.

My fingers no longer obeyed me.

I unlocked the screen with my tongue.

I called Mom.

Declined.

Dad.

Declined.

Conner.

Declined.

Every werewolf could sense through the Pack Bond when a loved one stood at death's door.

They all felt it.

They simply chose to ignore it.

Mom even texted me.

"Stop pretending you're dying. We've already severed the Pack Link. We don't have time for your drama."

My vision blurred.

Then I called Ryan.

He answered.

"Ryan... please... help me... I'm dying..."

His voice was colder than I had ever heard.

"Sophie, enough. Today is Ella's graduation. Stop trying to ruin it."

"I'll buy you a present later. Quit the attention-seeking."

The call ended.

A few seconds later, so did my heartbeat.

Now I floated through the very house where everyone celebrated.

None of them knew my body still lay hidden beneath their feet.

Within twenty-four hours, the smell of death would finally force them to look.

But by then...

It would already be too late.