Chapter 3

I turned around.

Caleb stood at the door, ice-cold.

Behind him were my father Marcus, my mother Diana, and Freya, who couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes.

They stood like a solid wall, locking me out of this family.

I looked at Caleb's accusing face. Any urge I had to tell the truth just vanished. I clenched my aching fists.

"Moving to the guest house," I said casually.

"No!" Marcus snapped, his face dark. "You pushed Freya down the stairs a few days ago. I don't trust you on pack grounds!"

That shattered my last bit of hope. I was his real daughter. But he guarded against me like I was a toxic witch about to kill someone.

"Then I'll move out of the territory," I replied on instinct, my voice flat.

That set Marcus off.

"Don't you dare!" His Alpha aura exploded, rattling the windows.

Freya immediately played the terrified victim, hiding behind Caleb and gripping his arm. "Sienna, don't go. It's all my fault. I'll go sleep in the guest room. Don't make Alpha angry..."

"Drop the act," I cut her off calmly. Then I looked at the three people I used to love most. "Once I leave, I'm never coming back."

The room went quiet for a second.

"Who are you threatening?!" Marcus roared, veins pulsing. "You think this pack falls apart without you?!"

Caleb let out a harsh, mocking laugh. He looked down at me with pure disgust.

"Let her go. Sienna, you think playing runaway will make me beg you to stay? You think too highly of yourself."

I didn't spare them another glance. I dragged my two suitcases past them and walked straight to the front door.

"Let her go!" Marcus roared behind me. "If you have a spine, stay gone! Let's see how long you last out there without the pack! You'll be crawling back crying in three days!"

I grabbed the cold doorknob and yanked it open.

"Pass my order!" Marcus screamed across the packhouse. "Any border patrol who opens the gates for her gets banished as a rogue!"

Outside, it was pouring rain. I didn't take an umbrella.

I dragged my bags right into the storm. The freezing rain soaked me instantly, mixing with my tears and blurring my vision.

The wind cut like a knife. Suddenly, a ripping pain shot through my chest.

It was an old wound from years ago, when I took a fatal wolf-bane hit for Caleb. The poison damaged my wolf. It flared up every time it rained. Blood soaked through my jacket, dripping into the mud.

"Sienna! Don't go—" Freya's fake crying echoed from the porch.

Then Marcus's anxious voice: "It's windy, your heart is weak, go back inside! Leave the ungrateful brat alone!"

My wolf was already weak, and I was exhausted. Under the heavy rain, my vision went black. The suitcase slipped from my hands and splashed into a puddle.

Just as I was about to collapse, a black SUV slammed on its brakes. The door swung open, and a strong hand caught me.

The rain stopped hitting my head. A large black umbrella covered me.

I forced my head up and recognized him. Gideon, Alpha of the Nightfall pack. Also the Head of the Alliance Healer's Guild.

He was obsessed with finding a cure for silver poisoning. He respected my research and had tried to recruit me as his head healer many times. But the silver project was too critical—zero leaks allowed. It meant 15 years of isolation. That's why I kept saying no.

Things were different now. I took the offer, because there was nothing left for me out here.

He parked right in the downpour. He didn't ask questions. He just wrapped one arm around my weak shoulders, grabbed my bags with the other, and threw them in the trunk.

"Sienna!"

Caleb's furious voice cut through the rain. He had run out into the storm, completely soaked.

When he saw who was holding me, his concern cracked into rage.

"No wonder you left so easily." Caleb glared at Gideon. Jealousy and the pain of rejection burned in his eyes. His voice shook. "You were already planning to betray our mate bond."

Gideon stopped. He turned around, his supreme Alpha aura locking onto Caleb. His eyes were full of pity and disgust.

"Keep barking, Caleb," Gideon shot back coldly.

That hit a nerve. Caleb's mocking sneer turned dark.

"What did you say?"

Caleb's eyes snapped red. The crazed, possessive rage of a fated mate exploded. He lunged forward, trying to rip the SUV door open.

"Leave her! Sienna, you are mine!"

Click.

Gideon shoved me into the passenger seat and locked the doors without hesitation.

Caleb slammed his hands against the window, roaring, "Get out! Sienna, get out of the car!"

The SUV sped away from the main house. Caleb shrank in the rearview mirror until the storm swallowed him completely.

It was warm inside the car. I leaned back and slowly closed my eyes.

"He's an absolute bastard," Gideon gripped the steering wheel, his voice low and tight. "You didn't deserve that."

I listened to the rain outside. Inside, my heart was completely dead.

"They used to love me, you know," I whispered, my voice raw.

Seeing Gideon's doubtful look, my mind flashed through memories of Caleb holding me. Of my parents spoiling me when I was little.

My eyes watered. I repeated seriously, "Really. They used to be so, so good to me."