Chapter 5 False Mask

Elena slowly opened her eyes.

Above her, the carved wooden ceiling of her bedroom came into view. Her body lay rested upon a soft mattress, tucked beneath thick wool blankets. For a fleeting second, a fragile breath of relief escaped her chest.

'Was all of that just a nightmare?' Elena thought, desperately grasping for hope.

Closing her eyes, she reached deep into the corners of her mind, searching for her wolf. But there was no response. There was no warm presence, no fierce purr, and no majestic howl that had anchored her soul since childhood. There was only a hollow, freezing void that turned her blood cold.

Elena pressed a trembling hand against her chest. The agonizing sting beneath her bandages was undeniable. The silver dagger and iron nails had done their work. Her wolf was truly dead.

Hot tears streamed down Elena's cheeks, soaking into the pillow beneath her head. A quiet, broken sob escaped her pale lips.

Creak.

The bedroom door swung open slowly.

Elena quickly wiped her wet cheeks and turned her head toward the entrance. Violet stepped into the room with practiced grace, holding a silver tray with a steaming bowl of warm herbal soup.

"What else do you want here?" Elena asked, her voice hoarse and cold as ice.

Violet did not answer right away. She walked to the bedside, setting the silver tray down onto the wooden nightstand with a soft clink.

After glancing back at the empty hallway, Violet leaned down. Her pretty face stopped inches away from Elena's ear.

"You lost to me again, Elena," Violet whispered in a venomous, mocking tone.

Hearing that whisper, Elena did not cry. Instead, a dry, bitter laugh escaped her throat. She lifted her chin, glaring straight into her half-sister's eyes.

"Hh... your innocent mask cracked this quickly, Violet?" Elena sneered with a sharp, crooked smile.

Violet smiled in complete satisfaction, utterly unbothered by the insult. Straightening her posture, she twirled around to show off the lavender silk dress trimmed with intricate gold lace wrapping her body.

"How does my dress look? Beautiful, isn't it?" Violet asked, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Dady bought it for me this morning from the most expensive boutique in the city. He said Kael Arveth's future bride must wear the finest garments in the clan."

Elena looked at the dress with open disgust. "Is the daughter of a cheap mistress that terrified of having no status in this pack?"

Violet's jaw tightened instantly. Fury flared in her eyes at the insult to her mother, but she forced a deep breath to maintain her composure.

Lifting her left hand, Violet held it directly before Elena's face, showing off a silver ring carved in the shape of a crescent moon with a sparkling blue sapphire set in the center.

Elena froze. A sharp ache pierced her chest.

That was the engagement ring she had personally chosen with Kael a year ago beneath the sacred pack tree. Elena had chosen the crescent moon engraving, praying their union would be blessed and protected by the Moon Goddess. Now, that sacred token rested on the finger of the thief standing before her.

"This ring fits my finger perfectly, Elena," Violet whispered in a sickeningly sweet voice. "I will never let you win. Forever, you will remain beneath the soles of my feet."

Elena gritted her teeth tightly. "You are nothing more than a thieving parasite."

"So what if I stole it?" Violet laughed softly. "What does it matter if you are the daughter of the Callum clan's Luna? All your mother's people are dead, and you are just a crippled human without a wolf. Your rank in House Veyrath is lower than an Omega slave!"

Smack!

A fierce slap landed squarely across Violet's cheek.

Elena rose from the bed, breathing heavily and ignoring the searing pain throughout her bruised body. A bright red handprint flared across Violet's pale skin.

Violet clutched her burning cheek, her eyes wide with shock. But instead of striking back, Violet's sharp wolf ears caught the sound of rushed footsteps echoing from the hallway outside.

A wicked smirk curled over Violet's lips.

Without a second of hesitation, Violet snatched the hot soup bowl from the nightstand and poured the scalding broth directly across her own hand and wrist.

Sizzle!

"Aaaakh!" Violet shrieked hysterically, shoving the empty porcelain bowl straight into Elena's lap.

The bedroom door was kicked open from the outside.

Kael rushed inside with a panicked look, followed closely by Adrian and Selene.

"Violet!" Kael exclaimed, lunging forward to catch Violet's hand, which was blistering red from the boiling liquid. Kael snapped his head toward Elena, who sat frozen on the bed holding the empty bowl. "Elena! What have you done?"

"Kael, please don't blame Sister Elena," Violet sobbed, crocodile tears streaming down her face as she buried her head into Kael's chest. "Sister Elena is probably still furious about what happened at the altar last night. I am fine, my hand only hurts a little."

Seeing Violet's delicate skin blister, Kael's temper snapped. The brown pupils of his eyes flashed bright golden yellow, a clear sign of his wolf taking control of his temper.

"How dare you hurt her, Elena!" Kael roared viciously.

Lashing out, Kael shoved Elena's shoulders with the merciless force of an enraged wolf.

Crash!

Elena's body was thrown backward, slamming hard against the stone wall before tumbling onto the floor. She coughed violently, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood onto the carpet. Her fractured ribs flared with agony.

"Kael, you are the future Alpha of House Arveth, why are you so blind and stupid!" Elena spat, wiping the blood from her lip with blazing fury. "You did not even listen to an explanation and blamed me like a fool!"

"Enough, Elena!" Adrian bellowed, stepping into the room with a thunderous face. "What on earth is going on here?"

Violet pulled away from Kael's embrace, stumbling tearfully toward Adrian. "Father, sister Elena accidentally spilled hot soup on my hand when I brought her medicine."

"Goddess, my sweet girl!" Selene gasped dramatically, checking Violet's blistered arm. Selene glared at the servant standing by the door. "Bring burn ointment right this instant!"

Turning back to Elena, Selene's eyes filled with venomous hatred. "Elena, why are you always this malicious? Why do you constantly attack Violet when she only came to care for you?"

"She poured it on herself!" Elena hissed sharply. "You are all blind fools tricked by her cheap acting!"

"Elena, silence!" Adrian interrupted in an oppressive tone.

Selene stepped toward her husband, gently squeezing Adrian's arm with fabricated concern.

"Adrian, I don't think Elena can accept reality after losing her wolf," Selene said in a soft, manipulative tone. "What if we send Elena to the private boarding academy on the northern border? After all, she is an Alpha's daughter. Even without a wolf, she needs other skills so clan members will not look down on her."

Adrian let out a breath of relief, looking at Selene with deep admiration. "Selene, you truly are a wise woman. Even as a stepmother, you still think of Elena's future."

Elena stared at her father in heart-wrenching disbelief. "Dady, you truly wish to banish me from this clan? Is all the blood and the wolf you stole from me not enough?"

Violet clutched Kael's suit sleeve, looking up at him with pleading eyes while subtly shaking her head.

Provoked by the gesture, Kael stepped forward, glaring down at Elena coldly. "Elena, stop being ungrateful! At that academy, you can learn how to become a useful human for the pack, rather than staying here as a burden who causes trouble for everyone!"

"Kael is right, Elena," Adrian added coldly, refusing to meet his daughter's eyes. "All of this is for your own good."

Elena lay on the cold floor. Her body was weak, but inside her soul, a chilling truth settled permanently. This family was dead to her.

Lifting her head slowly, Elena looked at Adrian with eyes completely stripped of respect.

"Fine," Elena said with unnatural calm. "I will leave this cursed house. But before I walk out that door, return all of my mother's belongings to me."