Chapter 1

Gigiana sat on her bed, gazing through the window onto the wet streets. It had been raining for hours and it didn't look like it would stop any time soon. Clarissa was standing by the window, peeking from behind the curtains. The window readily offered her the front view of her parents' palace. She threw a glance in Gigiana's direction and looked away quickly. She wondered why she had to train so hard and praised so little. Well, her elder sister could be praised but not to the point where she feels non-existent.

"What did Malcolm say to you after the training yesterday?"

Clarissa turned and fixed her gaze on her sister. If the world was still spinning on its axis, she should be the one asking that question with all audacity. Does age provide a certain type of immunity to those it favored?

"What did you say?"

Gigiana cleared her throat.

"I asked: what did Malcolm say to you after the training yesterday? You know I wasn't within hearing range. I don't want to be left out on my little sister's progress report."

Clarissa clenched her teeth. If only that came from a place of true concern. She stepped out from behind the curtains to face Gigiana.

"I know I don't get everything right but I hate the way it is often shoved into my face- by you, by our parents... I don't even mind whatever Malcolm says. He is like family; not family."

Gigiana walked towards her younger sister.

"Is that what he said to you?"

Clarissa shook her head and looked away.

"I don't think it's necessary for you to know. I think you just want to laugh at me."

Gigiana's eyes held genuine concern. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her sister.

"What makes you think that way?"

Even though you're right in a way, only that I want to make sure I gain the approval of the whole kingdom. Clarissa pulled away from the hug, suddenly feeling trapped instead of soothed.

"I hear the way Malcolm talks to you; I see the fondness in his eyes when you practice your moves. I know you're more comely to behold than I am and he'll surely put in good words for you. I stand to defend myself."

Sometimes, I even wonder if I am a surrogate child. She walked back to her place behind the curtains and continued her watch. The rain beat down mercilessly on the glass panes. She looked at the security personnel patrolling the front yard. How could she penetrate them and escape this belittling life?

"Sometimes, I want to run away, Gigiana."

Gigiana glared at the back of her sister's head and smirked. Do it quickly, wimp. I must ascend the throne.

"Do you feel we hate you; your own family?"

Clarissa shook her head. She sighed and she ran her index finger across the window pane, grateful for the rain and the postponed lesson.

"Not hate. You're all not being fair. I don't want to pretend but I think the extra attention and praises given to you are quite obvious; even to the blind."

Die, wench! Let the envy eat through you. Gigiana suddenly wished her all forms of ill luck. She eyed her with disgust and went into hysterical laughter.

"How shallow of you, Clarissa!"

Shaken, Clarissa turned to face her elder sister. She had never heard her laugh like that before or heard her use such tone with her. It sounded dark and empty of every iota of benevolence. It spoke volumes of malice.

"Shallow, you say? Gigiana, you sound so dark. Are you dabbling with evil just to prove a point?"

"I am your elder sister and I will inherit the throne", she thundered. "It's best you stop trying to outdo me or you'll lose yourself. Our parents love you because you are their last child but based off your accomplishments, you're nothing next to a mere maid."

Hurt, Clarissa sat heavily on her bed. She couldn't believe her ears, not even for once. Her eyes stung with tears but she held them back, determined not to offer her elder sister complete satisfaction on a platter of gold. After all, she knew all her own capabilities and by breed, she had inherited the most viable and advantageous characteristics. Who was a lean coyote to mock the essence of her being?

"I agree with you. What you have fought this hard for, I own by natural disposition. And to believe that you are my own blood is getting more difficult by the day. From the time you turned thirteen, all you ever gave me was malice under the guise of tough love, Gigiana."

Gigiana was distraught by the temerity of her younger sister. But in order not to lose the upper hand, she slapped her hard across the face.

EARLIER THAT DAY...

Gigi quickly walked away the moment she noticed her mother coming out from her father's office but she'd heard everything that went on inside.

She knew they loved her but the love they had for Clarissa was more intoxicating and real compared to hers. She knew this but her heart always finds it hard to understand it all. She's older than Clarissa by two years yet they favored Clarissa more than they did to her,her heart felt heavy as she struggled to breath hard.She'd fought so hard to belong here,to make sure everyone embraces her. She made sure she was good in her academics,in sports, almost in everything. She fought to be where she was and yet she was still struggling for recognition in the face of her parents.

She walked into her bedroom,banged the door and felt the frame rattle.She'd heard the words clearly, heard the praise.

"She needs to know her place, needs to be prepared to face the challenges that come with handling a whole clan,do you understand?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she blinked them back. Nothing would stop her from contending for the throne. It rightfully belonged to her. She went back into her room and just lay on her bed.

After taking everything out on Clarissa, she felt fulfilled and was about to inflict more harm on her sister before their mother walked in.

"Clarissa, what is this I hear about you not taking your lessons seriously?!"

Clarissa shuddered. Just how bad could the day get for her? Ill treatment from her own sister and then emotional injuries from her mother?! She turned to face Lady Felicia, mustering all the calm and quiet she could. She kept her voice level, occasionally glancing in Gigiana's direction.

"Mom, I'm taking it seriously. I really am..."

"No,you aren't", her mother cut her short. "Malcolm didn't make things up,did he?"

Felicia asked as her eyes landed on the red patch on her daughter's face. She feared for the worst, that Clarissa had decided to resort to self harm to even things out.

"What did you do to your face?"

She said sternly as Clarissa pouted. "It was a mistake." Just then, Gigi spoke up.

"Mom,can I have a word with you?"

She asked and Felicia nodded.

"Of course sweetie." She replied, turning around to face Gigi.

"I was wondering if a competition could be held among all the teenage girls. The boys could do theirs too."

"That'd be great. But first, are you both ready for it? I can't have both my daughters go out into a competition with other children only to bring me reproach. You must show yourself worthy of the royal blood that flows in your veins."

Lady Felicia replied gingerly while Gigi nodded.

"Of course mom, I'm ready."

She replied and smirked at Clarissa before walking out.

Why does she suddenly want a competition? So she can show how good she is at fighting or wolfing down other creatures? Clarissa sprawled out on her bed, wondering what her next line of action should be. She turned over and met her mother's expectant eyes.

"All the more you need to show us what you've got. You cannot just sit and expect us to know you've got potential,prove it!"

Clarissa tried to numb her feelings to the effect of her mother's statement. What sort of motivation was she expected to draw from what felt like a clear let down of all her efforts? She looked up with quaking lips. She wanted to say that she's the better one, more deserving of the love and praise showered on Gigiana but she held the pain in till her mother left.

"Yes!"

Gigi screamed the minute she returned to the bedroom. Now she had finally been given the opportunity to show her skills and she'd definitely do it.Looking around the room,she smirked evily to herself. She's the first child and so the throne rightfully belongs to her, not some weak girl who calls herself a Lycan.She hated the fact that a coyote had bitten her to keep her from dying.

Of course all had been in a bid to get the attention of her parents. She'd cut her veins on purpose and let the blood flow out of her bedroom. That's how she began to share a room with Clarissa: a way of keeping her in check. At first she'd been awake but as time went by, she fainted and almost died because of shock. But one of the maids saw her and bit her to bring her back to life.Since then, she'd been undergoing training even without her parents knowing. She vowed to be stronger than Clarissa or any other teen werewolf.

The journey to the crown has only just begun, she thought to herself as she lay on her bed with her fingers clasped behind her head. The big picture in her head must finally be painted.