—- Chapter 5, This time, no one tried to stop me. Dax’s voice called out behind me, faint and unsure. “Why didn’t you make a fuss this time?” I didn’t answer. There was nothing left to fight for. Back at the Outpost, I shut everything out-my phone on airplane mode, my focus locked on the border. For thirteen days, I trained hard and took extra shifts on patrol, keeping my head down and my thoughts quiet. The work was brutal, but steady. By the end of it, something inside me had settled.
The next day, I turned on my phone. It vibrated nonstop-messages crashing in from the pack, from Cain, from people I’d once thought of as friends. Topened my friend’s messages first. Dozens of them. All furious, all aimed squarely at Eris and Cain. And then one photo that made my blood still. A family photo. Everyone was there-my parents, Dax, Eris, and… Cain. —- He stood beside her, his expression soft. Familiar. Like someone who’d finally found his place.
Like someone who’d always belonged at her side. The caption read: (With my beloved family members.] My friend had commented beneath it, unable to hold back: “Your sister’s not even in the photo, but her fiancé’s doing a great job playing her brother and her mate, huh?” I replied to her briefly. Told her not to waste her energy. Then I went through the rest of the messages. They all blamed me. For letting someone challenge Eris. For making her look bad.
For upsetting the image she’d carefully crafted. I responded to each with a polite, distant apology. Then I locked the screen. Dax called. “Vera! Finally-what have you been doing? We’ve been worried sick.” His voice was tight with concern, but in the background, I heard Eris laughing. —- “Dad, Mom! Cain! This carousel is so cute!” Their voices were light. Carefree. Like none of them had ever driven someone away. “You were worried?” I asked calmly. Silence. “We couldn’t reach you…
We wanted to invite you along, you know. It’s not our fault-your friend’s comment really upset Eris. She cried for hours. We had to take her out to cheer her up.” “But I already apologized,” I said. More silence. Then a weak reply. “Tt’s for the best. I guess you’ ve… learned your lesson.” Then Cain took the phone. His voice was sharp, edged with fury. “Vera, did you tell your friend to post that? You’re disgusting.” “Pve said it before-Eris’s your sister. I’m just taking care of her for you.
That’s what your family does, too. But you-you’ re always jealous. Always playing the victim.”
