Chapter 3

When I woke up, my mom was lying by my bedside.

Overcome with grievance and fear, I instinctively hugged her, my voice choked. "Mom..."

"Coran cheated on me."

My mom interrupted my tearful complaint. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand.

"It's such a small thing. Do you really need to act like you want to die? What man doesn't cheat?"

I became emotional. "But the person he cheated with is..."

Her tone was calm. "I know."

I looked up in disbelief at my mother's murky eyes.

No guilt whatsoever, only dissatisfaction with me.

I grabbed my mother's arm, my voice hoarse with emotion. "You know? You knew and you still..."

"Your husband is an Alpha. His work is stressful and he needs an outlet. As his wife, you don't understand him—fine."

"Outsiders cost money. Your sister is clean. Isn't it good that she's sharing the burden for you? What do you have to make a fuss about?"

Her mouth opened and closed, every word scolding me for being unreasonable. My mind went blank.

Even though I'd long known her favoritism had no bounds.

Even though I'd long known Mira was the apple of her eye.

I still couldn't understand. I broke down, screaming and questioning her.

I thought she could at least show some concern for me, but instead she said, "When I gave birth to you, my body was ruined because of you. You've been ungrateful since childhood, always fighting with Mira over things. Now you even want to fight with Mira over a man!"

My fingernails almost drew blood.

My father was the previous Beta of Bronzefang pack. He died when I was young in a Rogue attack.

I was still immersed in the pain of losing my father when my mom came up and slapped me twice across the face, pointing at me and cursing:

"I knew it—you're nothing but bad luck! It wasn't enough that you ruined my body when you were born. Now you've brought your curse to your father, making him die so young!"

Later, when I was eighteen, I became the fated mate of Coran, an Alpha. After we married, I became the pack's Luna.

I thought my mom would stop calling me bad luck. I thought my mom would finally like me. But it turned out she'd always hoped it would be Mira who married Coran and became Luna.

My phone buzzed with a notification—one of my special alerts.

Mira had updated her social media:

"Feeling down. Coran rented out the entire Ferris wheel just for me."

I was lying in the hospital from gas poisoning.

My husband was accompanying my sister to the newest Western restaurant, taking her to the amusement park, riding the Ferris wheel with her.

"If you can't keep your Alpha's heart, who can you blame?"

My mother's flippant mockery made my red, swollen eyes look especially ridiculous.

When Coran and Mira came back, I was still in the hospital waiting to give birth.

"Rowenna, I'm so sorry. I forgot to turn off the gas when I was cooking. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have..."

Mira cried pitifully, but I didn't even bother to look at her.

She cried harder. "Coran, is Rowenna mad at me? I'm so stupid—I can't even handle such a small thing."

Coran comforted her gently. "It's not your fault."

He looked at me, seemingly displeased with my attitude. "Rowenna, Mira is apologizing to you. Are you deaf?"

I suddenly felt like laughing, but tears fell against my will.

Coran realized his tone was too harsh and softened it. He pulled out two stuffed animals. "I know this scared you. I asked the doctor—you and the baby are fine. Mira is still young. She even brought you the stuffed animals you like."

The gemstone necklace on Mira's neck was blindingly conspicuous.

It was the wedding gift I'd asked Coran for over a year.

To this day, my neck remained empty.

Did I only deserve these cheap dolls?

I bit my lip almost hard enough to draw blood. "In what capacity are you speaking for Mira? Brother-in-law? Lover?"

Coran's expression gradually darkened.

He let out a cold laugh.

"No wonder your mom doesn't like you."

"Mira is sunny and cheerful, unlike you—petty, narrow-minded. If I were your mom, I would also..."

I looked up in disbelief.

Coran's eyes showed panic. "That's not what I meant..."

For as long as I could remember, my mom hadn't liked me. Even when there were two chicken drumsticks, she'd give both to Mira.

When I was little, every friend I made would be drawn to Mira and become her friend instead.

Every night in the quiet darkness, I hated myself for not being as likable as Mira.

It was Coran's appearance that told me even if I wasn't perfect, he would always stand by my side.

But now, even he was standing on Mira's side.

My tears flowed like an opened faucet, uncontrollable. I broke down, grabbing things and throwing them at him. "Get out! Just get out!"

Over the next few days, probably out of guilt, Coran and Mira came to the hospital to see me every other day.

Baby diapers and wipes, all kinds of pregnancy nutrition meals—an endless stream.

"Rowenna, didn't you say before that you really liked this necklace? I bought it specially for you."

The necklace I'd wanted for so long was placed in my palm by Coran, but it felt cold all the way to my heart.

One year and three months. He knew I liked it, but never thought to buy it for me.

I lifted my head and finally said the words I'd been holding in my heart.