02
I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the packhouse, stepping into the foyer. The familiar scent of pine and earth filled my nose, but it no longer felt like home. I rubbed at my swollen, red eyes, silently hoping the puffiness would fade before anyone noticed.
Eros’s scent lingered in the air, strong and commanding as always. I heard his footsteps before I saw him, and when he rounded the corner, his piercing eyes locked on me
“Remi,” he said, his tone clipped. “What happened to your eyes?”
I hesitated, my heart clenching at the sudden attention. Maybe he noticed because he cared. Maybe…just maybe. But his expression wasn’t soft or concerned–it was cold, impatient.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, lowering my gaze. “Just some sand. It’s nothing.”
He stared at me for a moment longer, then shrugged. “We’re late. Let’s go.”
I blinked. “I need to change first. I-
“No,” he cut me off, his tone sharp. “You don’t need to change. We’re already late, and I won’t have everyone
waiting for us.”
I looked down at my worn jeans and plain shirt, my heart sinking. “But-”
“Enough, Remi.” He grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful, and pulled me toward the door. “You look fine.
Let’s go.”
When we arrived, the grand hall was already bustling with pack members. The air buzzed with excitement, laughter, and admiration for the pack’s newest addition: Daisy, the rightful Alpha’s daughter.
As we entered, all eyes turned to us. Or rather, to him. Alpha Eros commanded attention without even trying, his presence magnetic and imposing. I, on the other hand, faded into the background like a shadow.
And then I saw her.
Daisy stood at the center of the room, radiant in a diamond–studded gown that shimmered with every
movement. Her hair cascaded in perfect waves, and her smile lit up the entire hall. She was beautiful–a swan among a flock of ducks
I glanced down at my simple outfit, the jeans that suddenly felt too tight, the shirt that felt too plain. I felt like an intruder, a misplaced piece in a perfect puzzle.
Alpha Donovan, my–no, Daisy’s–father, stepped onto the dais, his voice booming through the room
*Tonight, we celebrate the return of our real daughter, Daisy,” he announced, his tone filled with pride and emotion. “She has endured so much, suffered greatly, but now she’s back where she belongs. From this day forward,
she will be cherished and treasured as she deserves.”
Applause erupted, loud and enthusiastic, I stood at the edge of the crowd, feeling like a ghost.
“She’s stunning,” someone whispered behind me.
“Poor Daisy Imagine what she went through while Remi was here, living her life,” another added.
My cheeks burned as I heard their words, my heart sinking lower with every hushed comment.
“She’s a fake,” one voice muttered.
“Just look at her,” another said with a sneer. “What a joke.”
My throat tightened, and I swallowed the lump forming there. I wanted to disappear, to vanish into thin air.
“Remi.”
The voice jolted me, and I turned to see Daisy approaching, a glass of red wine in her hand. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were sharp, glinting with something darker.
“Are you happy with what you see?” she asked, her tone laced with mockery.
I stared at her, unsure how to respond. “I don’t-”
“You stole my life,” she hissed, stepping closer. “You stole my parents, my family, my home.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” I said quietly, my voice trembling.
“Wasn’t it?” She tilted her head, her smile widening. “You stole everything from me, Remi. Even my man.” Her gaze flicked toward Eros, and her lips curled into a smirk.
“I didn’t-”
“You did,” she interrupted. “But now, I have it all back. My family. My place. Eros.” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “How does it feel to lose everything?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, she turned her back to the crowd, tilting her glass slight And then she poured the wine down the front of her dress.
The glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor as she stumbled back, falling to the ground. Her cries pierced the air, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
“Oh my goddess, please don’t!” she sobbed, her voice trembling. “Why would you do this to me?”
Gasps filled the room as all eyes turned to me.
“I didn’t-“I started, panic rising in my chest.
I took a shaky breath, my hand trembling over my abdomen. No one knew yet, but our child–my child–was
3:48 PM
Ew appet Daughter of the Ligh
“Remi!” Eros’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and accusing. He crossed the room in an instant, his expression furious. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I didn’t do anything!” I cried, my voice breaking.
“How could you?” my father–no, Alpha Donovan–snapped. “You’ve already enjoyed a life that wasn’t yours, and now you can’t even let your sister have her moment?”
“She’s not my sister!” I yelled, my voice shaking with anger and pain.
Eros’s hand struck my cheek before I even saw it coming. The sting burned, and I stumbled back, clutching my
face as tears streamed down my cheeks.