When Love Steps Aside

While I stood frozen, Laura suddenly pinched Anne hard right in front of me.

Anne burst into tears. My mother, Eliza, came rushing out of her room. She immediately cradled Anne in her arms with a look of concern.

“Sienna, have you had enough? They’ve already apologized. What more do you want? Laura knows you don’t like her. That’s why she moved out. Even after she severed her mate bond, she didn’t dare come back to live here. Isn’t that enough for you?”

She yanked Drew away from me, glared at me sharply, and then turned to him.

“Don’t bother with her. You’ve spoiled her too much. She’s always throwing tantrums!”

Laura’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Eliza.

“Mom, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come back. I know Sienna doesn’t like me.”

Just then, my younger brother, Jake, burst in through the door. He shoved me aside and shielded Laura behind him.

“Sienna, you’ve been picking on Laura just because Mom and Dad feel guilty toward you. Well, let me tell you, Laura is the only sister I acknowledge!

“If you dare bully her again, don’t blame me for what I’ll do!”

No one in this family liked me.

I’d always known that. My parents and Jake treated Laura like a princess.

They thought I was selfish, that I mistreated Laura, and that I lacked grace or maturity.

Jake and I were supposed to be the closest siblings. Instead, we’d become enemies.

When I first came back to this family, my parents were filled with guilt. But as time passed, their looks of guilt turned to impatience and eventually to disgust.

They said I lacked the etiquette of noble werewolves, and that I was crude, dishonest, and selfish.

They said Laura was the daughter they wished they had, not someone like me.

I pressed a hand to my aching chest and let out a bitter laugh.

They didn’t like me. Hadn’t I known that all along?

Why did it still hurt so much to hear them defend Laura?

I lowered my head as tears slid silently down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blame Laura. This is her home too. Let her move back in.”

Jake paused. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“You being nice? Don’t tell me you’re planning something shady again. Are you trying to bully Laura? I’m warning you, cut it out!”

“That’s enough! Shut your mouth!”

Eliza scolded Jake. She then turned to me with a bright, pleased smile.

“Sienna’s finally grown up. She’s learned not to be jealous of how outstanding Laura is. That’s more like it. Be a good girl, apologize properly, and Laura will forgive you since she’s so kind and generous.”

“Yes, Mom.”

I answered obediently, swallowing the bitterness in my chest.

This would be the last time I complied. Today, I was leaving this house for good. I’d catch the direct shuttle to Northvale and never look back.

I picked up my bag that contained just a few changes of clothes. I hadn’t taken anything my family had given me.

I didn’t care for anything that didn’t truly belong to me.

“Sienna, where are you going?”

Right as I stepped out the door, Eliza called after me. For some reason, there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.

“To buy something for Laura. A little something to celebrate her return.”

It was the first time I’d ever lied, but I felt no guilt. There was only a faint sense of relief.

Eliza let out a sigh of relief.

“Don’t take too long. Don’t make everyone wait. That’s more like it. Treat Laura well. We’re all family here.”

“Sienna, wait! I’ll drive you.”

Drew had just finished calming Anne down. When he saw me leave, he panicked, grabbed his car keys, and hurried after me.

Just as he turned around, Laura pinched Anne’s arm hard.

Anne’s crying instantly drew everyone’s attention back inside.

Concern washed over Eliza's face again.

“Drew, don’t worry about Sienna. Our villa isn’t far from the city. It’s barely a thirty-minute drive. Anne needs you. Stay and comfort her.”

Drew hesitated, paused mid-step, then slowly backed away. He looked at me with guilt and regret.

“Sienna, come back soon, okay? Anne’s still young. She needs someone with her. I’ll stay with her for now.”

I said nothing.

I didn’t look back as I stepped through the door and left everything behind.