Chapter 3

Stone's chest heaved. Sweat coated his forehead from the lingering agony of the punishment.

Yet he still forced himself to stand in front of Hadley. He turned his head and gave me a strained explanation.

"Master, Rowan and I prepared a surprise for you that day. We don't want you to go."

The moment the lie left his mouth, he snapped his head back and growled at Rowan in the beast language.

"We absolutely cannot let her go. She'll ruin Hadley's inheritance."

I lowered my gaze, my fingers gripping the bedsheets.

They hadn't prepared a single birthday gift for me in three years.

They couldn't even invent a decent lie to protect Hadley.

Hadley leaned down and gently patted Stone's head.

"Don't be nervous. Wren is my sister. Even if she goes, she won't hurt me."

Rowan stayed entirely on guard.

"But—"

"I'm not afraid."

Hadley cut him off with a smile. She looked up at me.

"Make sure you come, Wren."

The flash of provocation in her eyes as she walked out sent chills down my spine.

She walked slowly.

The two beastmen trailed behind her, acting like her personal bodyguards.

They looked exactly the way I did three years ago, following right behind them to take the beatings meant for their backs.

Dead silence filled the room.

The stench of antiseptic burned through my nose and straight into my lungs.

It was agonizingly cold.

I let out a sudden laugh.

"Go after her if you want. Feel free to acknowledge her as your new master."

They stiffened, their heads dropping in unison.

"Master, we wouldn't dare."

They wouldn't dare.

But they wanted to.

The two of them were nothing but skin and bones when I first brought them home.

They were so traumatized by the beatings that they refused to eat.

I held the bowl and fed them, spoonful by spoonful.

They begged me not to leave when they caught terrible fevers.

I stayed awake by their bedside all night, swearing to protect them for the rest of my life.

But now, they stood there with their eyes cast down. The faint trace of disgust pressed into the corners of their mouths twisted like a knife in my gut.

"Get out."

Absolute calm settled in my chest the second the door clicked shut.

I handled my own discharge paperwork.

A necklace in a jewelry store window caught my eye on the way back.

I had stared at it for three years. Every time I passed by, I promised myself I would save up to buy them something nice.

But today, I handed my card to the cashier.

Just as I was about to pay, Hadley walked in with my parents.

My dad waved his hand dismissively.

"Bring out the most expensive jewelry in the store. Don't skimp on my daughter."

Hadley spotted me instantly.

A mocking smirk curled on her lips.

"When did you get so rich, Wren? You can actually afford this kind of jewelry?"

"Need me to sponsor you a little? Just so you don't look completely pathetic at the party."

My mom stepped back in absolute disgust.

"Wren Whitmore, you grew up in the countryside. Now you make a little money and think you can act rich."

"Putting that on you is a total waste."

I ignored them. I paid the bill and headed for the door.

Viciousness flashed in Hadley's eyes.

She chased after me through gritted teeth and grabbed my wrist.

"Why the rush? I bet you don't even have a dress for the party. I'll buy you one."

"I don't need it."

I frowned, trying to rip my hand from her grip.

A hard shove slammed into my back a second later.

I lost my balance.

My entire body pitched forward down the stairs.

The back of my head smashed against the sharp edge of a step.

Warm liquid slid down my forehead.

The world spun. Through my blurred vision, I saw two figures rush past me to shield Hadley.

"Master! Are you alright!"

"Don't be afraid, Master. We won't let anyone hurt you again!"

They seemed to have forgotten. When Hadley maliciously pushed them into the river to get back at me, I was the one who jumped in to save them.

My lungs filled with water, and I almost died. They had crowded around me, crying just like this.

They swore I would be their only master for the rest of their lives.

It was all a lie.