Chapter 2
Suppressing my emotions, I took a few steps forward and said coldly,“Nathan.”
Nathan furrowed his brow, expecting me to scream, to lash out, to cry and complain as I had always done.
He never expected such a cold greeting. I nodded at him, intending to return to my room to change.
“Lina, what are you doing? Do you think faking a near—drowning will erase your mistake?”
He blocked my path.
He seemed to think I had changed.
His wolf was filled with uncertainty,” WHEN HAD LINA LEARNED TO SWIM?”
I looked at my second brother, Nathan, the brother I had once loved the most.
Alpha Derek, our big brother, was strict; only Nathan had shown me any affection. But now his eyes held only disgust and impatience.
Sophie’s soft voice cut through the air.“Nathan, it wasn’t Lina’s fault. I know she’s never liked me being a part of the Ashford Family. I was greedy, hoping for a family in Pack. Please don’t argue because of me. You’re all so important to me.”
Brandon glared at me.“Are you happy now? If it weren’t for her father dying to save you, she wouldn’t be an orphan! He should never had saved you! You ungrateful wretch! We should have let you die!”
Nathan frowned.“Lina, be grateful. We should treat Sophie as our family member. We owe her. Especially you. Understand?”
“Nathan, someone as ungrateful as her wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t have pushed Sophie into the water if she did. Saving a dog would have been better than saving her!”
I felt a chilling isolation. The family mindlink had already add Sophie. I supposed the next step would be to kick me out. If I could, I would have preferred to stay at the bottom of the pool.
Ignoring the burning pain in my lungs, I croaked, “It was all my fault. It won’t happen again.”
Because I would never do anything so foolish again. If they preferred Sophie as their sister, then I would leave. I quit. I would cut the bond before they do, away from family.
“Lina, was it on purpose? Don’t you know Sophie can’t swim? You could have killed her! Werewolves are all about caring families sticking together! You disappoint me so much!”
Nathan was disappointed. He’d thought it was an accident; he never imagined I would try to kill Sophie. When had Lina become so vicious?
The house doctor arrived; Brandon turned, his voice seething, “I hope Sophie’s alright, or you’ll pay when Derek gets back.” Nathan took a few steps, then turned back to see me standing there, soaked and pale. A flicker of softening in his eyes. “Go change your clothes. The party’s about to begin.”
I didn’t answer, left alone to my own devices. I waited until they were all gone, before coughing violently, as if I would cough up my lungs. Swallowing the blood coming up
in my throat, I managed to reach my room.
This life, I would never have anything to do with the Ashford Family again!
