Chapter 1I got home for Thanksgiving break to find the pack house completely empty.
Just a crumpled brochure for Maui trips sitting on the kitchen table.
Confused, I was about to call Mom when a post popped up on my feed:
[Been planning this family trip forever. Some annoying distant relative keeps insisting on tagging along. How do I "politely" tell her to back off?]
Posted 4 hours ago.
My wolf snarled low in my chest.
Then my sister's story lit up my screen - a photo at the airport gate.
[Mom and Dad are taking me to Maui~ Love them so much~]
The brochure slipped from my fingers.
In that empty, silent pack house, the only sound was my own ragged breathing - and the quiet whine I couldn't hold back.
They didn't just exclude me.
They called me the "annoying distant relative."
And in that moment, my wolf bared her teeth.
I knew exactly what I had to do.
...
I refused to believe it. I called Mom.
The line rang forever before someone picked up.
"Mom, where are you guys?" I kept my voice steady, even as my claws threatened to push through my knuckles.
"At... at home, where else would we be? Why?"
"I'm home. I don't see you."
Silence.
Through the phone, I heard it clear as day - the airport announcement:
"Passengers traveling to Maui, please proceed to boarding."
My wolf howled inside me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an icy paw.
Then the call ended abruptly.
Three hours later, my sister Marina Jones video-called me on FaceTime.
"Oh! Why'd you call earlier?"
On screen, she wore a brand-new sun hat and oversized sunglasses. Behind her - a beachfront hotel.
Same as always, she had to look picture-perfect 24/7.
And there I was, like some pathetic rogue omega, sitting alone in an empty house, staring at a screen.
Actually, ever since ten years ago when Mom and Dad brought Marina home after her birth pack was slaughtered, I should've known.
Their love and attention would be split in half - no, more than half.
But I kept foolishly believing that blood ties couldn't be broken. That at the end of the day, I was still their trueborn daughter.
Yet everything in front of me lined up perfectly with that post I'd read earlier.
I had become the "annoying distant relative."
During what was supposed to be a pack trip.
I forced myself to breathe before I could speak.
"Marina... where are you guys?"
"You seriously?? Hahahaha!"
She laughed carelessly and flipped the camera around.
Mom and Dad stood nearby, flipping through a hotel brochure.
"Oh right, Mom said you've been swamped with work lately, so you definitely wouldn't have time."
"She didn't want to make you feel bad, so we just came ahead without you!"
Chapter 2
"Came ahead without me."
Because they thought I was "busy."
Each word felt like a claw slicing through my chest.
Then Mom's voice came through the video, sharp with impatience:
"Marina, stop chatting. Didn't we say it's just the three of us this time? We're here to relax, not get distracted."
Dad's face appeared at the edge of the frame, grinning.
"We finally ditched your sister the tagalong. Hurry up and get ready for beachcombing!"
Then they saw me.
Their expressions froze. Their wolves went rigid.
"Winnie?"
Mom shot Dad a look. "We just didn't want you to worry. You're so busy with work. Next time, we'll definitely bring you."
Next time. Always next time.
My wolf let out a low, pained whine.
How many "next times" over the past ten years?
I wanted to come home for dinner - they were out taking Marina for professional photos.
I suggested a weekend getaway - they took her to the newly opened theme park instead.
This Maui trip? I brought it up last month.
Mom shot it down immediately - "flights are too expensive," "your dad's back is acting up."
Turns out it wasn't that they couldn't go. They just didn't want me.
I watched the three of them on screen, laughing, getting ready to hunt for shells on the beach.
My wolf went quiet. Exhausted.
I ended the call without a word.
My stomach growled, but I had zero appetite.
I opened the fridge. Completely empty.
Before leaving for their trip, they'd cleared everything out. Didn't even think to warn me.
I scrolled through the family pack chat. Mom and Dad posted daily recipes of Marina's favorite dishes every single night.
I laughed bitterly and left the chat - the one where they basically treated me like a stray.
A few hours later, Mom called.
"Winnie, what's gotten into you? Why'd you leave the pack chat?"
I forced a smirk. "Why should an unwanted wolf stick around?"
A long pause. Then:
"We just didn't want to stress you out with work! Your sister just got into college. This trip is her reward. Plus, it's been forever since the three of us went somewhere alone..."
"The three of you." I repeated softly.
My wolf bared her teeth.
The line went silent.
Dad took the phone, trying to smooth things over.
"Winnie, don't overthink it, little wolf. I'll send you some money. Buy a ticket and meet us in San Diego. We'll wait for you."
I caught the flicker of guilt in his eyes.
Send me money, then trick me into going to a fake destination.
Like placating a whining pup. Or compensating... an outsider who got her feelings hurt.
Tears surged without warning. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted copper.
Dad wasn't always like this.
When I was little, he'd hoist me onto his shoulders at the Thanksgiving parade.
He'd drive across half the territory just because I mentioned wanting pastries from the east side.
Even Mom used to ask me gently what I wanted to eat.
But then Marina secretly swapped out my SAT admission ticket with a fake one she'd printed herself.
My test was completely ruined.
I stormed home and smashed every single one of her favorite toys.
Even though Mom and Dad knew they'd wronged me, they still docked my allowance to buy Marina replacements.
I'll never forget what Dad said with that sigh.
"Marina's an orphan now, little wolf. Just let it go."
Marina's birth pack had been our family's benefactors.
So for the sake of that debt, I let it go.
But starting from the year I repeated senior year and lived at school, the cracks between me and my parents kept widening.
I gave up my bedroom. I gave up having a say in what we ate at dinner.
I gave up that portion of love and attention that would never belong to me again.
My wolf stopped fighting. She just curled up and waited.
I was debating whether to call out their lies.
But Marina beat me to it - threw down the gauntlet first.
Right after her previous post, she uploaded a Maui vlog with Mom and Dad.
It blew up because of the caption:
[Annoying relative's definitely gonna chase after us - good thing Dad gave her a fake destination!]
The comments exploded. The whole pack network was waiting to watch the trainwreck.
[I'm making sure SHE knows - Mom and Dad are MINE!]
A blatant provocation. Only possible because Mom and Dad were letting her.
But why? Why the hell wasn't their trueborn daughter worth more than an orphan?
Rage burned through me like wildfire. My wolf snapped. Claws pushed against my fingertips.
I couldn't hold back anymore.
I booked the next flight to Maui before my wolf could change her mind.
Chapter 3
Finding the hotel was easy.
My wolf caught their scent before I saw them.
I waited for hours. Then Marina finally waltzed in like pack royalty, flanked by Mom and Dad.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted! Mom, massage my shoulders!"
Before she finished her sentence, all three of them froze. Their wolves went rigid.
Like they'd scented a predator.
I broke the silence. "Thought you said San Diego?"
Guilt flickered in Dad's eyes. His wolf wouldn't meet mine.
Mom scrambled for an excuse.
"We were in San Diego yesterday, but Marina wanted to come to Maui, so we just got here today..."
"Right! I didn't think you'd actually track us down!"
Marina was smiling, but her last few words dripped with venom.
I put on a polite smile and just stood there, watching them squirm.
My wolf enjoyed it.
Marina's eyes darted around. Then she suddenly latched onto my arm, all sweet and sisterly.
"Winnie, we're going shopping this afternoon. Come with us!"
At the store, Marina didn't even blink. She grabbed products off the shelves and tossed them into the cart.
"This one's good for Mom's skin. This one helps Dad sleep better..."
Mom and Dad trailed behind her, grinning ear to ear, showering her with praise about how thoughtful she was.
The cart was already piled high when Marina told me to grab another one.
I didn't move.
"You're buying all this? With what money?"
Marina immediately buried herself in Mom's arms, voice trembling.
"Mom, did I upset Winnie again? I even picked stuff out for her..."
Suddenly I was the bad guy. The ungrateful one.
"What's your problem?" Mom snapped. "We're all here to have a good time, and you're ruining the mood."
"You're a grown wolf and you're not half as mature as Marina. You don't even think about buying nice things for your parents!"
I laughed. My wolf bared her teeth.
"And who exactly is paying for all this?"
Mom and Dad's eyes darted away.
Marina lifted her chin defiantly. "Winnie, are you seriously saying you won't treat Mom and Dad? If I had a job and money, I'd buy them the whole store!"
Mom and Dad ate up her words. Their irritation with me grew.
"What's wrong with spending a little on your pack? We finally brought your sister out for once. Can't you just let her enjoy herself?"
"Really?" I stared them down. My claws itched to come out.
"Ever since I started working, have I not bought enough for this pack?"
"I've even covered this wonderful sister's tuition multiple times."
"Are you planning to spend my money again, then tell all our relatives what a devoted daughter Marina is?"
My voice rose. My wolf growled beneath my skin.
People turned to stare. Humans. They wouldn't understand.
But Mom and Dad's faces darkened. Their wolves bristled.
Marina suddenly stumbled backward.
Too fast. Too deliberate.
She crashed into a wine tower display.
An entire row of bottles exploded on the floor.
Glass flew everywhere.
Marina clutched her hand, bleeding from shards, her voice full of hurt.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have fought with you over Mom and Dad..."
SLAP!
Dad's hand came down hard across my face. His fury uncontrolled. His wolf fully in his eyes.
"Look what you did to our daughter!"
Marina was surrounded by Mom and Dad, comforting her nonstop.
The sting on my cheek was nothing.
The pain tearing through my chest? That was everything.
My wolf let out a quiet, broken whine.
So now I wasn't even qualified to be their daughter.
Staff came over to discuss compensation.
All three of them looked at me.
Marina's smile turned smug. Her wolf practically purred.
"Winnie, people online said if you apologize and pay up, they'll let it go."
That's when it hit me.
My ears caught the faint buzz of a livestream from her pocket.
She'd been streaming this whole mess live.
My wolf went absolutely still.
Then she snarled.
What the hell?!
