Chapter 1

At midnight, my spirit drifted out of the basement.

The door to my bedroom swung open. My brother, Caleb, barged inside, scoffing when he found the room empty.

"Aren't you a little old to be playing hide-and-seek and throwing tantrums?"

Normally, I would have fired back with a sharp retort. This time, I just hovered beside him in absolute silence.

Caleb called my phone, but it went to voicemail. Annoyed, he ran a hand through his hair and casually flipped open the journal resting on my desk.

Only one thing was written on the page: *99*.

It was the exact number of times they had let me down over the years.

Caleb didn't understand. Frowning, he tossed the journal onto the floor and left a voicemail.

"Stop with the stupid games. Serena wants your homemade cookies, so get back here and make them for her. It's her graduation day. Don't you dare ruin it. Get home within the hour, and I’ll forgive you."

Shoving his phone into his pocket, Caleb headed back to the living room. "Maya's not in her room, and she's ignoring her calls," he told our parents. "She always does this. She blows things out of proportion, disappears, and waits for us to beg her to come back."

"We've spoiled her," Father finally said. "No one contact her this time. Let's teach her a lesson. She can cool off on her own, and she'll come crawling back tomorrow."

Serena drifted over and gently tugged on Father's arm, her face a perfect mask of concern. "Father, don't say that. What if something really happened to Maya? Maybe I should text her? You know Maya and I are so close." She lowered her eyes, looking every bit the innocent, gentle fawn.

I watched as she pulled out her phone, her slender fingers flying across the screen.

[Hope you enjoyed getting marked up by those rogues. Who are you screwing now? The party was a blast, btw. Thanks for not showing up. It would be so much better if you'd just drop dead.]

After sending it, she deleted the message from her history and typed a new one.

[Sister, are you okay? We're all so worried about you. If you're mad at us, just take it out on me. Please, just come home.]

She held the screen up for everyone to see, playing the role of the caring, considerate sister to perfection.

Mother pulled her into a hug, her voice dripping with sympathy. "You're always so kind, Serena. This has nothing to do with you. Maya is just being immature."

Immature?

A bitter laugh escaped my ghostly form, though no one could hear the sound.

In their eyes, it was always about Serena. Who would even remember that today was supposed to be the day I received the Crescent Valor Honor, an award given only once every two years?

Knowing they would all be busy celebrating Serena's graduation, I had told them not to bother coming to my ceremony. I never tried to compete with Serena for their affection.

But just as I was about to leave for the ceremony, three rogue wolves had burst into the house and dragged me down into the basement.

Terrified, I had struggled against their grip. "How did you get a key to our house?"

One of the men dangled a keychain in front of my face. It was Serena's.

"Don't bother struggling," he sneered. "You're not leaving this basement today."

"I won't tell anyone, I promise. Please, just don't kill me... I'm begging you."

They ignored my pleas. Pinning me down, they violated me and bit my neck raw, snapping countless photos while shouting foul taunts.

I fought back with everything I had, but in the struggle, my head slammed hard against the corner of a table. Blood gushed out instantly.

Terrified, they fled.

Summoning the last of my strength, I dragged myself across the floor to my phone, desperately swiping the screen with my tongue to dial for help.

Every werewolf can feel when a family member is in mortal peril through their Clan bond, but they all just assumed I was vying for attention.

Not only did they decline my calls, but they also sent a message:

[Faking suffocation again? Drop the act! Your father and I don't have time for your drama! We've already severed our Clan link to you!]

Only my mate, Julian, actually picked up.

"Help me... Julian, I'm dying..."

His reply was cold and sharp. "Maya, cut the drama. This is Serena's big day. There’s a limit to your attention-seeking! I already told you I'd make it up to you with a graduation present!"

But... Julian, I was already dying.

A bitter smile touched my lips. Too bad. You'll never get the chance to make it up to me.

Within twenty-four hours, the stench of decay will start to drift from the basement no one ever enters.

Serena always said she wished I were dead, ensuring no one could ever compete with her for your love.

Now, her wish has finally come true.