Chapter 2

"You think just because you're talented, Father and Mother will love you more? They still love me most. Mother even said she'll find me a man to move into our estate so I can live in comfort forever."

There was open spite in her eyes. "Oh, and that young Alpha from the Thorne Pack — the one you have a Mate Promise with? It's a dangerous job, isn't it, protecting borders. A battle could happen anytime. You might end up a widow before you're even bonded — ah!"

Before she finished, I raised my hand and slapped her hard.

Zara clutched her face and stared at me in horror. "You hit me? I'm telling Father and Mother!"

I laughed coldly. "Zara, my Mate Promise with Zane Thorne is a political alliance that helps my father hold his position in this territory. You just cursed my promised mate in front of witnesses. I went easy on you with one slap. If Old Alpha Thorne hears what you said, no amount of favoritism from our parents will save you from Pack discipline — thirty lashes, at least."

Zara glared at me with pure hatred and ran off toward the side street.

I frowned.

I didn't like Zara at all. But she was still my sister in name, and if that little troublemaker caused a scene, my parents would find a way to blame me for it.

Annoyed, I lifted my skirts and went after her.

Zara ran up to a dressmaker's shop. The woman who came out to greet her stopped short for a moment.

I watched them carefully for a moment, and then it hit me — that woman was Livia. The nursemaid who had been driven out of our estate fifteen years ago.

Just as Livia was reaching for Zara's hand with tears in her eyes, I appeared in the doorway with my maid Petra. "Zara, you ran so fast. Come on — Father's going to wonder where we went."

Livia's face went through several changes. She let go of Zara's hand, reluctant.

Zara looked confused and a little sad. She glanced back once at Livia, then followed me out of the shop.

"Sophia? Are you here to take me back?"

Someone burst out of the shop behind us — a thin girl with arms like sticks, grabbing me around the waist and holding on.

I pulled those thin hands off me by reflex.

The girl stumbled and fell. When she looked up, she showed a face covered in scars.

She was crying and laughing at the same time, gripping the hem of my dress and not letting go. "Sophia, I know I was wrong. Please take me back. Look at my face — Livia did all of this. Needles. A hot pan. A knife."

I looked at her steadily.

Through those terrible scars, I recognized her. She was my real sister from my previous life — the one who had repaid my sacrifice by burning me alive. Elena.

She had her past-life memories too.

That was... perfect.

Livia came scrambling out, grabbed Elena's arm, and tried to drag her back inside. "Shut up! Stop bothering these people! I'll beat you senseless today, you little lunatic!"

I caught Petra's eye.

Petra — trained at the Pack's combat school — stepped in and pulled Livia back, shielding Elena behind her.

I looked at Livia calmly. "This is my first time visiting your shop. If this girl and I are strangers, why does she call me by name and know which Pack I come from?"

"Whether she's crazy or not — let me take her home and ask a few questions."

"If you try to stop me, I'll report this to Pack Enforcers. She says every scar on her face was put there by you."

Livia went white and nearly swayed off her feet.

Zara wrinkled her nose. "Are you really bringing this ugly girl back with us?"

Elena shot Zara a vicious look and muttered under her breath, "Cuckoo in the nest, you little bitch."

I let the corner of my mouth pull up slightly and pretended not to hear.

By the time the three of us reached the car, Father was already pacing anxiously. He grabbed Zara the second he saw her. "Zara, where did you go? Why would you wander off without anyone with you? What if something happened?"

Zara smiled a little awkwardly. "I just went to a shop with Sophia."

Father pressed a wooden box into her hands. "Here — the pearl set you wanted. Put it on when you get home and show me."

Zara hugged the box, delighted, and climbed into the car.

Elena, standing just behind me, watched every bit of it.

Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

As soon as we were back at the Calloway Pack estate, Zara rushed to her room to try on her new jewelry.

Elena had walked the whole way back on foot behind the car, like a servant girl. Now she fell to her knees in front of Father, crying softly. "Father."