Chapter 4

Even though Mother now knew the truth about Zara's blood, fifteen years of raising her had made letting go impossible. Mother raged and cried, and then decided she might as well consider herself the mother of three daughters.

I had long made peace with my parents' favoritism. But Elena and Zara were like two cats thrown in a sack together, clawing at each other for every scrap of attention.

Their fights grew more frequent. Elena had her own maid slap her and then accused Zara of bullying her. Zara swallowed the injustice, then turned around and poisoned herself — vomiting blood while crying in Mother's arms.

I quietly paid off both of their lower-ranked servants and handed my parents the evidence of each sister framing the other.

The whole sisters-fighting-for-love-and-attention drama changed my parents' faces overnight.

That evening, both Zara and Elena took twenty lashes each and were locked in the Pack's punishment chamber to kneel as discipline.

Every time I passed the door, I could hear the two of them inside, cursing each other through their teeth. According to the servants who brought their meals, the looks they gave each other were murderous.

Half a month later, Father threw a Pack Feast for Grandmother's seventieth birthday.

Grandmother had come from an Alpha warrior bloodline, and she had served alongside the Alpha King's heir in territorial battles. Even with white hair, she hadn't lost her presence.

Every guest was powerful — Pack leaders, high-ranked members, even the Alpha King's two sons attended.

The feast was cheerful. I sat at a table with the newly released Zara and Elena. For the first time, all three of the Calloway daughters sat together in public.

Zara was decked in pearls and dressed in pink, soft and beautiful.

Elena had her face covered with a veil, showing only her pretty almond eyes, which gave her an air of mystery.

Both of them wore smiles, and both of their eyes were full of calculation.

Halfway through the feast, Elena picked up the wine pitcher and put on a contrite expression as she poured for Zara. "Zara, I was foolish before. Let me offer you a drink and beg your forgiveness."

Zara liked sweet words. Seeing Elena lower herself like this, she felt rather pleased. "You don't need to apologize. We're sisters, aren't we? No need for all that."

She took the glass and drained it.

Elena's voice got even softer. "You're so gracious, Zara. I admire you."

I picked up a piece of roasted duck and glanced toward the other end of the hall. My heart tripped — Zane Thorne was staring at me without blinking.

I tried to calm myself down.

Then beside me, Zara suddenly made a small sound. "My head is spinning. Lily, help me get some air."

Elena's eyes curved with a smile. She elbowed Zara's personal maid aside and caught Zara's arm herself. "I'll take you, Zara."

Zara's cheeks were an unnatural red, and she actually let Elena lead her away.

Zara's maid grew anxious immediately. "Wait for me, Zara!"

Elena's maid Lily Fairfax grabbed her wrist. "The young mistress wants to talk to her sister in private. Stay out of it."

I set down my fork. "It's too crowded in here. Petra, come walk with me in the garden."

Elena was small and thin. Supporting the well-fed Zara was hard for her. They moved slowly.

I caught up quickly and hid nearby to watch.

I saw Elena kick open a side room door, shove Zara in, shut it firmly behind her, and walk away fast.

I waited until her footsteps were completely gone, then crept to the half-open window.

Inside the room was a large man — one of the stable hands. He had his arms around Zara with a dazed look on his face.

Petra kept her voice low. "That's Bram Colton. He has a reputation for being a complete sleaze. He spends every coin he earns at the pleasure houses on the outskirts — practically been to every one in the territory."

"A few days ago I ran into him at the Pack Healer's quarters when I went for my own treatment. I heard he's been taking medication — he picked up a rotting sickness. The Healer said it can't be cured, only managed. People who get it usually die from full-body decay."

I looked at the shadows moving inside that room and took an involuntary step back.

Elena's cruelty had gone further than anything she'd done in our past life.

I walked quickly to the ornamental pond. "Petra, go get Zane Thorne. Tell him I need to see him here."

If Elena had done this at Grandmother's birthday feast, she'd done it planning to walk away clean. And the oldest sister who had been sitting at the same table as both of them would make the perfect person to blame.

I needed a witness.

It didn't take long. Petra brought Zane over, and the moment he saw me, his eyes went red.