Ch. 2 A SISTER’S BETRAYAL

Emily’s POV

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “You have no idea,” I muttered, already dreading the inevitable barrage of questions from her. 

Sarah chuckled, giving me a playful nudge. “Spill the beans, girl! Did you finally move on from that ex of yours with some new he-wolf?”

“I wish,” I mumbled. “No, I accidentally got into the wrong car at the airport and almost got injured by a huge dog.”

Sarah's eyes widened in shock. “You what? Oh my god, Emmy, are you alright?” She reached over to inspect my head, where a small bump was starting to form from the car door incident.

“I'm fine, I'm fine,” I assured her, waving her off. “It was just... really embarrassing.” I shuddered, remembering the intensity of Alpha James' cool gaze and the teasing jabs from his younger brother.

Before Sarah could interrogate me further, she pulled the car into the familiar garage of the Parker family mansion. As she stopped the engine, she turned to me, her expression somber.

“Em, I have to tell you something.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Your grandfather... he has been hospitalized for a while now.”

My heart plummeted in my chest. Despite my calm exterior, the news sent a jolt of worry through me. Grandfather had always been my rock, the one person in this family who truly loved me.

“I have to go see him,” I murmured, already reaching for the door handle. Stepping out of the car, I felt a wave of nostalgia crash over me. This place, this mansion, had once been my home - but I had always been an outcast here, adopted by my grandfather after my mother's death in childbirth.

The rest of the Parker family, including my father and stepmother Linda, had never accepted me. And now, my half-sister Jessica was set to marry Robert - the very man who had cheated on me with her two years ago, shattering my heart.

I shuddered, banishing those painful memories as I approached the grand front door, my luggage in hand. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell, feeling my heart pound in my chest.

The door swung open, and I was greeted by Aunt Betty, the family's longtime maid. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of me.

“Miss Emily! We didn't know you were coming back today,”she exclaimed, ushering me inside. She quickly collected my luggage, casting me a warm smile. “It's so good to have you home.”

I forced a polite smile, my heart racing with fear. "Is Jessica around? I'd like to speak with her."

“Oh, yes, she is in her room,” Aunt Betty replied, already wheeling my bags towards the grand staircase. “I will just take these up for you.”

With a deep breath, I steeled myself and made my way upstairs, my steps quickening as I approached Jessica's bedroom. My brow furrowed as I began pounding hard on her door.

After a moment, it swung open, revealing my half-sister clad in a skimpy nightgown. The nightgown stopped at her thighs and left little to no imagination. Her eyes narrowed as they landed on me.

“Who dares to—" Her voice faltered as recognition dawned. “Sister,” she drawled, her tone dripping with feigned surprise. “You are back.”

It was the first time she had called me the word ‘sister,’ and I could see right through her. 

“You should have told me you were coming back sooner; I would have come to pick you up at the airport,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “By the way, I am with Robert now, I mean, my mate. We have been together for almost six months now. It turns out he was my true mate all along, not some wolfless omega like you.” 

I snorted, barely containing my disgust. “I'm not surprised. You two were always shameless.”

Jessica's lips curled into a malicious smile. “Well, we have the blessing of our friends and family.” Her gaze narrowed, and she tilted her head, appraising me. “But I suppose you wouldn't understand what it's like to have a mate. After all, you don't even have a wolf.”

She let out a short, humorless laugh. “And no one loves you, not even the moon goddess. You are nothing more than a stray.”

The words stung, striking a deep chord within me. Before I could even think, my hand lashed out, slapping Jessica across the face with a resounding crack.

She recoiled, her eyes wide with shock as she clutched her reddening cheek. “How dare you!” she shrieked.

I stood my ground, glaring defiantly at my half-sister. “You only found your 'mate' by stealing someone else's fiancé. And now you are living shamelessly with him in my father’s house, huh?” I mocked. “I hit you because I despise you. You are nothing but a mistress, and Robert will never take you seriously.” 

“You insolent brat!” Jessica's voice rose to a shrill shriek. “Youare just an illegitimate daughter born of a whore that no one wants around, not even our father!”

She stepped closer, her lips curled in a malicious sneer. “Didn't you know? Father sent you away to study in another pack because he couldn't stand the sight of you. You've been abandoned. You have no value left, no right to come back here and fight me!”

I couldn't stop myself. The rage and hurt bubbling within me overflowed, and before I knew it, my hand was flying through the air, striking Jessica's face once more.

Her eyes widened in shock and pain, and she let out an enraged shriek. In a flash, she was lunging towards me, her hands outstretched as if to grab at my hair.

But in her blind fury, Jessica misjudged her footing and went tumbling to the floor with a resounding thud. Almost instantly, her shrieks filled the air.

“Robert! Robert, help me!” She wailed, clutching her face and curling up on the ground.

I stared in disbelief, utterly stunned by the scene unfolding before me. Had she truly just faked an injury to play the victim?

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall, and I knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of the household descended upon us.