2

Sophia was my parents' biological daughter, but when she was three years old, my parents faced a financial crisis. After their house was seized by creditors, Sophia ran away from home.

She went to an orphanage on her own, using her orphan status to secure placement with a wealthy family.

She didn't even say goodbye. Just disappeared one night. My parents were devastated. They had planned a surprise birthday party for her that month.

Until recently, her adoptive parents went bankrupt.

When she heard that we were planning a luxury European trip, she reconnected with my parents, claiming that she had been kidnapped back then.

After my parents moved to the slums, they found me. I was only 3 years old but already showing signs of an early shift, suggesting I had the potential to become a Gamma.

I proved their instincts right with my impressive combat record.

I was the one who paid off the family's $500,000 debt, earning continuous rewards from our Alpha for my exceptional fighting skills.

My parents only accepted me as their daughter because they found me useful. Other warriors mocked them, calling them dependents.

But I didn't care. I thought as family, we shouldn't calculate who gives more—kinship was supposed to be our bond.

In the end, this family owed me everything.

I had been responsible for taking care of Sam since his birth. I cooked for him, washed his clothes, and drove him to training.

After I started college, I began working at a local diner to pay for his tuition.

When I became a Gamma, I covered all his living expenses. His private combat training alone cost $5,000 per month, and that was just for extra lessons.

I bought him designer clothes so he wouldn't feel inferior to other young wolves in the pack.

Now he was 15, and I'd been raising him for five years. By rank, I might be his sister, but I was more like his mother.

As for my parents—I gave them everything.

They had no savings. Their income was pitiful. So I gave them $5,000 every month from my combat earnings.

I bought them a luxury car for everyday use. I paid for their medical bills—mother's rheumatism, father's heart condition.

I handled all household expenses and three meals a day.

Along with planning this European trip, I arranged for premium healthcare options abroad and special accommodations to make their travels more comfortable. Just the travel insurance expenses were enormous. I never complained.

Rather than being their daughter, I was their financial pillar—an ATM that also cooked and cleaned.

Even the office building that the Alpha gave me supplemented the family's income. My tenant list included some of the most powerful wolves from three territories.

Each combat victory brought substantial financial rewards. I pushed myself to improve my fighting abilities to support this family.

And then there was Alexander, my mate. When we first recognized each other at the Moonlight Ceremony three years ago, he had nothing. His family was even poorer than mine.

I bought him his first proper fighting gear. I paid for his combat training. I supported him while he tried to rise in the pack ranks.

Every month, I gave him $3,000 to help his family. His mother's medical treatments were all covered by me.

I even put a down payment on a small house for them last year.

All because he was my mate, chosen by the Goddess. I never complained about supporting him. I thought that's what mates did—they took care of each other.

After everything I had done for this family and for Alexander, they still treated their biological daughter better than me.

Sophia smiled as she approached me. The bracelet she wore probably cost more than what my parents earned in two months.

"I'm sorry, sister. If I had known my arrival would force you to sleep outside in the snow, I might have declined. I was going to step back, but our parents insisted they had a solution."

She continued. "I offered to take the standard cabin myself, but they wouldn't let me stay in the cold northern air because I'm more fragile. I hope you understand."

Sam hung on her arm like a hungry puppy. This was the same Sam I had raised and spoiled with my own hands.

"Of course! That freezing weather is dangerous. What if you had an uncontrolled shift? Unlike my sister—she looks fierce, like an angry she-wolf. Even rogue wolves run from her."

They all laughed.

They knew perfectly well that I was the one with the cold-triggered condition.

Yet they didn't hesitate to assign their Gamma, their provider, to sleeping arrangements that could expose our entire kind.

Alexander stood there silently, not defending me. The man who had promised to protect me with his life just three months ago during our pre-mating ritual.

My parents saw my expression darken and softened their tone. "Listen, I know this isn't ideal, but we had no choice when we assigned you to sleep outside. That high-end combat course you've been eyeing—go ahead and take it. Don't worry about the cost."

I held out my hand. "Fine, give me the registration fee. $50,000. Now."

"That much! You should be grateful we're letting you spend your own money. Don't push it!"

I sneered, "Since when do I need your permission to spend my own money? How much do you contribute to this household each month?"

My parents' faces reddened. "Is it necessary to talk about this as a family?"

They contributed $3,000 per month. I contributed $50,000.

They didn't even get me a shifting gift.

I paid off $500,000 in debt for our family and booked a luxury European trip. The trip alone cost $5 million.

This family's comfortable lifestyle came from my combat earnings.

Other pack members saw it. They whispered that this family lived on their daughter's money.

Since they all loved their biological daughter so much, perhaps she should support them.

Let's see how long they could maintain their lifestyle on the income of a non-shifting Omega.

Alexander stepped forward, putting his arm around Sophia's shoulders in a gesture that made my wolf snarl.

"Maybe I could help with the tour arrangements," he offered, smiling at her. "I know some great spots in Europe that aren't in the regular tourist guides."

I stared at him in disbelief. The training gear he was wearing—the one I had bought him last month—cost more than he had ever earned in his life.

Soon, Sophia's adoptive parents followed her in, already discussing which tour options wouldn't be "good enough" for their standards.

"We'll need to upgrade these accommodations," Sophia's adoptive mother said, wrinkling her nose at the 5-star hotel bookings I had carefully selected. "It's so... common."

My father nodded eagerly. "Whatever you want! This is your family trip now."

I cleared my throat. "Actually, this is my trip. My name is on all the bookings."

Everyone froze. They hadn't considered that small detail.

Mother recovered first. "Well, about that... We think it would be best if you transferred all the reservations to Sophia. After all, she is our true heir."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You want me to give her my 500-thousand-dollar trip? The trip I nearly died for?"

"It's the least you could do after all we've done for you," my father said, not meeting my eyes.

Alexander stepped forward, his eyes avoiding mine. "Think about it, Alexa. It would mean so much to everyone."

Sam joined in, his expression earnest. "Sis, please? For the family?"