But now, fate had turned.
Everything that was happening felt like deja vu. Except this time, the roles were reversed. I was the one living my best life, while she took my place.
We stood in uncomfortable silence, our minds racing with thoughts.
I didn’t know why I couldn’t let her go. The strange urge to help her pricked at my conscience. What was wrong with me?!
“If… you need… anything… I can assist,” I stammered, struggling to find the right words as her appearance shattered my heart.
Once the high and mighty Nathalia, now reduced to the lowest of the low in the blink of an eye.
I couldn’t stop the questions swirling in my head as I stared at her sunken eyes.
Even if she wasn’t my sister, as I once thought, I still cared about her.
How was she coping with her new life?
How were the workers treating her, after the way she had mistreated them in the past?
Was she suicidal? Her appearance screamed depression, just as I had expected.
What was her reaction every time she saw her former parents?
And how did she feel now that she was an orphan? Alone and scared?
The fact that she had no one to talk to would only make things worse for her.
I blinked rapidly to hold back tears as memories of how she almost died flashed in my mind.
After my father killed her mother in a blind rage, he pulled the dagger from her heart, turning to Nathalia with a wicked look on his face.
It took everyone’s intervention to stop my father from driving the dagger into Nathalia’s chest.
We kept convincing him it wasn’t her fault-Valerie was the one to blame-before his fury finally subsided.
Convincing him not to kill Nathalia was one thing, but persuading him to keep her as his adopted daughter-after all the memories they had shared-was another. He refused vehemently, insisting that he wouldn’t father the child of a whore and a cheat.
The pain from the betrayal by his mistress and his driver drove him to madness, making him lash out in ways that felt rash and unjust. But at least it was better than banishing or killing Nathalia. She shouldn’t be punished for the sins of her parents.
“I don’t need anything from you,” her weak voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “You’ve done more than enough, and I’m grateful that I’m alive.”
My jaw dropped in surprise as I stared at her, my eyes wide.
Was this Nathalia speaking to me so politely?
Or was I dreaming?
I hadn’t known she had an ounce of respect until now. We stared at each other for another minute, as uncomfortable silence stretched between us.
My eyes hovered over her body, studying every detail.
Despite her attempts to hide her emotions, they were clear. She no longer looked like the pompous Nathalia I once knew. She had lost so much weight. Dark circles formed under her eyes, and her collarbones were pronounced. Her face looked like it had seen better days.
Her cheeks were hollow, and her fair skin was now tanned, the sun beating down on her mercilessly every day as she performed her tasks.
I was certain she cried herself to sleep every night.
Irritated by the uncomfortable silence, and at a loss for words, I walked away from the door and shut it, gripping the knob tightly.
“Thank you for saving my life,” she whispered before leaving.
I was about to be drowned in pity again when I remembered her instructions.
Fuck!
I had wasted time. I hoped my parents weren’t upset. In a flash, I showered and put on the outfit they had bought for me.
I didn’t spare a second to look in the mirror because I knew I looked gorgeous.
I grabbed my phone and walked out of the room to meet my parents.
“You look breathtaking, just like your mother.” My father’s words made my heart swell with joy as I made my way to the garage.
My mother couldn’t stop blushing at her husband’s compliment.
“I’m sorry I wasted time,” I mumbled, feeling guilty, before hugging them both.
“It’s okay, darling.” A smile curled on my lips as my parents took turns kissing my forehead tenderly.
“After shopping, Daddy and I will take you to get ice cream. I know you’re not a child, but the ice cream there is the best in town. Your father can testify to that,” she said, laughing heartily.
“After that, we’ll run in the woods. It’s something we used to do regularly with Nathalia.” He went silent for a moment. “But we’d love to do it with you. I’d love for us to connect more as a family, if that’s okay with you.” He stared at me, waiting for my response.
“It’s more than okay,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion, though I quickly suppressed the tears.
Tears welled in my eyes at their sweet gesture, and I didn’t even realize when I started crying. Despite blinking hard and fast, they kept coming. For the first time in my life, my parents showed me affection.
The thought that they had thrown a big party for me to celebrate was more than I could ask for.
I was given everything I had cried and prayed for after twenty years of suffering. Thank you, Moon Goddess.
Everything felt beautiful with my loving parents by my side, guiding and supporting me each day.
For the first time in a long time, my life was beginning to make sense.
Aurora
“Easy, baby,” my mother soothed, her hands rubbing my shoulders tenderly as my entire body was consumed by pain.
I bit down hard on my lip, desperate to suppress the screams threatening to escape as my bones cracked mercilessly. I tried to keep a brave face, but the agony was unbearable.
Shifting was hell.
“You’re almost there,” she reassured me, her voice soft yet clear, grounding me for a fleeting moment. But nothing could truly dull this pain-it felt as if it had been forged in the depths of hell itself.
The excruciating torment overwhelmed me, leaving my limbs numb. I collapsed onto the ground, my hands splayed against the damp grass, gasping for breath.
“Poor thing,” my father murmured, letting out a deep sigh. “You’ll be fine.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. My mouth flew open, and my screams echoed through the night.
As expected, my parents rushed toward me, offering comfort, but they quickly stepped back as fur began replacing my skin, and my feminine form gave way to something entirely new-a massive silver wolf.
A smile formed in my mind as I saw the pack’s tattoo shimmer, the orange glow of the moon casting an ethereal reflection against my new form.
I took a few steps backward, tilting my head toward the sky and releasing a powerful howl. Pride swelled within me.
Turning, I met my parents’ gazes, my eyes widening in shock at the sheer size of my father’s wolf.
I hadn’t seen many wolves before, but I was certain-his was the largest in the pack.
The earth trembled beneath me as his massive paws struck the ground, his deafening howl piercing the night air.
Moments later, my mother’s call joined his, and I turned to see that she, too, had shifted while I wasn’t looking. Her wolf was powerful, but it still didn’t match my father’s immense presence.
In perfect unison, we slammed our paws against the earth and took off into the open field, our tongues lolling from our mouths in pure exhilaration.
A soft purr rumbled through me as the wind caressed my fur, a sensation so freeing, so beautiful, that I never wanted it to end.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply