Chapter 1
_Lisa’s POV_ I had always been an outcast in my own home. I lived in the Nightshade Pack, but unlike other wolves my age, I had not yet shifted. At twenty-one, I was supposed to be a strong and capable werewolf, but my wolf had never emerged. Because of this, I was the subject of constant ridicule. The pack saw me as weak, and even my own family treated me as if I were invisible. My elder sister, Roxanne, was the golden child. Beautiful, strong, and adored by everyone, Roxanne had everything I lacked. My parents doted on her, praising her achievements and celebrating every milestone in her life. I, on the other hand, was simply cast aside, as if I didn’t belong. Even worse, Roxanne was dating Kael Blackthorn, the Alpha’s son. That only made things harder for me, as Roxanne used every opportunity to flaunt her perfect life in front of me. Today was Roxanne’s birthday, and our mother had gone all out to ensure everything was perfect. A lavish party had been planned at our home, with a beautiful red dress bought especially for Roxanne. She had invited her closest friends, and I had been given one task: to serve the guests and make sure my sister was happy. My own birthday had passed a few months ago, but there had been no celebration. No cake, no gifts, not even a mention of it. It frustrated me, but I had long since learned that voicing my feelings wouldn’t change anything. I had asked my parents before why Roxanne was treated so differently, why they always acted as if I didn’t exist. Their answer had always been the same: Roxanne was the eldest, and I had to make sacrifices for her happiness. Roxanne was their favorite, and they saw nothing wrong in admitting it. Tonight, as I looked at myself in the mirror, adjusting the navy blue dress I had chosen, I refused to let the unfairness of it all ruin my evening. Even if I was nothing more than a waitress at this party, I would at least look presentable. Just as I was adding the final touch of light makeup, my bedroom door burst open. Roxanne stood there with her perfectly curled hair cascading down her shoulders. She had painted her lips a deep red. She looked stunning in her new dress—our mother had picked it out just for her. “What are you doing here?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing. “Shouldn’t you be downstairs getting things ready?” “I was just finishing up,” I said calmly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be down in a minute.” Roxanne scoffed and stepped further into my room. “You’re so lazy, Lisa. No wonder no one notices you.” Before I could respond, she grabbed a bottle of my face cream from the dresser and poured it all over my dress. I gasped, stepping back in shock as the creamy liquid seeped into the fabric, ruining it completely. “Roxanne!” I shrieked, my hands trembling as I tried to wipe off the mess. “Why would you do that?” She crossed her arms and smirked. “Because you’re embarrassing, Lisa. Who do you think you are trying to look nice? Do you really think someone will notice you? No one cares what you wear. You’re nothing but an unwanted burden in this house.” Tears stung my eyes as I ran out of my room, calling for our mother. When she saw me, her face twisted in disapproval. “What have you done now, Lisa?” she asked while crossing her arms. “It wasn’t me! Roxanne ruined my dress!” I pleaded, my voice breaking. Our mother sighed, shaking her head. “Roxanne would never do something like that. Stop trying to get attention and go change. There’s a lot to do.” Roxanne stood beside her, smirking in satisfaction. “Honestly, Lisa, you’re so dramatic. You should be grateful we even let you be part of this night.” I clenched my fists. My chest ached from the familiar sting of rejection. Without another word, I turned and went back to my room to find another dress—an old one, plain and dull. By the time I came downstairs, the guests had already started arriving. I quickly made my way to the kitchen, pouring different soft drinks into glasses. The vibrant colors looked beautiful under the dim lighting, but I barely had the energy to appreciate it. Balancing the tray, I stepped into the main hall and began serving the guests. Most of them were girls around Roxanne’s age—her friends. As I handed a drink to one of them, she smiled politely. “Oh, you must be Lisa, right? Roxanne’s younger sister?” she asked. I nodded, managing a small smile. “Yes.” Before we could continue the conversation, Roxanne appeared beside us. “Don’t bother talking to her,” she said, laughing. “She’s not very interesting. She’s just here to serve the drinks, like a good little maid.” Her friends giggled, eyeing me with amusement. “She’s really your sister?” one of them asked. “She doesn’t even look like she belongs here.” Roxanne smirked. “Well, she doesn’t. She’s an embarrassment to the family.” Heat rose to my cheeks, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from lashing out. I didn’t say a word—I just turned and walked away, focusing on my task. I had endured this treatment for so long that I had learned not to react. Then, the room fell silent. I looked up and saw them—Alpha Alexis, Luna Grace, and their son, Kael. The Alpha and Luna rarely attended simple pack events, so their presence was a shock. But Kael was Roxanne’s boyfriend, so his arrival wasn’t surprising. My parents rushed to greet them. Kael pulled Roxanne into his arms, kissing her on the lips in front of everyone. The sight made my stomach twist. I had nothing against their relationship, but the way Roxanne flaunted it, as if she had won some great prize, made me sick. “Lisa!” Roxanne’s voice rang out, sharp and demanding. “Go bring some drinks for me and Kael.” I nodded and hurried to the kitchen. I prepared the drinks and placed them on a tray, steadying my hands before walking back into the hall. As I approached, I felt Kael’s eyes on me. “Roxanne, is that your sister?” he asked, his deep voice sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. “What’s her name? I haven’t seen her around much.” Roxanne laughed, linking her arm through his. “Oh, you don’t need to bother about her. She’s not that interesting. She’s just the family failure. You should focus on me.” She tilted his chin up and kissed him again, as if marking her territory. I had had enough. I set the tray down on the coffee table and turned away. No matter what I did, I would always be invisible to them. But deep down, I knew something was about to change. I just didn’t know how soon it would happen—or how much it would alter my life forever.
