Chapter 2 The girl who Doesn't Belong

The sun dipped low beyond the dense treetops, casting golden streaks over the Blackridge Pack's sprawling territory. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air as the pack bustled with life wolves shifting between human and beast, children training, warriors preparing for the night's patrol. Yet, amidst all this movement, one girl stood apart.

Samantha had lived in the pack for as long as she could remember, yet she never felt like she truly belonged. The whispers followed her wherever she went, the strange girl with no wolf scent, the outsider with odd-colored hair and piercing eyes that didn't match anyone else's. She was different, and in the Blackridge Pack, different meant unwelcome.

A Sister's Hatred

Serene made sure Samantha never forgot it.

"You don't belong here," Serene sneered, stepping in front of Samantha as she tried to walk past the training grounds. A few other girls stood behind Serene, their expressions amused, eager to witness another of her humiliations. "You're just a stray my mother was foolish enough to pick up."

Samantha clenched her fists. She was used to this too.

"I don't have time for this, Serene," she muttered, trying to move past her.

But Serene wasn't done. With a swift motion, she shoved Samantha's shoulder, causing her to stumble back. The other girls snickered.

"Aww, did I hurt your human feelings?" Serene mocked. "Tell me, Samantha, do you ever wonder what your real parents were? A bunch of worthless rogues? Or maybe you were just abandoned because you were never wanted?"

Samantha's heart clenched at the words, but she refused to let Serene see her pain. She had no memory of where she came from, only the knowledge that Erynn had found her in the wild.

"I have a family," Samantha said, lifting her chin. "Your mother raised me, your brother protects me, and that's more than enough."

Serene's expression darkened. Our brother.

Ronan had always been different from Serene. While Serene relished in Samantha's suffering, Ronan had been her shield. From the moment she was old enough to understand the pack's cruelty, Ronan had been there to pull her away from the fights, to wipe her tears when Serene's words cut too deep, to remind her that she wasn't alone.

And that infuriated Serene.

"You think Ronan cares about you?" Serene scoffed. "He just pities you, Samantha. That's the only reason he keeps playing hero. Deep down, he knows what the rest of us do, you're nothing but a burden."

Samantha bit the inside of her cheek. She wouldn't let Serene see her pain, wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing she could still get under her skin.

"I don't need to prove anything to you," she said calmly.

Serene's eyes flickered with irritation. For a moment, she looked ready to lunge at Samantha, to throw another insult or perhaps something worse. But then

"Serene."

Ronan's voice cut through the air like a blade.

Samantha turned to see her older brother standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest. He was taller than most, with Erynn's sharp features and the same steady presence that made others trust him without question. His brown eyes, however, were narrowed with disappointment.

Serene rolled her eyes. "Oh, here comes the great protector," she muttered.

"Leave her alone," Ronan said simply.

"She needs to learn her place," Serene shot back. "She's not one of us, Ronan."

"She's my sister," Ronan corrected. "And if I hear you talking to her like that again, I will tell Mother."

Serene's jaw tightened, but she said nothing more. Instead, she huffed and turned on her heel, stomping away with her friends trailing behind her.

A Brother's Protection

Samantha let out a slow breath. She hated that Ronan always had to step in, but she was also grateful. Without him, she wasn't sure how much worse things would be.

"You okay?" he asked, stepping closer.

"I can handle her," Samantha said, but there was no real conviction behind it.

Ronan sighed, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I know you can. But that doesn't mean you should have to."

Samantha looked up at him, seeing the worry in his eyes. Ronan had always been the one person who truly made her feel safe in this pack. He didn't see her as an outsider. To him, she was family.

But she also knew she couldn't rely on him forever.

"I need to be stronger," she admitted.

Ronan tilted his head. "You already are."

Samantha wasn't so sure.

An Unforgiving World

As night fell over the Blackridge Pack, Samantha sat by the edge of the training fields, watching as the young wolves sparred under the watchful eye of their mentors. She wasn't allowed to participate the outsider girl shouldn't learn the ways of the pack.

But she wanted to.

She wanted to fight. To defend herself. To prove that she wasn't weak, that she wasn't a burden.

Yet, no matter how hard she wished for it, she was still human in a world of wolves.

And humans, in the eyes of the pack, didn't belong.

The Breaking Point

Serene stormed into the pack house that evening, fury burning behind her eyes. Ronan had always been the golden child, the perfect son, the one who could do no wrong. But this was the final straw.

She found her brother sharpening his hunting knife near the fire, his expression calm, as if the incident earlier had already faded from his mind.

"You always choose her over me," Serene spat, her voice shaking.

Ronan didn't look up. "That's not true."

"It is true!" Serene snapped, stepping closer. "You protect her, defend her, but what about me? I'm your real sister, Ronan! Your blood! And yet you treat her like she's more important!"

Ronan finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "She needs me, Serene."

Serene's hands clenched into fists. "Is it because she's beautiful?" she hissed. "Because she has those perfect eyes and that stupid hair that everyone stares at? Is that why you care about her more than me?"

Ronan's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "That's enough, Serene."

But Serene wasn't done. "You're a terrible brother," she whispered, venom dripping from every word. "And one day, you'll regret ever choosing her over me."

She turned sharply, storming away before he could respond.

Ronan watched her go, a flicker of unease settling in his chest.

He had always known Serene was jealous.

But tonight, for the first time, he realized just how deep that jealousy ran.

And how dangerous it could become.