The Alpha’s Forgotten Daughter Chapter 04
I used the wall to pull myself up.
My knees had slammed hard against the hallway’s
Roman pillar during my escape—blood seeped through the scrapes, a sharp sting with every pulse.
I looked at the guy who once brought a sliver of light into my life and felt nothing but disgust.
“What if I did?”
My voice came out flat, surprising even me.
Liam’s eyes flickered. He cleared his throat. “Good. Then you know where we stand. I stopped you because I wanted to make sure about your college plans.”
“You didn’t actually follow Maya and enroll in the local Alpha Academy because of me, did you?”
“Claire, we’re adults. Don’t do the clingy thing. It’s a bad look. For both of us.
I stared at him like he was a joke, hiding my blood–crusted hand inside my sleeve. “You flatter yourself. I won’t be watching your life. And I sure as hell won’t change my future for you.”
Liam exhaled in visible relief, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine. Just… enjoy college.”
“And hey–talk me up to Maya sometime, yeah? If we actually become a thing, I’ll buy you dinner.”
Half an hour later, the party broke up.
The family car was already parked outside. The second I stepped out, Mom rushed toward Maya, her brow furrowed.
“Maya! Were you drinking?! You know your body can’t handle that–how could you?!”
Dad and Ethan instantly lost their calm.
Ethan stormed forward and shoved me hard in the shoulder.
I stumbled, nearly crashing onto the hard stone
steps, the blood on my knees stark against my skin.
“Claire, what kind of big sister are you?!”
“We told you before we left–watch your sister, and you let her drink?!”
Dad’s face went livid. “I knew we couldn’t count on
you! Completely useless–can’t even look after your own sister!”
I watched them swarm around Maya, the wound on
my knee throbbing so hard it stole my breath,
“Alpha, Luna, you’ve misunderstood.” A classmate couldn’t hold back. “Maya didn’t drink.
Somebody spilled their Sprite on her jacket during the game.”
The air went dead silent.
Maya finally spoke, sticking out her tongue and looping her arm through Mom’s with a playful pout. “Mom, I just wanted to see you all worry about me–a little joke, that’s all.”
Mom let out a long breath, poking her forehead with a doting finger. “You little brat–you scared the hell out of me!”
The tension in Dad’s and Ethan’s shoulders melted away.
From start to finish, not one person glanced at my bleeding leg.
Not a single half–assed apology for the vicious accusations they’d hurled at me.
“Alright, get in the car.”
Ethan pulled the door open. As he passed me, he tossed one last cold remark. “Next time, keep a closer eye on her. Stop making people worry.”
I lowered my head and let out a bitter laugh.
Move–in day.
Maya’s six oversized suitcases, bags of luxury bedding, and newly bought snacks crammed both family cars to the roof.
Ethan sat in the driver’s seat. Mom and Maya were in the back.
Dad drove the second car. Even the passenger seat was stacked with Maya’s designer plushies.
I stood outside, holding my backpack.
Mom rolled down the window and glanced at me. “Claire, you can see there’s absolutely no room left in here.”
“You got into the local Omega Academy anyway– it’s close. Just grab a cab and head to campus yourself. We need to get there early to get your sister settled.
Can’t waste time.”
“Yeah, Claire, you’re so independent–you’ll be
fine,” Maya added, her smile dripping with sweetness.
“Okay.”
I nodded, calm.
The windows rolled up. The two cars pulled away
without a shred of hesitation and vanished down the street.
I stood there, watching the direction they’d disappeared.
The last shackle in my heart–the one labeled family–cracked and crumbled to dust.
I turned, stepped to the curb, and flagged a cab.
“Heading off to college, hon? The local Alpha Academy?” the driver asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.
I set my backpack beside me, rolled down the window, and let the wind of freedom hit my face.
Then I gave him the destination, crisp and final.
“No. To the airport.”