They Chose Her Over Me, So I Chased My Own Future Chapter 03
The two–hour bus ride back to the pack house ended just
as they pulled into the driveway, arms overflowing with
shopping bags–all of them filled with gifts for Sienna.
She forced a guilty, worried expression. “I’m so sorry,
Rhea, we forgot to invite you along. You’re not mad, right?”
Ronan shot me a warning glare before rushing to soothe
her. “Of course she’s not upset. Rhea’s not petty like that,
are you,
Rhea?”
Hearing my name on his lips made my entire body stiffen.
I could only mumble a quiet “Mhm.”
Damien raised an eyebrow. “Finished the name change
already? Figures. Rhea’s always been quiet and compliant,
just like Malcolm. Meanwhile our Sienna carries true Alpha
blood–she’s the Silvermoon Pack’s real princess.
Mom and Ronan nodded fervently, fully agreeing with
every word.
Mom’s gaze flickered between Sienna and me, then she
sighed heavily. “What a shame…”
I clenched my fists. I heard the unspoken meaning loud
and clear. It was a shame that I, the one she couldn’t
stand, was her biological daughter.
The four of them walked inside first, I lingered on the
porch for a long while before following. This house had been my home for eighteen years, yet now it filled me with
dread.
When I stepped inside, they were already caught up in an animated debate over which luxury venue to book for
Sienna’s academy acceptance gala.
Mom suggested, “Moonlight Palace has the grandest
ballroom.”
Ronan countered, “Starlight Hall’s better. They have the rising stage Sienna loves–her entrance would look
stunning.”
Sienna bit her lip. “Both sound wonderful, but I’ve always wanted Moon Manor. The only problem is bookings fill up
a year in advance.”
Damien stepped forward instantly. “That hotel belongs to
the Blackwood Pack. I can make a single call and reserve it.
Everything I own is Sienna’s anyway.”
I snapped my head up in shock. Moon Manor had been built by Damien specifically for me. He’d promised it would
host our mating ceremony once we came of age, our
sacred place to honor our bond.
Now it belonged to Sienna.
Sienna gasped in delight, throwing herself into his arms to
nuzzle against him. “Thank you, Damien.”
No one spared me a glance. I remained invisible, forgotten
entirely.
A week later, Sienna’s academy acceptance gala was held.
Draped in an elegant gown, she linked arms with Damien,
Ronan walking protectively behind her as she soaked in
everyone’s admiring stares and well wishes.
An older aunt, flushed with too much wine, frowned in
confusion. “I remember Rhea was the sharpest pup in the
whole Silvermoon Pack when she was little. How come she
didn’t get into Royal Werewolf Academy?”
Mom’s shoulders tensed. Irritation flickered across her
face, but she forced a calm explanation. “All that was just
childish talent, nothing substantial. She’s never been as
gifted as Sienna, so a low exam score was inevitable.”
She spoke without a single flicker of hesitation. But all
four of them knew the truth full well: I’d passed the
entrance exam with top marks, and they’d forced me to
switch my enrollment to the Omega Academy against my will.
At that moment, my beat–up secondhand phone vibrated
in my pocket. It lagged for a long moment before I could
pull up the message.
[Rhea, your Royal Elite Program application has been fully
approved. The academy will cover all tuition fees with a
full scholarship. Your previous enrollment slot for the
Northern Territories school has been voided.]
[Report to campus on September 1st for orientation.]
A quiet breath of relief escaped my lips. I typed a reply:
[Thank you.]
Damien suddenly appeared behind me, craning his neck to
peek at my screen. “What got voided?”
I panicked, quickly locking the phone and feigning
indifference. “Nothing. You misread it.”
He’d never truly cared about my business anyway. His
frown faded instantly, and he wandered back over to
Sienna’s side.
I stood isolated on the edge of the crowd, watching the
people who were supposed to love me crowd around
Sienna. My heart had gone completely numb, no longer aching at all.
I just had to hold on a little longer. In less than two weeks,
I’d leave the Northern Territories and the Silvermoon Pack behind forever.