The Best Wolf Is the One They Abandoned

The fire pit blazed bright, filling the living room with the rich scent of venison, berry wine, and freshly baked bread.

At the head of the long table, my sister, Selene Sutton, sat surrounded by family.

Today, she had taken down a black-maned stag on her own, her teeth closing on its throat. The Elder Council had praised her for it.

Pride shone plainly in my father's eyes. My mother fussed over Selene, straightening her cloak. Even Leon Lane, standing beside her, couldn't quite hide the admiration in his gaze.

I, on the other hand, had blood all over me. My cloak was torn, and snow and mud were stuck in my hair.

The moment I stepped inside, the laughter and chatter faltered.

My brother, Ryan Sutton, frowned and asked, "What took you so long?"

I didn't answer.

My wound had gone untreated for too long. My wolf stirred inside me, restless, and a low growl vibrated through my chest. All I wanted was to get to my room and stop the bleeding.

Ryan had other ideas. He pushed to his feet, impatience sharp in his voice. "Today's Selene's big day. You really had to come back looking like that? Who are you putting on a show for?"

I met his eyes and kept my voice even. "I was injured during the hunting rite."

Mother finally noticed the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around my calf. Her expression shifted, and she picked up a plate from the table and came toward me. "We'll deal with that later. Sit and eat something. You look pale. You won't last long on an empty stomach."

She held out slices of fish and tender cuts of venison.

Normally, that would have been good food for recovery.

But a werewolf with serious injuries couldn't handle overly rich or gamey meat right away. It would make the wounds burn and stir the wolf into agitation.

I took a step back and said softly. "I can't eat that right now."

Father's face darkened instantly. "Your mother is serving you food. Why are you being picky?"

"I'm not." I pressed a hand against my injured leg, keeping my tone steady. "I'm hurt pretty badly. The doctor said I shouldn't eat fish or venison in this condition."

Mother froze. "Are you hurt badly?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry I came back late."

The apology hung in the air, and for a moment, the table fell quiet.

Maybe because, in the past, I would have explained, argued, and tried to defend myself. Now, I only said I was hurt and sorry. They didn't quite know what to do with that.

Ryan was the first to break the silence, letting out a cold laugh. His gaze swept over me, his disdain plain as day. "So what if you're hurt? Everyone who attended the hunting rite was injured. You're the only one whining about it.

"You've always been weak. Small in wolf form, with dull claws and blunt teeth. You can't even handle a simple hunt without ending up like this. You're useless."

The words landed hard, and not a single voice rose to defend me.

Because, to them, that was exactly what I was.

Selene set down her glass and said gently, "Ryan, don't say that about Ivy. She gave it her all today. The outcome just wasn't as good."

She wore that same soft, thoughtful expression. Even when she spoke up for me, she did it flawlessly.

But her last sentence cut deeper than Ryan's blunt insults.

Selene was strong and beautiful. In wolf form, her coat turned a sleek silver-brown. Her claws and fangs were sharp, and her talent was undeniable.

The gentler and more sensible she seemed, the smaller I felt in comparison.

Leon finally looked at me, a faint crease between his brows. "If you're injured, go take care of it. Don't drip blood all over the place."

I looked at him, and something in my chest went cold along with the wound.

I nodded. "Got it."

That was all I said. I offered no explanations, no arguments. Without looking at anyone, I made my way upstairs, each step slow and deliberate.

Behind me, the laughter and clinking glasses quickly picked back up, as if I had never come back at all.

That was when it hit me. It wasn't that I wasn't in pain—I was just exhausted.