Brian and Logan were twin Wolf Beastkin that my cousin Isabella and I rescued from the Underground Beast Trade. Back then, the two of us stood there staring at those filthy little wolf pups, and without even needing to say much, we each decided to adopt one. I took Brian. Isabella took Logan. Thirteen years passed in the blink of an eye. All that time, I believed that even if Brian didn’t like me, he would at least feel grateful that I had saved his life. That illusion shattered the day I accidentally overheard him talking to some other Beastkin. Someone asked, “Emma’s been really good to you. Why are you always so cold to her?” Brian let out a short, dismissive laugh. “Who asked her to be good to me?” “You’ve got it good and don’t even realize it.” “Good? Then I guess I should thank Emma properly. If she hadn’t taken me first, I’d be the one with Isabella right now.” Another voice chimed in, “I mean, makes sense. Compared to Isabella, the head cheerleader, Emma’s just… nothing special.” A dull ache spread through my chest. In that moment, every feeling I had held onto for Brian over the years quietly disappeared.
