Chapter 3 The memory of my first return to the Blackberry Pack at sixteen , once I learned I was the Alpha's daughter , was sharp and full of contrast . I sat awkwardly in the pack house's wide , luxurious living room in the kind of worn clothes that shouted my past . Helena , dressed in a fancy gown , perched playfully at my side and chattered nonstop . " Hazel , your blue eyes are gorgeous . You definitely got Mom's eyes , not like mine . Mine are green . " She stuck her tongue out , full of mischief , then patted my hand with sudden softness . " God , you're so thin . The Omega Shelter must've been rough on you . You're home now . I'll fatten you up and make sure you're taken care of . " Mom and Dad watched from across the room with pleased smiles . Declan sat next to me and handed me a glass of orange juice . Helena's easy warmth seemed to peel away my shame and awkwardness like sunlight . gave her a grateful , bashful smile ; she beamed right back . Then , as if she'd remembered something urgent , Helena darted into the kitchen and came back with a small chocolate cake . " This is my favorite , " she said , breathless . " I woke up early to make it for you to welcome you home . You have to try it . " Mom's smile deepened . " Helena made that herself , nearly burned her hand doing it . " Dad mussed Helena's hair . " Good girl . Knowing you two get along puts me at ease . " Helena waved him off , playful as ever . " Dad , Mom , what are you talking about ? Of course I'll get along with Hazel , she's your daughter . " At that , Mom , Dad , and even Declan's eyes grew wet . " Helena's our daughter too , " Dad said softly . " We're a family , and we'll never be apart . " The pack house felt full of love . My chest tightened in a way that was both painful and warm . So this was what family could feel like . I took the cake from Helena and ate it slowly under her eager gaze . It tasted incredible , a richness I'd never known in my sixteen years . When I finished , Declan seized my hand , practically shaking with excitement . " Come on , Hazel . Let me show you your new room . The best bedrooms in the pack house were already taken by Helena and Declan . To make sure I'd be comfortable , Declan had given up his own room . " You're both my sisters , " he said with a grin . " Helena's room is hers , no question . But Hazel , you're back , so you can't have a shabby room . I'll take one for the team . " He'd redecorated the room for me ; I stood there , eyes burning , and thanked him . It was real . I had a brother . He was kind . He would protect me , wouldn't he ? Then my stomach clenched like a giant hand had twisted it . Pain shot through me so fast I could hardly breathe . My face went white . I looked toward the bathroom . " I need to- " into } ) Before I could finish , Helena , standing beside me , suddenly lost her balance and fell into me . I caught her on instinct , but her arm drove my stomach . Everything unraveled in the next second . I shook uncontrollably . A hot , humiliating wetness spread down my legs and soaked the carpet Declan had chosen for me . A smell rose up , sharp and awful . Helena made a sound and covered her mouth . " Hazel , you- ' Chaper 3 ReelShort 30.00 % All eyes turned to me . Mom and Dad's faces closed . Declan glanced at the ruined carpet , then at me ; his expression tightened into something unreadable . I pressed my hands to my face and wanted to vanish . Shame flooded me . I felt worthless . I couldn't do anything right . Were they going to send me away again , back to that hell ? Just then Helena was sunlight again . She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me like a shield . " Dad , Mom , Declan , don't blame her . She's just terrified . " ཚ ཇཏྠུཾ ནཾ She shepherded them out of the living room . " You go . I'll take care of Hazel . She just needs to rest . " She called for the housekeeper to remove the soiled rug and led me to the bathroom to clean up . At that moment everything between us felt perfect : she had protected my fragile pride , and I was endlessly grateful . But soon the bedroom door swung open and Helena came running out , eyes red and tear - streaked . Mom , Dad , and Declan hurried after her . " Helena , what's wrong ? " Dad asked , alarmed . Helena sobbed , clutching a darkening bruise on her arm . " Dad , Mom , I was wrong . I shouldn't have made that cake . If I hadn't , Hazel wouldn't have ... been humiliated like that . " She sobbed harder . " She hit me and yelled at me . She was right to be angry . Please , don't blame her . " The sight of Helena's bruised arm froze the room . Declan's jaw worked with fury. " Alpha , judge her guilty ! Helena treated her kindly and Hazel repaid her with cruelty ! " The pack members who had gathered began to shout in agreement . " Hazel's heart is rotten . We should never have brought her back , " someone said . " If I had a sister like Helena , I'd spoil her rotten . How could anyone hurt her ? Hazel's wicked growled . " Alpha , declare her guilty ! " they demanded . Those words and the coldness in my family's eyes dropped me into an icy well . - she should be put to death ! " another Maybe I really would be executed . No one wanted to hear me . No one cared about the truth . They only believed what their eyes had seen . Perhaps dying like that would be a a mercy . Then the Moon Mirror's voice cut through the noise .