---- His wolf stirred, restless and confused. Jane noticed. Her smile faltered. She clenched her sleeves, hiding her jealousy beneath a mask of sweetness. When she looked up again, her eyes were glossy and pure. "Thank you," she said sweetly. ''Thank you so much, Sister." I shook my head. "We're clan. No need for thanks." I paused. "Besides... from now on, I'll be relying on you to take care of me." She giggled, thinking I was just being polite. It was Gary who insisted on marking me-yet somehow, I became the shameless one. I raised Jack without complaint-yet they called me selfish, cruel, manipulative. I closed my eyes, forcing the tears back. I wouldn't cry in front of them. Not anymore. Because I knew-if I cried, Jane would cry louder. ---- Even my pain would be twisted into something shameful. When I opened my eyes again, something inside me had gone quiet. Like an old clock whose gears had finally stopped turning. I looked at Gary. He was still watching me. A strange softness flickering in his eyes. Regret? Guilt? I didn't care. I lowered my voice. "May I go rest now?" He nodded slowly. "Yeah... go rest." I turned to leave. But my mother stopped me. "Clean yourself up and go back to your old den," she said. "There are reporters everywhere. If they find out