Chapter 26
+5 Points
After Monica began asserting herself as the future Luna of the Shadowborn Pack, the pack. staff started following her lead. Slowly, they stopped treating Leon and Yolanda with the respect due to Alpha Floyd’s pups.
No one bothered taking them to school anymore. Their meals were no longer specially prepared–instead, they were left to pick at whatever scraps remained after Monica had eaten her fill. The hierarchy in the household had shifted, and the children were no longer anywhere near the top.
Outside, the Shadowborn Pack lands baked
under the blazing summer sun. Inside the
Jenkins estate, cool air flowed from the vents, a quiet hum beneath the tension.
Leon and Yolanda sprawled on the game room carpet, building a Lego fortress that neither of them had the heart to finish. Their eyes kept drifting toward Monica, who stood in front of a mirror swiping lipstick across her lips.
“Monica Auntie…” Yolanda’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Can we go get ice cream? You promised… last week.”
Chapter 26
+5 Paints
Last week, Monica had been in a good mood. —Alpha Floyd had given her a new piece of jewelry, and in her excitement, she’d kicked the kids out of her way with a laugh and tossed out
al
the promise like a bone to a begging pup.
Now, she didn’t even turn her head. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” she snapped.
“But…” Leon braved a step forward, his voice shaking but determined. “You said you’d take
us…”
Monica spun around, her temper flaring. The lipstick smeared across her mouth like blood. “Ugh! You two never shut up about food! Look at you–stuffing your faces like starving mutts! No wonder you’re so fat!”
Both children flinched, retreating. They’d learned quickly–since their mother left, Monical had shown them nothing but disdain. The
sweet, affectionate smile she once used to
charm them had been replaced with cold stares
and biting words.
“Go back to your room!” she barked, yanking a makeup wipe from the counter and scrubbing her lips in frustration. “Just seeing you puts me
in a bad mood.”
Chapter 26
+ 5 Points
Yolanda blinked hard to stop the tears that welled in her eyes. She didn’t dare cry–not after what happened last time. Monica had grabbed her by the thigh and pinched hard enough to leave bruises, then hissed in her ear that if she ever told Alpha Floyd, her favorite toy would be thrown straight into the fire.
That night, Alpha Floyd sent word he’d be returning home. The children didn’t dare stay
up to see him.
By the time he walked through the front door, they were already tucked into bed.
Monica was waiting for him in a silk nightgown, her perfume clinging to the air. Her skin glowed from her beauty treatments, delicate and smooth like porcelain.
“Finally done running the pack?” she purred, taking his briefcase with a practiced smile. “Thought you might never come back.”
“There was trouble with the Bloodstone
merger,” Floyd muttered, loosening his tie. “But things are under control for now. I’ll be staying home for a few days.”
He glanced around the room and frowned.
Chapter 26
+5 P
Points
“Where are the pups? I haven’t seen them in
weeks.”
“They went to bed early,” Monica answered breezily, slipping her arms around his. “Don’t worry, I’ve been taking wonderful care of them.”
Her voice dropped into a pout. “Floyd, there’s a charity gala tomorrow. I need a necklace to match my dress… Could I?”
“Mm?” Floyd was already halfway out of the conversation, his attention drifting to his buzzing phone. “Yeah, yeah. Use the black card.
Pick whatever you want.”
The next morning at breakfast, Floyd finally caught a glimpse of his children.
They stepped into the dining room with their heads lowered, quiet as shadows. Their clothes hung a little too loosely on their frames, and their faces had lost their usual glow. Their cheeks were hollowing out, their eyes dull.
Floyd narrowed his gaze, setting down his coffee cup. “What’s going on with you two? You look pale. Are you sick?”
Leon jolted at the sound of his voice,
Chapter 26
5 Points
nearly dropping his spoon. “N–no, Dad,” he stammered quickly, forcing a smile. His hand trembled so badly, the metal spoon clinked against the bowl.
Monica breezed in from the kitchen carrying a fruit platter, her smile sunny and sweet. “Floyd, don’t worry,” she said, walking over to the table. “They’re fine. Probably just not sleeping well.”
She leaned down and ruffled Leon’s hair like he was a harmless pup, her voice syrupy. “Right, Leon?”
Leon stiffened under her touch. “Mm,” he murmured, not daring to look her in the eye.
Just then, Floyd’s phone rang again. He checked the screen, sighed, and stood. “Work again. I’ll be back later.”
The door had barely clicked shut before
Monica’s mask dropped.
She reached across the table and snatched the
milk cup from Yolanda’s hands.
“Are you trying to be late on purpose? Drink
faster!” she hissed. “You’d better behave while
