My Alpha Family Loved Their Adopted Daughter More Than Me

In our pack, every child received a barrel of moonwine at birth, to be opened on one of the most important day of their life. When my adopted sister Rosalie and I received our college decisions, Mother gave her both her moonwine and mine. “Rosalie got into the Royal Wolf Academy,” Mother announced. “We should all celebrate her achievement.” My brother Callum brought out his own barrel, declaring, “Rosalie has made us all proud, so I’m opening mine as well.” Father poured Rosalie the first glass and raised a toast in her honor. Even my boyfriend, Julian, arrived with a bouquet of moon lilies for Rosalie. No one acknowledged me. “What about me?” I asked. Mother’s smile stiffened. “You’re the Alpha’s daughter, Aria. You already have everything. Besides, our family owes Rosalie.” Seven years ago, Rosalie’s father lost his wolf saving Father from a silver blade. My parents took Rosalie in afterward. Since then, my room, my place beside Father, and even my family slowly become hers. Now, even the moonwine Grandmother had brewed for me belonged to her. I opened the Moonridge Isolation Study offer I had kept hidden from them and signed my name. This time, I wouldn’t be coming back. I was done paying a debt that had never been mine. Chapter 1 The moment I accepted the offer, I felt strangely relieved. No one in the moon courtyard noticed. Mother was too busy directing two servants as they carried Rosalie’s barrel of moonwine from our family cellar. Its black oak had been polished until it gleamed, and fresh gold wax sealed the lid. “Bring the crystal cups,” she called. “It’s time to celebrate!” Callum took several pictures. His own barrel stood beside Rosalie’s, bearing the crest reserved for our family’s Alpha heir. A moment later, his post appeared on social media. My sister is going to the Royal Wolf Academy! I saved my moonwine for a worthy occasion, and tonight, I’m opening it for her. Father sat beneath the marble colonnade, watching with a rare smile. As Alpha, he rarely attended private family celebrations. Apparently, Rosalie’s Academy acceptance was important enough to make an exception. Julian stood beside Rosalie. “Want a picture before they break the seal?” he asked. Rosalie nodded, smiling sweetly. “Get my right side. It’s prettier.” Mother pulled Father and Callum closer. “Julian, take one of the four of us,” she said. “Our daughter was accepted into the Royal Wolf Academy. I want to remember this moment.” Father and Mother stood on either side of Rosalie, while Callum rested a hand on her shoulder. They smiled as Julian took the picture. A perfect family of four. I stood near the courtyard doors, outside the frame. Rosalie had earned a place in the Academy’s general program. I had been admitted to the Council Scholars Program, an elite division that accepted only twelve students from all the northern packs. No one had mentioned it. Mother broke Rosalie’s wax seal. The rich scent of berries and winter spice drifted through the courtyard as she filled the crystal cups. “Our Rosalie has made us proud,” she said. “This wine has waited seven years for tonight.” Father lifted his glass. “No one deserves it more than you, Rosalie.” Callum took a drink and winced at its strength. “The whole pack agrees. My post is already blowing up.” Julian steadied Rosalie’s cup when it tilted in her hand. “Easy,” he said with a smile. “Don’t drink too much.” Rosalie hugged the cup closer. “But this wine holds seven years of Mom and Dad’s love,” Rosalie said. “I’m not wasting a single drop.” She swallowed too much at once and began coughing, her cheeks turning red. “I guess Mom and Dad put too much love in it,” she managed between coughs. Everyone burst out laughing. I looked at the two barrels before them. The space in front of me was empty. Eighteen years ago, Grandmother had laid down my moonwine herself. While she was alive, she visited the cellar with me every autumn to inspect the barrel and renew its protective blessing. She used to rest her hand on its polished oak and tell me, “You can always tell how deeply a child is loved by how carefully their moonwine is kept.” Grandmother was gone now. So was my wine. Yet when Rosalie arrived, Mother had commissioned a new barrel for her without hesitation. Seven years ago, Rosalie’s father had lost his wolf saving Father during a rogue attack. Father believed a failure in his own defenses had caused the attack, so he promised that our family would provide for Rosalie from then on. The day Mother brought her to our estate, she held Rosalie in her arms and made her a promise. “This is your home now. No one here will ever make you feel unwanted.” It took me years to understand what she meant. To keep Rosalie from ever feeling unwanted, it didn’t matter how unwanted I became. My phone vibrated. A new message appeared. Aria Ashwood, your place at the Moonridge Isolation Study has been secured. Report to the northern research territory in five days. Program term: seven years. No outside contact. Another wave of laughter rose from the courtyard. No one looked my way. I turned off my phone. Five days. That was how long I had left in this family. Chapter 2 The next morning, the family gathered in the dining room to complete Rosalie’s Academy enrollment. Mother had already opened the Royal Wolf Academy’s housing portal on her tablet. “The private residences in the eastern district are closest to the arts building,” she said. “Rosalie has always loved painting. She’ll be much happier there than in the dormitories.” Callum leaned over her shoulder. “This one has private security and an underground garage.” Father glanced at the listing. “Then it’s hers. Buy it.” Mother smiled and selected the three-bedroom penthouse without looking at the price. They spent the rest of the morning choosing Rosalie’s courses, furnishings, and even the view from her bedroom. I sat at the other end of the table with my Council Scholars enrollment packet unopened in front of me. No one asked about my plans. At lunch, Father slid a leather folder across the table to Rosalie. “The penthouse is in your name.” Rosalie stared at the deed. “You bought it for me?” “You shouldn’t have to worry about where you’ll live,” Father said. Mother placed a black card beside it. “For clothes, books, and anything else you need,” Mother said. “There’s no spending limit. I don’t want you worrying about a thing while you’re away.” Callum spun a set of keys around one finger. “And your car is waiting outside. Custom interior, reinforced frame, and enough room for your art supplies.” Rosalie covered her mouth, her eyes already shining. “You all did this for me?” “Of course,” Mother said. “You’re our daughter.” I looked at the deed, the black card, and the keys arranged in front of her. I gave a quiet, bitter laugh and opened my mouth to speak. Callum noticed. “Let’s not ruin Rosalie’s day.” “I’m not.” “You’ve always been like this,” he cut in. “Her father lost his wolf saving Father. The least we can do is take care of her. Why can’t you just be happy for her?” I wanted to remind him that it was my day too. But one look around the table told me no one cared. Julian turned to Rosalie and placed a sealed envelope in front of her. “My family sponsors the Academy’s arts wing,” he said. “I arranged for Master Green to take you on as his private student.” Rosalie stared at him. “The legendary Master Green?” Julian smiled. “You deserve the best.” Mother’s face lit up. “Julian, that’s far too generous.” “It’s fine,” he said. “Rosalie is like a little sister to me. I want to know she’s taken care of.” Rosalie pressed a hand to her chest. “You’ve all done so much for me. I don’t know what I did to deserve any of this.” Mother smiled. “Your father saved the Alpha of this pack. He was a hero, and we can never repay what he did for our family.” She squeezed Rosalie’s hand. “You deserve every good thing we can give you.” I waited. Father had given her a home. Mother had given her unlimited access to the Ashwood accounts. Callum had given her a car. My boyfriend had used his family’s influence to secure her a private apprenticeship. Surely someone would remember that I was leaving for the most selective academic program in the northern territories. No one did. Finally, Mother looked at me. “Aria, you should decline the Council Scholars placement and enroll at the Royal Academy.” I stared at her. “Why would I do that?” “So you and Rosalie can stay together. She has never lived away from home. You can help her settle in.” The Council Scholars Program was the most prestigious program in the northern territories, accepting only twelve students each year. Mother wanted me to give up the opportunity I had worked for so Rosalie wouldn’t have to live alone in the penthouse they had just bought her. I looked at the gifts in front of Rosalie. “And what have you planned for me?” Mother blinked as if the question surprised her. “You can live with Rosalie in the penthouse,” she said. “There are three bedrooms.” “The penthouse belongs to Rosalie,” I said. “I asked what you planned for me.” Father’s expression hardened. “Rosalie has no father to provide for her because he sacrificed his wolf saving my life. We’re giving her what he no longer can.” His gaze cooled. “Don’t reduce what we owe him to a competition over gifts.” Mother gave me a disappointed look. “You’ve always been independent, Aria. You don’t need us to build your future for you.” Father gave a short nod. “You are the Alpha’s daughter. That privilege comes with responsibilities. Your duty is to care for the daughter of the man who saved my life. That is the arrangement we made for you.” Callum leaned back in his chair. “That’s true. Rosalie doesn’t have parents to give her these things. You do.” So that was what they had planned for me. I was supposed to give up the Council Scholars Program and spend the next several years making sure Rosalie never felt alone. No one asked what it would cost me. Rosalie’s future was something they protected. Mine was something they were willing to spend. There was nothing left to say. “You’re right. I’ll manage.” That evening, Julian messaged me. I turned down the Lycan Council fellowship. I’m enrolling at the Royal Wolf Academy. I read the message twice. You spent three years competing for that fellowship. His answer came immediately. Rosalie will be alone. I’ll feel better if I’m there to look after her. The Academy’s program is good enough. It won’t hurt my future. Good enough. For three years, whenever I asked Julian to train with me for the Council trials, he told me he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Now he had abandoned the fellowship entirely for Rosalie. I typed several replies and deleted them all. In the end, I sent one word. Okay. Laughter drifted down the hallway. Rosalie was showing Callum and Julian the furnishings she had chosen for her new penthouse. My phone lit up with another Moonridge notification. Four days until reporting. I turned off the screen and listened to them laugh. I wondered how long I would be gone before any of them noticed. Chapter 3 The next morning, the sound of helicopter blades woke me. I stepped onto the balcony and found my family gathered on the landing lawn, dressed for a day in the capital. Rosalie spotted me and waved. “Aria! Why aren’t you ready? We’re shopping for the Academy today.” I frowned. “When was that decided?” “Callum told everyone in the group chat last night.” She lifted her phone. “Didn’t you see it?” I checked mine. There were no new messages. “What group chat?” Rosalie’s smile faltered. “The one Callum made a few days ago—” Julian cleared his throat, cutting her off. “It’s mostly jokes and random videos,” he said. “We didn’t think you’d be interested.” His fingers moved across his screen. A second later, my phone vibrated with an invitation. Rosalie’s Royal Court Five members: Father, Mother, Callum, Julian, and Rosalie. Five people. A complete family without me. “Go get dressed,” Mother called. “We’ll wait.” I returned to my room and had barely pulled a dress from the wardrobe when the roar of the helicopter grew louder. By the time I reached the courtyard, it was already lifting from the lawn. My phone buzzed. A message from Julian. The pilot said there wasn’t room for another passenger. Stay home today. We’ll bring you something. The Ashwood family owned three helicopters. No one had considered taking another. I typed a reply. Okay. Then I watched them disappear over the forest. It wasn’t the first time Rosalie had taken my place. When Mother brought her home seven years ago, Rosalie was terrified of sleeping alone. Mother moved another bed into my suite so I could comfort her through her nightmares. Six months later, Rosalie said sharing a room made her feel like a guest. Mother gave her my suite in the Alpha family wing and moved me across the hall. The following year, Rosalie wanted the adjoining room as an art studio. I was sent to the guest wing. By the third year, visiting Alphas needed those rooms, so Mother moved me into an old apartment above the stables. It had a bedroom, a small bath, and a narrow window overlooking the training grounds. It was perfectly comfortable by ordinary standards. But it was no longer inside the family residence. We lived on an estate with more than thirty rooms. Space had never been the problem. I had gone from sharing my suite with Rosalie, to surrendering it, to leaving the Alpha wing, and finally to living outside the main house. Now there wasn’t even a seat for me in the family helicopter. My phone vibrated again. This time, it was a Council travel notice. Your seat to the Moonridge northern territory has been confirmed. Departure in three days. When the family returned, night had already fallen. Rosalie entered first, followed by servants carrying garment bags and boxes stamped with the names of the capital’s finest ateliers. “We brought you something,” she said brightly. Julian approached me with a small velvet box. “For leaving without you,” he said. “Consider it an apology.” I opened it. Inside lay a delicate platinum bracelet set with tiny moonstones. For one foolish second, warmth stirred in my chest. “Thank you,” I said. Rosalie set a large jewelry case on the table, barely containing her excitement. “You should see what Julian won at the Full Moon auction.” She opened the case. A rose-gold necklace rested against black velvet, its moonstone pendant shaped like a pair of wings. I recognized it immediately. It was a one-of-a-kind piece by Celeste Laurent, the most sought-after jeweler in the northern packs. Julian had once told me her work was too expensive to justify. Rosalie lifted the necklace toward her throat. “Isn’t it beautiful? Julian knew I’d been dreaming about it, so he kept bidding until everyone else gave up.” Then Rosalie glanced at the bracelet in my hand. “Oh, that came with the necklace,” she said. “The auction house included it as a complimentary collector’s gift.” My fingers tightened around the velvet box. Julian had spent a fortune buying Rosalie the necklace she wanted. And the gift he brought home for me was the free item that came with it. 04 Rosalie touched the moonstone pendant at her throat. “Julian, you shouldn’t have spent that much. The final bid was insane.” Julian shrugged. “You’re starting at the Royal Wolf Academy. You deserve at least one piece made especially for you.” Mother leaned closer to admire the necklace. “It’s beautiful, Julian, but you’ve already done so much for her.” Julian smiled. “I wanted her to have it.” I looked down at the platinum bracelet in my hand. A small black tag hung from the clasp. FULL MOON AUCTION—COLLECTOR’S GIFT Rosalie glanced at me, then at the necklace case in her hands. “Aria, don’t you like it?” I didn’t reply. Her fingers tightened around the case. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about how you’d feel.” Her voice grew quieter. “Julian wanted to bring you something because we left without you, and the bracelet is lovely. But it came free with my necklace. I should’ve realized that might hurt you.” Her eyes filled with tears. “This is my fault. I wanted the necklace so badly that you ended up with the complimentary gift.” “Rosalie—” Mother began. “I always get the best of everything.” Rosalie’s voice broke. “And Aria is left with whatever remains. I’m so selfish.” Mother hurried to her side. “Don’t say that. None of this is your fault. Julian bought the necklace because he wanted you to have it.” Rosalie shook her head and unclasped the necklace. She placed it back in its case and pushed it toward me. “No. If this has hurt Aria, then she should have it. I don’t want it anymore.” Mother immediately stopped her. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was chosen for you.” Tears slipped down Rosalie’s cheeks. “But Aria must feel terrible. Ever since I came into this family, she’s had to give up so much.” Her gaze moved to the small case on the side table. Inside lay Grandmother’s moonstone cuff. It was made of white gold, engraved with the Ashwood crest, and set with a moonstone that had been passed through our Luna line for generations. Grandmother had placed it on my wrist shortly before she died. Rosalie picked it up. “What if we trade?” she asked. “Aria can have my necklace, and I’ll take this. Then we’ll both have something special.” I stood so quickly that my chair struck the floor. “No.” Rosalie flinched and almost dropped the cuff. “My grandmother left that cuff to me,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” “That’s enough, Aria.” Callum stepped between us. “Rosalie offered you a one-of-a-kind Laurent necklace for it,” he snapped. “That old cuff has been sitting in a box for years. Why are you acting as if she tried to steal it?” “Because it’s mine.” Julian caught my arm. “Your father walked away from that attack because Rosalie’s father lost his wolf,” he said. “Is one cuff really too much to give her?” “You can’t replace an heirloom.” I insisted. “Then I’ll commission another one,” Julian said. “It’s only jewelry.” “It is not only jewelry.” “Enough.” Father’s Alpha command silenced the room. His cold gaze settled on me. “Rosalie will have the cuff. Her father sacrificed his wolf saving my life. You can give up one piece of jewelry for his daughter.” His tone left no room for argument. “This discussion is over.” Mother held Rosalie while she cried. Callum and Julian watched me, waiting for me to stop making things difficult. They all expected the same answer. I wanted to ask why, if Rosalie’s father had saved Father, I was always the one expected to repay the debt. Why did every act of gratitude begin with taking something from me? But I swallowed the questions. They had never listened before, and there was no reason to believe they would start now. In three days, I would be gone. The cuff would be the last thing they ever took from me. “Fine,” I said. Rosalie wiped her tears. “Thank you, Aria.” I returned to my room and closed the door. When Grandmother gave me the cuff, she had fastened it around my wrist herself. “This belongs to you,” she had said. “No one has the right to take it away.” She had been wrong. Three days later, the household was awake before sunrise. Servants loaded Rosalie’s luggage, art cases, and new wardrobe onto the family jet. Mother checked every case twice. Before they left, Mother handed me a boarding pass. “Your flight leaves at noon,” she said. “It lands shortly after ours.” There had been room on the jet. They had filled it with Rosalie’s belongings instead. “I’m leaving now,” I said. Mother was adjusting Rosalie’s coat and didn’t look up. “Rest on the flight. We’ll see you at the Academy.” Rosalie waved as she climbed aboard. “See you there, Aria!” I watched the jet roll toward the private runway. Then I returned to my room, collected my suitcase, and took the Council car waiting beyond the estate gates. I wasn’t going to the Royal Wolf Academy. I was reporting to Moonridge. At the northern terminal, my phone filled with messages. Aria, the airline says you never boarded. Where are you? Call me immediately. I removed every member of my family from my contacts and turned off my phone. When the Council aircraft lifted above the clouds, the Ashwood territory disappeared beneath me. For the first time in my life, I felt no urge to look back. Whatever debt they believed they owed Rosalie was theirs to repay. I would no longer be the price. Chapter 5 At that same moment, Father received a call from the Pack Council’s Security Division. “Alpha Ashwood, we’ve reopened the investigation into the rogue attack seven years ago.” The investigator continued. “We found evidence that Rosalie’s father was not the warrior who saved you that night.” “How can you be certain?” Father asked. His voice was steady, but his grip on the phone had turned his knuckles white. “We restored the damaged security records from the eastern watchtower,” the investigator said. “The footage shows another warrior pulling you to safety. Garrick Vale wasn’t anywhere near you when it happened.” “What about his wound?” “He was attacked on the western border several minutes later. His injury had nothing to do with saving you.” “Then why did the original report name him as my rescuer?” “That report was altered.” Father’s wolf stirred beneath his skin. “By whom?” “We’re still investigating. But that isn’t all we found.” The investigator paused before continuing. “The attack wasn’t caused by a failure in your border defenses. Someone inside the pack gave the rogues your patrol route.” Father went still. “There was a traitor in my pack?” “Yes, Alpha. The rogues could only have entered that night with help from one of your own wolves.” Father gripped the edge of the desk to keep himself upright. For seven years, he had believed Garrick Vale sacrificed his wolf to save his life. He had blamed himself, convinced that his failure at the border had forced Garrick to pay the price. Now the Council was telling him that the debt he had spent seven years repaying had never existed. “Dad?” Callum stepped out of Rosalie’s new art studio and stopped when he saw Father’s face. “Who was that?” “The Pack Council.” Father lowered the phone. “They recovered the missing records from the rogue attack.” Father looked directly at Callum. “Rosalie’s father wasn’t the warrior who saved me that night. Someone else was.” Callum went still. “What?” “And the attack wasn’t caused by a failure in my defenses. Someone inside the pack gave the rogues our patrol route.” Mother emerged from the dressing room with several fabric samples in her hands. “Why are you both standing here? The designer needs us to choose the drapes for Rosalie’s bedroom.” Callum turned to her. “Rosalie’s father didn’t save Father. Another warrior did.” The fabric samples slipped from Mother’s fingers. “What do you mean?” “Garrick was nowhere near me when the other warrior pulled me to safety,” Father said. “They also found evidence that someone inside the pack gave the rogues our patrol route.” Mother stared at him. “But the original report said Garrick took the blade meant for you.” “The report was altered.” For a moment, no one spoke. Then Father looked around the penthouse. “Where is Aria? Wasn’t she supposed to have arrived by now?” Mother frowned. “The airline notified me that she never boarded. I sent her several messages, but she hasn’t answered.” Father pulled out his phone and called me. The call went straight to voicemail. Callum checked the family group. “She left the chat.” Mother’s face drained of color. Father turned toward the elevator. “We’re going home. Now.” Rosalie appeared in the hallway, holding a portfolio case Julian had bought for her. “What happened? The decorator is waiting for us to approve the studio.” “Do it yourself,” Callum said. “Aria is missing.” Rosalie froze. Then she lowered her eyes. “Maybe she isn’t missing.” Everyone looked at her. Rosalie twisted her fingers around the handle of the case. “I don’t want to say anything bad about Aria, but she gets upset when she thinks everyone is paying too much attention to me.” Callum’s jaw tightened. “She has shut herself away before,” Rosalie continued softly. “Maybe leaving the family chat is her way of making everyone worry.” Mother looked uncertain. “But she never boarded her flight.” “She probably wants us to chase after her,” Rosalie said. “If we do, she’ll know this works.” Callum was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. “Rosalie may be right. Aria has always needed time to calm down. If we make a scene, we’ll only encourage her.” Mother looked at Father. “But what if something happened to her?” “She’s the Alpha’s daughter,” Callum said. “She can take care of herself. Isn’t that what she’s always telling us?” Rosalie touched Mother’s arm. “Give her a few days. Once she realizes no one is angry, she’ll come back on her own.” Father remained beside the elevator, saying nothing. The investigator’s words kept repeating in his mind. Rosalie’s father was not the warrior who saved you. For seven years, he had used his guilt to justify everything they gave Rosalie, and everything they took from me. He had allowed his own daughter to be pushed out of the family wing and into a room above the stables. He had ordered me to surrender Grandmother’s cuff. He had expected me to abandon the most prestigious program in the northern territories and devote my future to Rosalie. Father realized he had spent seven years paying off a debt that had never existed, only to end up owing his own daughter one he might never be able to repay.