Chapter 3: She's Back

Thea's POV

I sat rigid in the hard plastic chair, the scent of grief and antiseptic burning my nose. Mom's sobs had quieted to occasional whimpers, but her pain still filled the waiting room like a physical presence. My throat tightened.

The image of Dad's mangled body haunted me. His throat had been torn open, dried blood caking the savage wounds that even his Alpha healing couldn't repair. The mighty Alpha Sterling, reduced to bloody scraps by those Rogue bastards. I'd never seen him look weak before - not once in my life. And now here he was, destroyed by the very creatures he'd spent his life fighting.

"Here."

I jumped at Sebastian's voice. He had arrived about an hour ago after hearing the news, and now he was standing next to my chair, holding out a paper cup of coffee. Why was he being... nice?

"Thanks," I muttered, taking the cup. The warmth seeped into my cold fingers. Sebastian sat down beside me, his familiar scent - sandalwood and rain - - wrapping around me immeditely. Every time I caught his scent, it just reminded me of all the nights I'd lain awake wondering why I wasn't enough.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

I almost laughed. Seven years of marriage, and now he asks? "I'm fine."

"Thea-"

"Don't." I cut him off. "Just... don't pretend to care now."

He stiffened beside me, that familiar wall slamming back into place between us. Good. This, at least, was familiar territory.

"Mom already called Aurora." Roman's voice cut through the tension. "She's on her way."

I watched Sebastian's reaction from the corner of my eye. His whole body tensed, jaw clenching as he sucked in a sharp breath. I bet his wolf stirred just beneath the surface. My chest ached. Seven years, and he still acted like a lovesick puppy at the mere mention of my sister.

"She doesn't know about Dad yet," Roman continued. "Mom thought it would be better to tell her in person."

Of course. Aurora deserved the gentle approach. Heaven forbid anyone upset the golden daughter.

"Thea." Mom's voice was sharp. "I expect you to be civil when your sister arrives."

The coffee turned bitter in my mouth. "Civil? Like you've all been to me?"

"This isn't about you." Her eyes flashed. "Your father is dead, and you're still being selfish. Just like seven years ago-"

"Don't." My voice shook. "Don't you dare bring that up now."

"Why not? Nothing's changed. You're still the same selfish girl who-"

"I was protecting my family!" The words burst out before I could stop them. "But you never even asked my side, did you? None of you did. You just assumed the worst because I'm wolfless. Because I've never been good enough for this fucking family!"

"Thea," Sebastian growled, his Alpha authority seeping into his voice.

"No!" I stood up, hands shaking. "I'm not your Luna anymore, Sebastian. You don't get to command me." I turned back to my mother. "And you - did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm your daughter too? That maybe I'm grieving too?"

Mom's face hardened. "A real daughter wouldn't-"

"A real mother would love her child regardless!" The words echoed in the quiet waiting room. "But I guess I stopped being your child the day I was born without a wolf, right?"

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't stand there and look at their faces - Sebastian's cold disapproval, Roman's discomfort, Mom's bitter disappointment. I turned and walked away, needing air, needing space, needing to be anywhere but here.

The hospital's back entrance opened onto a small garden. The night air was cool against my hot face. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. Why had I come? What was I hoping to find here? Some magical last-minute reconciliation? My father's deathbed acceptance?

"Ms. Sterling?" A nurse stood in the doorway. "We need you to... to identify the body."

My legs felt like lead as I followed her to the morgue. The body on the metal table was barely recognizable as my father. The sheet couldn't hide the extent of the damage - the unnatural angles where bones had been shattered, the bulk of bandages hiding the worst of the attack.

The nurse pulled back the sheet and I saw his face.

He looked peaceful. More peaceful than he'd ever looked at me in life. I reached out, hesitated, then touched his cold hand.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," I whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted. I'm sorry I couldn't be her."

The words stuck in my throat. What was I apologizing for? Being born? Surviving? Trying to protect my family, even when they'd never protected me?

"Goodbye," I said finally. Not just to him, but to all of it - the hope of acceptance, the dream of belonging. It was time to let go.

When I returned to the waiting room, Mom was rushing around making calls while Roman sat alone, looking lost. Sebastian had disappeared somewhere. Then the automatic doors slid open, and I saw her.

Aurora.

She swept in, her golden hair falling in perfect waves. Even at 3 AM, she looked like she'd just stepped off a magazine cover.

"'I came as soon as I could," Aurora's voice trembled perfectly and I saw tears glitter in her eyes. "Where's Daddy?"

Sebastian materialized out of nowhere, appearing at her side so fast you'd think he'd teleported. I watched him embrace her immediately, and the truth hit me like a punch to the gut—

After all these years, Sebastian's love for Aurora had never disappeared. Not even a little bit.