Chapter 11 Set It on Fire


    <b>Jax’s </b>POV


    48 Pearls


    “I forgot to turn on the rm tonight. Grandma and Grandpa’s safe has a lot of valuable stuff. I’m afraid someone might steal it.”


    That’s how Aubrey exined it. Right after that, my mate urged the driver to hurry. She looked especially anxious, and that made me frown. Even when something happened to Aubrey before, she didn’t seem this worried.


    After the car turned around, everyone inside finally quieted down. I couldn’t help but watch my mate’s expression. In the dim light of the car, her tense face actually looked kind of scary. Is she really a good stepmother?


    All this time, I thought we were one big happy family. Was that even true?


    I thought about what Aubrey said. The more I mulled it over, I realized–at the Alpha’s banquet, Bailey really had been smearing Aubrey the whole time, and my mate joined in, kicking her while she was down…. Thinking about it now, I actually feel kind of creeped out.


    If Aubrey hadn’t fought back so aggressively tonight, she probably would’ve been used of betraying the Alpha. Then the furious werewolf warriors would’ve ripped her throat out on the spot!


    Looks like Aubrey didn’t do anything wrong tonight. She just lost her temper in a moment of panic, that’s all.


    And… maybe I really have been a little biased.


    Aubrey’s POV:


    The rain was still falling, but it was getting lighter. The soft, steady drizzle made the car feel even more cramped.


    As the car gently bumped along, I focused on the sound of the rain outside the window and gradually calmed down.


    It’s been so long. I haven’t heard the sound of rain in so long.


    “We’re here, Miss.”


    Draco’s voice made me slowly open my eyes.


    Bailey quickly said, “Aubrey, even if you’ve got a security system here, it’s still not safe. Why don’t you just take all of Grandpa and Grandma’s things back with us?”


    Aurelia scoffed and chimed in, sarcastic as ever.


    “You say we’re all family, but you’re hiding that little stash like it’s some treasure. Who exactly are you trying to guard it from?”


    Dad’s expression softened unexpectedly. He said, “Your mom’s right. Bring it all back. The house is safe.”


    Safe?


    I looked down to hide the sneer in my eyes. On this very night in myst life, Bailey destroyed my


    <b>15:48 </b><b>Sat </b><b>9 </b><b>Aud </b>


    Chapter 11 Set it on Fire


    reputation. The furious werewolf warriors immediately shifted and tried to tear me apart.


    to Pearls


    It was Adelyn who protected me. She personally took me home. But once I was home, they locked me in the basement.


    That night, Bailey took my key and opened the safe. She didn’t just steal the things Grandma left mc–she also took all of my medical research over the years and published it as her own.


    By the time I found out, it was already toote. I wanted to expose her, but I’d already lost my reputation, lost my engagement, and I still hadn’t awakened my wolf. There was no way my father would let me destroy his other daughter–a beta–ranked warrior.


    So the whole family came to talk to me, saying I was already finished and I shouldn’t drag my sister down with me.


    Back then, I didn’t even know Bailey was the one who sent those two bastards to attack me. So <i>I </i>gave in, holding back my rage and stepping aside.


    Then, little by little, Bailey bled me dry. She used all of my talent, all of my brilliance, and built her entire career on my back. She became the beloved beauty of the wolf medical world by stomping all over me.


    And it all started on this night.


    This time, I’m not giving my enemies a single chance.


    I forced down the storm in my chest and said calmly,


    “Okay. I’ll stay here tonight and get everything sorted. Tomorrow, I’ll bring the important stuff back. After that… I’ll try not toe over too often.”


    My dad smiled a little when he heard that, but then he quickly frowned and said, “No. You’re still injured. How can you stay here?”


    Now you remember I’m hurt?


    I let out a silent, coldugh and replied, “It’s nothing. Just a small injury. There’s plenty of medicine here–I can handle it myself.”


    Dad wanted to keep persuading me, but for some reason, he stopped. In the end, he just sighed and said, “Alright then. Once you finish packing up,e back tomorrow. After that, don’t live here anymore. Families should stay together.”


    Family? Yeah, right.


    My fingers curled into a fist at my side, I smiled lightly and said, “Okay.”


    Before he left, my dad reminded me again to turn on the security system before I went to bed.


    I watched them walk away, then quickly walked toward the small house.


    When I reached the door, I stopped and stared for a long time.


    Every time I stood in front of this house, I felt like Grandpa and Grandma were still with me.


    This little ce held every beautiful memory I had.


    o oav ? Aug=N C °


    Chapter 11 Set it on Fire


    29


    <b>48 </b>Pearls


    I pushed open the wooden door and pressed the earring on my left car to turn off the rm systern. I’d only managed to install it after catching Bailey sneaking around here once. It cost me everything I had. Once triggered, the police could be here in under three minutes.


    Maybe… maybe back then, I already sensed that Bailey was nning to steal from me.I was just too timid and too useless. I could only defend, never fight back.


    No… I was stupid too. I never even suspected that she’d drugged me to suppress my wolf awakening!


    I walked in and headed straight for where I kept my herbs. I made a cup of antidote and drank it. It would slowly neutralize the wolf suppressant in my system. I had no idea how long it would take–maybe hours, maybe days.


    After that, I quickly cleaned up the house, packed the important stuff into a box, then sat down with my eyes closed for a while. Finally, I kicked over the coal stove and set the whole ce on fire.


    It had been raining outside, so everything was damp. But the inside of the house was dry, and all those papers I’d left everywhere went up in mes instantly.


    If my dad were here, he’d definitely think I’d lost my mind. Because he knew exactly how much this ce meant to me.


    Those papers were the result of countless sleepless nights and endless effort.


    Those paintings were made under the careful guidance of my grandparents, who taught me each stroke by hand.


    That doll had been my dry needling dummy, but it was also my one and only confidant during my childhood.


    And now, I’d burned it all to the ground.


    The old, cowardly Aubrey was gone.


    Forever


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