Brothers’ Regret After I Left

Four years ago, on the night of my first shift at eighteen, my two older brothers brought home an eight-year-old orphaned Omega.

My alpha brother seized the rare healing herb I'd spent all my savings on—herbs meant to ease my first transformation—and gave them to her instead. "You're strong enough," he growled. "You don't need such precious herbs."

My beta brother snarled with fury, pointing toward the door. "Get out! Don't come back!"

I stayed for four more years. Then, after one betrayal too many, I said nothing more, grabbed my packed bag, and left.

They assumed I was merely throwing a tantrum, that I'd return in a few days.

My brothers, finally free of my presence, took the orphan girl on an international vacation to the Caribbean islands I'd always dreamed of visiting.

Many days later, when they returned to the pack, they were shocked to discover I'd accepted an offer from the neighboring pack's Head Healer. The position required fifteen years of isolated herbal research.

I could never return home.

That night, they fell apart.