The Forgotten Twin, The One They Beg in Tears Chapter 02

The Forgotten Twin, The One They Beg in Tears Chapter 02

Hawthorne House was empty.

A bowl of mac and cheese sat on the table.

A note lay beside it: [Made this for you. Don’t forget to eat.]

Lucian’s handwriting.

Lucian was the heir to the Alpha of the neighboring pack.

The only person who’d ever truly seen me, all these years.

Back then, when Mom, Dad, Kael and Elowen went out for dinner, I’d stay home and subsist on plain bread.

At first, Mom would still ask what I wanted to eat and promise to bring something back.

But every time, I’d reach eagerly for the tote bag she handed me.

Inside were only new clothes and shoes for Elowen.

“Mom, where’s my food?”

Mom would look surprised. “It’s this late? Haven’t you eaten yet?”

“We all thought you’d already had something.”

Those nights, Lucian would climb over the fence after dark and sneak me little snacks.

After what happened when I was seven, I’d felt guilty and sworn I’d make it up to Elowen.

Lucian had ruffled my hair. “You make it up to Elowen. I’ll make it up to you.”

But making amends to Elowen came with a price.

First, I lost my parents’ attention. Then new clothes. Then the bedroom that was supposed to be mine.

In the end, I lost even him.

A knot of conflicting emotions tightened in my chest as I picked up the bowl of mac and cheese.

But after one bite, my wolf suddenly stirred restlessly inside me.

A familiar sense of danger crawled up my spine.

I spat the food out right away.

I looked closely—trace amounts of peanut oil had been stirred into the cheese sauce.

I was deathly allergic to peanuts. Everyone knew that.

Why would Lucian put peanuts in it?

I grabbed my phone quickly.

By the time Lucian picked up, hives had erupted across my skin, burning and itching.

“Lucian, why did you put peanuts in the mac and cheese?”

“Don’t you know I’m allergic?”

He sounded confused. “Of course I know. I didn’t add any peanuts.”

“But—”

Elowen’s voice cut into the call.

“Freya Hawthorne—are you faking being sick again?”

“Why do you always find some way to drag Mom and Dad back whenever they’re out with me?”

“So, what? You’re using your allergy as an excuse now?”

“I’m not faking it.”

I fought the terrible itch and rushed to explain. “I really ate peanuts. I’m having an allergic reaction.”

“Quit making excuses. Couldn’t you see peanuts if they were there? Or did you intentionally make yourself allergic to ruin my celebration dinner?”

“Lucian, I told you not to be so nice and give her your mac and cheese.”

“Look—now you’re getting falsely accused.”

When Lucian came back on the line, his tone was cold, barely concealed.

“I regret it. I should’ve thrown it out.”

“Freya—I’m so disappointed in you.”

The call ended.

The hollow silence of the disconnected call echoed through the empty house.

So that bowl of mac and cheese had never been made for me on purpose.

Lucian had been invited out to dinner with Elowen, and left the leftovers here so they wouldn’t go to waste.

Where had that boy from my memories gone—the one who’d climb through my window just to bring me food?

I texted Mom again.

[Mom, I’m having an allergic reaction. Can you take me to the hospital?]

Afraid she’d think I was lying, I even sent her photos of my rash.

Thirty seconds later, Mom replied.

[Freya, did you really use an AI-generated image to fake a reaction?]

I tried calling her on video.

She declined.

Same with Dad. Same with Kael.

I tried sending more messages. Five notifications popped up: Message Failed to Send.

They were all scared I’d ruin Elowen’s mood. One by one, they blocked me.

I didn’t know what I was still holding on to. Maybe I just wanted to prove I wasn’t lying.

Desperately, I kept sending message after message.

Until failed messages filled all five chat threads.

Finally, my hands fell limp to my sides.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, and a dark thought crossed my mind.

What if I died right now? Would they finally believe I wasn’t lying?