The 18th Time They Lost Me Chapter 03

The 18th Time They Lost Me Chapter 03

The next morning, I woke up to a trending post on my phone.

[Cutest family moment at the amusement park]

[Family of four under the fireworks—the internet is crying!]

Maya was in the photo wearing a princess dress, sparkler in hand.

Mom and Dad flanked her on either side.

Silas stood behind her, throwing up a peace sign.

Fireworks lit up the sky above them, but every single pair of eyes was on her.

A video played next.

Dad grinned at the camera.

“Just taking our little one out for a good time. She’s our whole world, this one.”

Comments flooded in.

[Best Beta family in the pack!!]

[Literal family goals. I’m so jealous.]

No one out there even knew they had a second daughter.

When I came downstairs, Maya was curled up on the couch and let out a shriek.

“Dad! Mom! A modeling scout just DMed me! They want me for a photo shoot!”

The whole room erupted.

She threw her arms around Mom’s neck.

“This is the best day ever!”

Dad and Silas watched her with soft, adoring eyes.

Then they spotted me.

The smiles dropped.

Maya chewed her lip and went quiet.

“But… my agent says I need an assistant. Like, someone to hold my bag, fix my dress, keep me hydrated…”

She trailed off, and her gaze drifted to me.

Silas jumped up and jabbed a finger at me.

“Quinn can go! She did all the grunt work at the old pack house anyway. She’s built for it.”

Dad set down his phone and nodded at me.

“Quinn, go with her. I’ll feel better knowing you’ve got Maya’s back.”

Maya bounced over and latched onto my arm.

“Quinn, come on! Come with me!”

I shook her off.

“Ask Mom to go with you.”

The room went dead quiet.

Silas glared at me.

“What’s your problem?”

Mom’s smile froze.

Maya let go of my arm, lower lip trembling.

“Quinn… do you not want to be around me?”

Mom pulled Maya behind her.

Her voice went cold.

“Quinn, what is wrong with you? We look out for each other in this family.”

Silas let out a sharp laugh.

“Wasn’t it enough that Grandma spoiled you rotten? Now you show up playing the victim so you can steal Mom and Dad’s attention from Maya?”

Dad’s face hardened.

“Quinn, that’s enough. We put food on your plate and a roof over your head. You can’t even go with your sister to one photo shoot?”

“If you don’t want to—”

“Then I’ll leave.”

I finished for him.

I was already so tired of these people.

“Quinn!”

Dad’s voice hit my back like a wall.

I didn’t stop.

I had to get to the pack transfer office.

Mom had filed a temporary registration for me last month so I could finalize my university enrollment.

That temporary status was supposed to be enough to process my admission into King’s University.

But at the counter, the clerk frowned at his screen.

“That’s weird. I’m not pulling up anything for you. Are you even registered with Silver Moon?”