They Forged My DNA Test–Fine, I’m No Longer Your Daughter Chapter 02

They Forged My DNA Test–Fine, I’m No Longer Your Daughter Chapter 02

A message from our student council representative, Nessa, appeared on my phone.

[Everyone meets at Moonstone Garden for the cohort photo.]

I hurried back to the car for my cap and gown.

The bag was empty.

My gown was gone.

Not far away, Seraphine was posing for pictures with Caelan beneath an ivy-covered wall, wearing my cap and gown.

They held hands as they leaned closer and closer.

Their caps suddenly knocked together, and they doubled over laughing.

The crescent-moon design on that cap was one I’d created myself three months earlier.

Seraphine noticed me watching, and her laughter stopped.

Caelan frowned and immediately stepped between us, shielding her.

“Seraphine just wanted to know what graduating feels like.

“It’s only a gown. I’ll have someone bring you another one right away.”

I opened my mouth.

I only wanted to tell him not to bother.

Soon, I wouldn’t belong here anyway.

Before I could speak, Seraphine spotted our schoolmates gathering in the distance.

She smoothed her gown and walked over with a gentle smile.

Caelan followed at her heels, the perfect devoted knight.

Seraphine leaned close and whispered something in Nessa’s ear.

A second later, she climbed onto the chair reserved for me.

I could already picture my schoolmates pulling out that photo years from now.

They would point to the spot where I should have stood, but Seraphine would be the only one they remembered.

It would be as if I’d never existed.

Mother stood off to the side, watching Seraphine the whole time.

Her gaze held the tenderness I’d spent eighteen years craving.

When she finally noticed my silence, the warmth vanished from her expression.

“Elowen, I know you’ve always loved taking pictures. You like having something to remember the important days by.

“How about we all take pictures with you tonight? We’ll do ten different sets if you want.”

It sounded generous, but I heard the wariness underneath.

They were afraid I’d explode the way I used to and come after Seraphine.

But I had no strength left to argue.

A family that had never chosen me wasn’t worth fighting for.

So I slowly shook my head.

“No, thank you.

“I’m not a Valen by lineage. There’s no point in taking pictures.”

I paused, then added.

“Besides, it’s only a graduation photo. It doesn’t matter.”

Mother froze. Her smile slowly faded.

She dropped her gaze. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

By the end of the ceremony, Seraphine had finally had her fill of everyone’s attention.

She came over smiling, her arms full of flowers my schoolmates had given her.

“Happy graduation, Elowen.”

She plucked a single green leaf from one bouquet and held it out to me.

“Here. Your graduation present.”

Every eye turned to me.

I took it without protest. “Thank you.”

Seraphine’s smile dimmed a fraction.

Then she threw herself into Father’s arms with a spoiled pout.

“Father, didn’t you get Elowen a graduation present?

“Don’t neglect her because of me.”

An awkward silence fell.

Before Seraphine woke up, Mother and Father had prepared a graduation gift for me.

A ten-percent share of the pack’s land trust and a special seat on the pack council.

It was more power and wealth than they’d given my older brother, Stellan Valen, their eldest son and future Alpha.

But after Seraphine woke from her coma, no one mentioned it again.

Mother and Father shifted uneasily, unable to answer.

I smiled first.

“I don’t deserve anything that valuable.

“Only Seraphine does.”

Then there was Caelan. He’d planned to propose to me at graduation.

The mate ring I’d dreamed of for more than a decade now sat on Seraphine’s finger.

There was nothing left for me to lose.

I took out my phone. Royal Crescent Academy’s silver crescent crest gleamed on the screen.

It was the premier werewolf academy in North America.

And my last chance to choose my own life.

I had almost turned it down and stayed at Moonvale Academy, all so I could remain with the Valens and Caelan.

Royal Crescent Academy was more than countless miles from Moonvale Pack, after all.

Now it was time to take my life back.