"Yes." Mia smiled sweetly. "James wanted to do something special for me, as we're all family."
He was throwing a gathering to celebrate the pup he had created using my murdered pupren's essence.
"There will be a family dinner tonight first," James continued. "Just us and your parents. But the big gathering is next week. I've already arranged everything—"
"I'm not interested," I said flatly.
Mia's smile faltered. "But Olivia—"
"I said I'm not interested."
Mia's face dropped, and her eyes watered.
"Olivia!" James snapped, his alpha command bleeding into his voice. My wolf was furious at his attempt to dominate. "Your mother and father will be there. The pack expects you."
"I can't bring myself to celebrate while Alice is dying," I said quietly, the lie rolling off my tongue easily.
"She's old," James said dismissively. "Her wolf is weak. She's lived her life. But this pup—" He placed his hand on Mia's stomach. "This is new life. A strong bloodline. Something to be happy about."
My hands clenched into fists at his cruel words. Alice had always treated him like family, even though I wasn't her biological daughter.