Not Your Backup She-Wolf

My best friend, Emma, handed me a cup of warm water and dropped beside me with a sigh. "It's messed up. Eight years, and you still lose to some tramp who just showed up."

I stayed silent, eyes locked on the bonfire.

Liam was busy helping Chloe with pendants. She twirled, asking if it looked cute. He nodded—never once looked my way.

My fingers found the half-finished wrist guard in my bag. The herb-thread was damp from how hard I'd been holding it.

Useless now.

The bonfire music jumped, loud and wild.

Emma tugged my hand. "Come on! Quit sulking. Dance with me!"

She dragged me forward, but I barely got two steps before Chloe showed up, clinging to Liam's arm.

"Sophia, you're dancing too?" she beamed. "Liam said he'd teach me the circle dance. Said it's the most fun."

Liam didn't even glance at me. "Too crowded here," he told her. "Let's find some space so you don't get bumped."

They weren't even a full song in when Chloe gasped and toppled into his chest. "Ow! My ankle—it hurts!"

He dropped to one knee, carefully easing off her shoe. Fingers brushed her ankle like she was made of glass. "Does it hurt bad? I'll take you to the clinic."

"No need." Chloe clung to his hand, leaning in. "As long as you're here, it doesn't hurt at all."

Watching them, whatever spark I had left just... died. Snuffed out like it never mattered.

Then Liam finally turned my way. "Sophia, grab a water bottle. Chloe's thirsty."

"You don't have hands?" I said flat, not budging.

"She can't walk. Her ankle's hurt." His frown was pure Alpha entitlement. "It's just water. What's the big deal?"

"What's her ankle got to do with me?" I stared him down. "You her servant, or my mate?"

The music didn't just stop—it died. Wolves froze mid-step. Eyes locked on us.

Chloe's face drained. She tugged his sleeve, tears already welling. "Sophia, I didn't mean to trouble you. I can get it myself..."

She started to rise, all shaky fake-determination.

"Sit still!" Liam pushed her right back down, then snapped at me. "Sophia, you're out of line. She's hurt, and you won't even get her some water?"

"I'm out of line?" I laughed, tears slipping onto the back of my hand. "You've never treated me like this.

"Three days in, and you're peeling her berries, dressing her in pendants, bending over backward. I gave you eight years. What am I even worth to you?"

His mouth opened—nothing came out.

Chloe clung tighter. "Don't fight... let's just sit over there..."

He didn't even glance back. Just walked her off like she was something fragile.

The fire blazed behind me, but all I felt was ice.