Regrets Paid in Blood

Isadora’s POV

I am the Seer of the pack. The Alpha's wife.

Yet to my parents, I was nothing but a "bastard."

My sister took everything from me, even my husband.

Now, she's blinded herself and blamed me, demanding my eyes as payment.

"Isadora, you heartless wretch. You blinded Calliope—now you owe her a pair of eyes!"

A sharp slap landed across my face.

The man who struck me was my husband, Tristan—the Alpha of the Grimwald Pack.

"Tristan, I didn't—"

Before I could finish, the door swung open.

My father Emeric and mother Rowena walked in, supporting someone between them.

It was Calliope.

Her eyes were wrapped in gauze, her frail body leaning against our parents, tear tracks streaking her face.

"Dad... Mom..." Her voice trembled. "Don't blame Isadora... Maybe she didn't mean to..."

"Didn't mean to?" Mother's face was ashen with fury. "Calliope, you've always been like this—too kind for your own good!"

She turned and glared daggers at me.

"Isadora! Your sister has been sweet and thoughtful since childhood, with nothing but goodness in her heart. But you? You've always been the vicious one, the troublemaker!"

"I didn't do it!" I was practically screaming. "I didn't blind Calliope! I have no idea what happened!"

"Still lying!" Father roared. "Do you think you can fool everyone?"

Tristan seized my wrist, gripping so hard I nearly cried out.

"All these years," he sneered, "this is how you repay Calliope's kindness?"

Right on cue, Calliope let out a soft sob.

"Isadora..." Her voice was gentle, delicate—like someone who'd suffered a great injustice yet was still defending me. "You must resent me... for having all of Mom and Dad's love..."

"And... even Tristan favors me... That's why you hate me, isn't it?"

Father pulled Calliope into his arms, his heart aching for her.

"Don't say another word, Calliope. This ungrateful creature isn't worth your tears."

Mother's eyes glistened as she gently patted Calliope's back.

Tristan walked over to Calliope's side.

The three of them surrounded her, showering her with comfort and sympathy.

Tristan was right—he wanted me to give Calliope a pair of eyes.

What he didn't know was that as the Pack's Seer, the moment I lost my eyes, my soul would be torn from my body and my life would fade away.

Without my eyes, I would die.

I wanted to tell Tristan, but looking at the disgust in his eyes, the words died in my throat.

Once upon a time, this man had loved my eyes more than anything.

Now, those same eyes he once cherished—he wanted to carve them out and give them to another woman.

The silver poisoning had already ravaged my body. Even if I kept my eyes, I wouldn't last more than a few months.

So what was the point of keeping them?

"I agree."

I heard my own voice, distant and hollow.

The room fell silent.

Calliope's body stiffened slightly, then the corner of her mouth seemed to curve upward.

Father and Mother exchanged glances, relief washing over their faces.

"Wonderful!" Mother gripped Calliope's hand, barely containing her excitement. "Calliope, you're saved! You'll finally see again!"

"Yes, yes." Father nodded eagerly. "I'll contact the healer right away and arrange the surgery!"

Tristan looked at me, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he walked to Calliope's side and murmured something to her. She nestled against him, nodding softly.

Calliope had always had everything.

The finest clothes, the best education, every ounce of our parents' love.

Whatever she wanted, she got—she never had to fight for anything.

And me?

I had nothing.

I turned to leave, desperate to escape this suffocating room.

"Isadora, wait."

Tristan grabbed my wrist.

Was he... going to apologize? Had he changed his mind?