Chapter 2: The Award Meant for the Dead

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the house in a golden glow. It was warm enough to make anyone feel safe. Yet to me, who no longer possessed a heartbeat, every ray of sunshine felt distant and cold.

I drifted silently through the living room while my family gathered around the dining table as though nothing had happened. Less than twelve hours had passed since I died, but laughter still echoed through the house.

Mom placed a stack of pancakes in front of Ella with a proud smile. "Our graduate deserves another celebration," she said lovingly.

Dad chuckled. "We'll invite the whole pack this weekend. Ella has earned every bit of this."

I stood beside the table, staring at them.

Not one person asked where I was.

Not one person wondered why I hadn't come home.

To them, I was simply throwing another tantrum.

Ryan sat beside Ella, casually scrolling through the photos from yesterday's graduation ceremony. Ella leaned closer to him every few moments, pointing at different pictures while laughing.

He smiled back.

That smile used to belong to me.

Years ago, Ryan couldn't go an hour without checking whether I had eaten or rested after patrol. He used to wait outside headquarters just to walk me home.

Somewhere along the way, those little acts of love disappeared.

Little by little...

He stopped seeing me.

Now the only person reflected in his eyes was Ella.

"Ryan," Mom said cheerfully, "why don't you and Ella go shopping later? She still needs a dress for tonight's dinner."

"Sure," Ryan answered without hesitation.

"What about Sophie?" Ella suddenly asked, lowering her eyes as though she were worried.

"Should we try calling her again?"

Dad snorted.

"Leave her alone. She'll show up once she realizes nobody's chasing after her."

"Exactly," Conner agreed while buttering his toast. "She's done this too many times."

I wanted to scream.

I had never disappeared without reason.

Every single time I walked away, it was because one more promise had been broken.

Birthdays they forgot.

Ceremonies they skipped.

Family dinners they canceled because Ella suddenly needed them.

Each disappointment became another number inside my journal.

Ninety-nine.

None of them ever asked why I kept counting.

The doorbell rang.

Conner lazily walked over and opened the front door.

Standing outside were two elderly members of the Pack Council dressed in ceremonial uniforms embroidered with silver thread.

"Good morning," one of them greeted politely.

"We're looking for Miss Sophie Carter."

Dad stood up immediately.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," the elder replied with a smile. "Actually, we came to congratulate her."

He held out a polished wooden case decorated with the Pack crest.

"Miss Carter was selected to receive the Pack's Distinguished Service Award yesterday."

The room suddenly became quiet.

"Distinguished Service Award?" Mom repeated in surprise.

"Yes."

"Only one member receives this honor every two years. The Alpha personally approved her nomination."

Conner frowned.

"Wait... Sophie actually won?"

I closed my eyes.

I had told them months ago.

Mom was busy helping Ella choose a university.

Dad had left halfway through dinner to attend one of Ella's competitions.

Conner had been playing games on his phone.

Ryan simply nodded absentmindedly before changing the subject.

None of them remembered.

The elder continued speaking.

"Miss Carter has completed more than eighty successful rescue missions over the past five years."

"She saved thirty-two civilians during last winter's rogue invasion and refused to leave until every child had escaped safely."

"She also volunteered for dangerous border patrols that many experienced warriors declined."

His voice carried genuine admiration.

"The Alpha believes her bravery represents the true spirit of our pack."

Ryan slowly lowered his coffee cup.

His expression stiffened.

"Thirty-two people..." he murmured.

He had never asked what happened after those missions.

Whenever I returned covered in blood, he simply assumed it came with the job.

Not once did he ask whose blood it was.

Not once did he ask whether I was afraid.

"Unfortunately," the second elder added, "Miss Carter never arrived at yesterday's ceremony."

"The Alpha was quite concerned."

"Did something happen to her?"

For a brief second, everyone looked uncomfortable.

Mom quickly forced a smile.

"Nothing serious. She's... upset about a family disagreement."

"She'll contact the council once she calms down."

The elders exchanged uncertain glances.

"Please tell her this recognition belongs to every member of the pack she protected."

"We'll arrange another ceremony when she returns."

They handed Dad the wooden award case before leaving.

The front door closed.

Silence settled over the room.

Conner looked at the elegant box curiously.

"I honestly didn't know she was doing all that."

"Neither did I," Dad admitted quietly.

Mom folded her arms.

"She should've told us how important this award was."

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

No one heard it.

I had told them.

Many times.

They simply weren't listening.

Ella stepped closer to Ryan.

"Sister always works so hard," she whispered sweetly.

"I hope she isn't upset because nobody attended her ceremony."

"Maybe we should surprise her with a celebration when she comes back."

Ryan stared at the award case without answering.

Something inside him finally seemed unsettled.

He remembered our final phone call.

"Ryan... please... help me..."

"I'm dying..."

His fingers tightened around his coffee mug.

"Do you think..." he started before stopping himself.

"Think what?" Dad asked.

"Nothing."

Ryan shook his head.

"It's just strange."

"She sounded different yesterday."

"She always sounds dramatic," Mom interrupted.

"Don't let her manipulate you again."

Ryan slowly nodded.

Yet the doubt remained on his face.

For the first time in years...

He looked uncertain about believing me.

A sudden unpleasant odor drifted into the room.

Conner wrinkled his nose.

"Does anyone smell that?"

"Smell what?" Mom asked.

"Something rotten."

Dad sniffed the air.

"Probably a dead animal outside."

"I'll call maintenance later."

They opened a few windows before continuing breakfast.

The fresh air carried the smell away.

Temporarily.

I slowly turned toward the basement hallway.

The odor wasn't coming from outside.

It was coming from behind the locked basement door.

From the cold concrete floor where my body still lay.

Flies had already begun gathering around the dried blood.

The silence surrounding my corpse felt heavier than any chain.

I floated downstairs once more.

The darkness welcomed me.

There I was.

Curled beside the broken table.

My graduation dress was stained with blood.

Bruises covered my arms.

The Distinguished Service medal I should have received was nowhere near me.

Instead, all I had left was an abandoned phone with dozens of unanswered calls displayed across its cracked screen.

I looked at my own lifeless face.

The girl lying there still seemed to believe someone would come.

She had trusted her family until her very last breath.

She had trusted her mate.

She had believed love would save her.

She was wrong.

Upstairs, everyone resumed talking about dinner reservations and shopping trips.

Downstairs, death waited patiently.

Soon, the smell would become impossible to ignore.

Soon, the truth buried beneath their feet would force every one of them to confront the reality they had refused to see.

And when that moment finally came...

No apology in the world would be enough to bring me back.