Chapter 3: The Smell of the Truth

The house slowly returned to its usual rhythm after the Pack Council elders left.

Mom carried the empty breakfast plates into the kitchen while humming a cheerful tune.

Dad unfolded the morning newspaper and settled into his favorite chair.

Conner sprawled across the couch, completely absorbed in his phone.

Ryan remained seated at the dining table, his eyes fixed on the polished wooden box that contained my Distinguished Service Award.

For the first time in a long while, silence surrounded him.

I floated beside him, searching his face for even the smallest trace of regret.

There was something there.

Not guilt.

Not yet.

Only confusion.

He replayed our final phone call in his mind over and over again.

"Ryan... please... help me... I'm dying..."

The desperation in my voice echoed through his memory.

Yesterday he had dismissed it as another attempt to steal attention from Ella's graduation.

Now, after hearing everything the elders had said about me, doubt had begun creeping into his heart.

"Ryan?" Ella called softly.

He looked up.

"Are you okay?"

"You seem distracted."

Ryan forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

"I just keep thinking about Sophie."

Ella's expression froze for a fraction of a second before concern replaced it.

"She'll come home soon."

"She always does."

"Don't blame yourself."

She gently rested her hand over his.

"You know how dramatic Sister can be."

Ryan nodded, but his eyes wandered back to the award case.

"Still..."

"She never mentioned this award."

"Maybe she did," Conner muttered without looking away from his phone.

"We probably weren't paying attention."

The room fell silent again.

Those simple words struck harder than anyone realized.

Because they were true.

Every important moment of my life had quietly slipped past them.

My first patrol.

My promotion.

The scar across my shoulder after protecting three children from rogue wolves.

The medal for bravery I earned two years earlier.

Every achievement had been overshadowed by one of Ella's milestones.

Not because mine mattered less.

But because I did.

Mom returned from the kitchen carrying a fresh pot of coffee.

"Let's not waste the day talking about Sophie," she said.

"Ella deserves our full attention."

"Tonight's dinner reservation is at seven."

"Ryan, you'll be there, won't you?"

"Of course," he answered automatically.

The conversation shifted to dresses, decorations, and guest lists.

No one noticed the faint buzzing sound drifting from the hallway.

I followed it.

Several flies circled near the basement door.

More than there had been an hour earlier.

Their tiny wings beat against the wooden frame before scattering into the air.

The smell had grown stronger.

Even I could sense it now.

Death never stayed hidden forever.

Back in the living room, Conner suddenly wrinkled his nose.

"Seriously... does nobody smell that?"

"It stinks."

Dad sniffed the air.

"Probably spoiled food."

"Check the refrigerator."

Conner opened the refrigerator.

"Everything's fresh."

"Then maybe something died in the walls," Mom suggested.

"We'll call someone tomorrow."

Tomorrow.

By tomorrow my body would have been lying there for nearly two days.

The thought made my chest ache, even though I no longer possessed a heartbeat.

Ryan slowly stood.

"I'll check downstairs."

My entire body tensed.

Finally.

Finally someone was going to open that door.

He walked toward the basement hallway.

Every step echoed through the silent house.

I floated beside him.

His hand reached for the doorknob.

Then Ella's voice stopped him.

"Ryan!"

He turned around.

"Can you help me with something upstairs?"

"I can't zip up my dress."

She smiled apologetically.

"Please?"

Ryan glanced toward the basement door.

For one long second, I thought he would ignore her.

Instead, he sighed.

"Sure."

He removed his hand from the knob.

Together they disappeared upstairs.

I stared after them in disbelief.

Even now...

Even now she had managed to pull him away from me.

The basement remained closed.

The truth remained buried.

Hours passed.

Outside, dark clouds rolled across the sky.

A heavy rain began falling against the windows.

Thunder echoed across the valley.

Inside the basement, rainwater seeped through tiny cracks in the old foundation.

It mixed with the dried blood surrounding my body.

The metallic smell became even stronger.

Upstairs, the lights suddenly flickered.

"Power outage?" Conner asked.

"Just the storm," Dad replied.

The electricity returned a moment later.

At that exact instant, a notification sounded from Ryan's phone.

He picked it up.

The screen displayed an unknown number.

"Hello?"

A calm voice answered.

"Captain Ryan? This is Detective Marcus from the Pack Security Division."

"We're following up on a report involving three rogue wolves seen near your neighborhood yesterday morning."

"Would your family be available to answer a few questions?"

Ryan frowned.

"Rogue wolves?"

"Yes."

"Witnesses reported suspicious activity around your property."

"We'd appreciate your cooperation."

Ryan's expression slowly changed.

He looked toward the basement hallway again.

This time...

A chill ran down even my ghostly spine.