Her smile widens, and she holds the package out to me. “Happy birthday!”
For a moment, I just stare at her, stunned. My hands are still dripping with soapy water, and I’m painfully aware of how filthy and out of place I look compared to her. “I… Sabrina, you didn’t have to—”
“Of course I did! Now, take it!” she interrupts, practically thrusting the package into my hands. Her excitement is infectious, but it’s hard to shake the weight of shame pressing down on me.
I take the gift hesitantly, glancing up at her. “Thank you… but, Sabrina, I didn’t get you anything.” My heart sinks with guilt. She’s always treated me like a sister, not a servant. Sneaking me sweets, braiding my hair, pulling me into her games—it never mattered to her that I didn’t belong. But now, covered in dirt while she glows like the moon, the gap between us feels impossible to ignore.
She laughs, her laugh light and carefree, unburdened by the embarrassment I feel. “Don’t be silly. I don’t need anything from you, Talia.” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a warm hug. “Happy birthday.”
I return the hug, a knot of emotion tightening in my chest. “Happy birthday,” I whisper back, though it feels hollow. Today should be special. Our shared eighteenth birthday should have been something magical, a day we’d both dreamed of for years. But instead, I’m scrubbing floors while she prepares to be presented to the pack in all her glory. The divide between us has never felt more stark.
“Now open it!” she exclaims, stepping back and gesturing excitedly at the package.
I glance down, my fingers trembling as I tear away the golden wrapping. Beneath it is the softest fabric I’ve ever seen, a dress of deep scarlet red that sparkles in the light. It’s stunning—elegant and simple yet undeniably beautiful. I gasp, my breath catching in my throat. “Sabrina… I can’t…”