THE LYCAN TWINS SECOND CHANCE MATE

IN-HOUSE CINDERELLA

CARISSA'S POV

I made the last set of avocado toast and bacon, just the way Chloe preferred them. Too much seasoning and she'd shove the plate straight in my face, too little and she'd splutter the content all over my face.

“Hurry and get out of my sight, I don't want to have a bad day.” She winced as I set breakfast on the table. I quickly hurried up, careful not to toss the plate to the ground when she added, “I brought out some dresses, I need you to iron them, I have an important date with you know who.”

I held back a grunt. Chloe had a relatively good life compared to mine, even though we were twin sisters. We were the direct opposite of each other, like our rooms were apart.

Sleek wavy brown hair that flipped across her waist, long lashes that housed the perfect set of blue doey eyes, well defined lips that made all the boys at school drool over her. Her toned legs and her wolf charisma easily made her the hottest girl at school.

On the other hand, I had a lot of flesh which made a good number of the kids at school call me ‘fat’ I mean, I wasn't fat in the real sense of it. I was a size ten. While Chloe was a size eight– the perfect physique.

“What the hell is this!” She spat out the juice the minute she took a sip. “Did you serve me orange juice on a Monday morning?” Her voice crackled through the air.

I shifted in my feet, not moving a word. “We're out of—” she didn't let me finish my statement before she lunged the glass cup at me. I made to deck, but was too slow. The glass hit the edge of my brows. Everywhere went blank and all I could hear was muzzing all around me.

My legs were barely keeping me standing and my head banged. “Serves you right for being downright stupid and clumsy in one.” Mother's voice pounded in my head like a ton of bricks.

I clutched my hand on the side of the head that had the most impact with the glass. It throbbed with a mixture of pain and…and liquid dripping from my side of head— blood.

“I need to go clean this up, please.”

“Yeah you should, we don't want you spilling your cursed blood around the house.” Chloe spat. I spun on my feet and staggered to the bathroom. I quickly cleaned up the bleeding cut that was still dripping with blood.

“You fool, get a hold of yourself.” I wiped the stray tear that leaked from the corner of my eyes with a grunt, before I made my way back to the dining table to serve the rest of the family.

The instant I walked into the quietness of the dining table, Chloe hissed, staring me down with a wicked smirk. “Gosh! Do I really need to spell it out for you dumbass!” She yelled, causing a gasp of horror out of my lips.

My lips parted open as if to speak when Jayden, our elder brother, beat me to it. “Chloe, she's obviously in pain, the least you could do is cut her some slack.” he mumbled, as he pushed himself up amidst the silence that rented the entire room.

“Jayden!” Mother's voice was slightly raised, “What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?”

His jaw unclenched. Jayden tilted his head sideways, “What a sane relative should do when a family is in need of help.” He inched closer to me, ignoring their sighs and hisses. “I can't use my blood because we're not mates, get into the car I'll take you to the hospital.”

I didn't move an inch, perhaps because both mom and Chloe were staring daggers at me. Jayden dipped his head, the expression on his face, angry. “Carissa, don't make me repeat myself.”

Chloe scoffed. “Big brother, I guess she knows better than doing that,” she paused, her eyes burning a deep hole right through my head. If looks could kill, I'll be six feet down. “Remember, he comes home from college, you're stuck with us twin sister.”

Chloe's words sent chills down my spine. I knew better than pissing either Mom or her off. There were always consequences— dire ones.

I swallowed, “I'll be fine, I just need to—”

“Carissa, go with your brother.” Father wheeled into the dining room, hanging by the doorpost.

I stared at him, unsure of my next step. Father stomped on the handle of his wheelchair. “I said go with your brother to the infirmary.”

I flinched, nodded profusely. I trailed slowly behind Jayden till we got to the car. He got in and gestured for me to get in, I did. “If you can't beat them, I guess you have to learn how to protect yourself.”

“I tried.” I muttered under my breath, and he chuckled.

“No offense, but how'd you intend to be fast with so much weight Carrissa. One advice to you baby sis, I guess you should cut down on your junks.” he winked, and shot his hands to ruffle my hair. When I winced, he quickly retreated. “I’m sorry.”

I rolled my eyes. “It's not like I'm dying.”

He grunted. “Are you kidding me right now?” He said with a pause, “You look like you would make do with a few tanks of oxygen,” he teased, the corner of his eyes darting over the swollen spot.

“Well I don't. And as for my weight, I'm really trying but in between my shifts, going to school, taking care of father and the s**t ton of house chores, I have to settle for carbs.”

“Look Carissa, I know it's quite difficult for the family right now, but we can still afford food.” pity clouded his eyes when he spoke again. “You could always eat something better in the house.”

Jayden knew how mother treated me. He'd come back home from college to see me eating from their leftovers. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. Everyday, I try to find the silver lining in my dark cloud.

My lips set into a thin line. Yes, we can afford food but the only problem was, mother doesn't let me eat in the house. Most times, I have to make do with carbs and cola drinks or starve. For the amount of workload I was saddled with each day, I can't afford to go a day without food.

“Yeah. I guess I have to cut down on food.”

He nodded, satisfied. “Who knows, you might be lucky to find your fated mate a few days from now.”

I couldn't hold back the grunt that rested on my lips. “It’s not like my weight is a hindrance.”

Jayden pulled the car to a halt. “Ugh! I'm not gonna lie to you even if you're my sister. There's no way I'll wholeheartedly accept a mate bond with an overweight.” he quickly raised his hands in surrender, “No offense. But what's in vogue are size eight girls.”

His words cut through me, but I couldn't react through the pain in my head, I was a size ten. Plus, aside from my Dad, Jayden was the only one who treated me like human. He had his own shortcomings— Jayden was blunt to a fault. But I knew he loved me, or at least tolerated me as far as a brother could love his sister.

I shrugged. “My head hurts, let's get this injury treated.”

He scoffed. “We really should, we don't want your mate rejecting you because of too many scars on your body.”

“Wh-wh-what…”

Jayden patted my shoulders, with a wink. “Don't take it to heart baby sis. Perhaps, you should intentionally stay out of trouble with mom.”

I casted a questioning look to his direction and he caved in with a grunt. “Yeah, I forgot, it's not about you. Why not try to leave?”

“Oh I will, as soon as I get my wolf and I'm done with highschool.” It was a hard pill to swallow especially with Dad's condition but that was my only way out of getting into more troubles.