第2章

For ten years, I had to justify every expense to Dominic, meticulously accounting for each dollar spent.

He constantly emphasized the importance of saving money for pack development, yet he hadn't hesitated to spend $200,000 on Sylvia's welcome celebration.

He claimed he wanted our relationship to remain untainted by money or power, which was why he refused to pay me a salary for my work as the pack's healer. Any personal spending money I needed required his official approval.

Before, as his devoted mate, I had silently supported and understood him. For his sake and for the pack, I willingly sacrificed without complaint, striving to fulfill his every request.

But his frugality, I now realized, applied only to me.

He could lavishly spend thousands on diamond necklaces for Sylvia. He could purchase her a mansion without blinking. Each extravagant gift made headlines in the werewolf news outlets.

Where the money flowed, that's where his heart truly lay.

Coming back to my senses, I immediately transferred his $100 back to his account and said coldly:

"No thanks. I don't need it."

Dominic finally looked at me with genuine attention. His expression hardened as if something had just occurred to him.

"Not enough?" he asked with an edge to his voice. "It's just a holiday, Grace. How much money do you need? Is that why you became my mate—for my money?"

Such cruel words, yet I had endured them for years.

I had only wanted to enjoy normal mate experiences—exchanging gifts, shopping together—but he accused me of being shallow and materialistic, claiming I was only after his family's wealth and power.

"Don't give me any money," I said quietly. "My mother doesn't need your money anymore either."

Just then, someone knocked at our door.

Dominic shot me an annoyed glance before turning to answer it.

The next second, his voice rose with sudden warmth: "Sylvia! What are you doing here?"

I turned my head to see Sylvia standing in the doorway. My breath caught in my throat when I noticed the two healing crystals—the very ones that could have saved my mother's life—decorating her designer jacket.

She playfully punched Dominic's chest, laughing brightly. "Hey, handsome Alpha! My girlfriends came over today and they're dying to see what my mate looks like." She batted her eyelashes. "Can you take us shopping? Pretty please?"

Looking past Dominic, she noticed me staring at her. Her innocent expression barely masked the challenge in her eyes.

"Oh, Grace," she said with mock concern. "Are you admiring my crystals? They match my outfit perfectly, don't they? Dominic specifically chose them for me." Her smile turned predatory. "Perhaps you've never seen such high-grade healing stones before? Or maybe you're jealous? You shouldn't be upset though. Dominic and I are just childhood friends. Don't read too much into it."

As she spoke, she deliberately pressed against Dominic, intertwining their fingers to display their matching arm bands—symbols of love and loyalty in werewolf culture. In my ten years with Dominic, I had never received one.

Dominic gazed at her adoringly, smoothly tucking her hand into his coat pocket to warm it.

"What could she possibly be upset about?" he laughed. "Don't worry, I'll definitely make you look good in front of your friends!"

With that, Dominic grabbed his car keys and turned to leave.

After a few steps, he seemed to suddenly remember my existence. He released Sylvia's hand and approached me, cupping my face to plant a quick kiss on the corner of my lips.

"Don't overthink things," he whispered. "Just move out soon and enjoy the Full Moon Festival with your mother. After I'm elected Alpha King, I'll come back for you."

Oh, Dominic. My mother is gone, and I will never return to you.

I vigorously wiped my lips as I watched them leave, playfully shoving each other like teenagers.

Then I turned back to the table where my immigration application lay waiting—as a core pack member, I needed the pack council's signatures to regain my status as a free werewolf and migrate to another territory.