Chapter 1

Back in school, Nathan and Serena were the most popular students on campus. They were both gorgeous and at the top of every class.

Everyone assumed they'd end up together.

So when Nathan publicly announced that he was dating me, everyone pitied Serena.

"What's so great about Kira? She's plain, her family's got no money and no status, and her grades are terrible. What does Nathan even see in her?"

"Exactly. I shared your thought. I always thought Nathan would confess to Serena. They're the ones who are actually meant for each other."

Reading all those hurtful comments, I felt terrible.

Whenever that happened, Nathan would stroke my hair. "Don't let them get to you.

They can say whatever they want but you're the one I chose."

After we started working, Serena’s outstanding abilities help her secured her spot as Nathan's Beta.

No matter how hard I tried, I always fell behind and could only land a low-ranking clerk's position.

Nathan always teased me about how adorably clueless I was.

But then he'd go right back to discuss the pack's annual development plans with Serena.

Listening to them throw around terms I couldn't understand, I suddenly felt exhausted.

Ever since our school days, I’d been chasing after Nathan, believing that if I just tried a little harder, I could get a little closer to him.

But the harder I tried, he was further away from me. It felt as though only someone as exceptional as Serena deserved to stand by his side.

They danced gracefully across the dance floor as the crowd cheered, as if they were the ones who should be mates.

I stood in the quiet corner, watched the two dazzling figures on the dance area, and leave the venue

Everyone had gone to the celebration, so when I got back to the Pack Administration Office, the only person there was a cleaning lady with a limp.

She was surprised to see me and asked, "Weren't you at the banquet with the Alpha? Why are you back so soon?"

I went back to my desk and turned on the computer.

"Yeah, it just hit me that I still had files to organize, so I came back early."

The cleaning lady couldn't help but praised, "You're such a hardworking girl. The Alpha is lucky to have a girlfriend like you."

My fingers froze over the keyboard.

If only he felt the same way.

He was busy with pack affairs every day. I could count the number of dates we'd had that year on one hand.

The pack celebration was one of those rare occasions.

To make sure I wouldn't embarrass him, I took dance lessons a month in advance.

I was clumsy and kept falling, I was black and blue all over.

But whenever I imagined dancing with Nathan at the banquet, I felt motivated to keep going.

Serena's arrival shattered all of my hopes

Before the banquet started, I reminded them again and again not to talk about work.

They both pinched my cheeks and laughed. "Okay, okay, whatever you say."

But at the banquet, he pulled Serena aside to talk with other Alphas about future collaborations, investments, and projects.

When I protested, Nathan acted like I was being unreasonable.

"We're not just here to have fun. There are so many Alphas here, and I need to secure as many partnerships as I can. This is all for the pack's future. Can you stop being so childish?"

That one sentence shut me up completely.

I knew how much responsibilities he carried as the Alpha, so I didn't say another word.

All I could do was drowning my sorrow, one glass after another.

The moment I'd been waiting for finally arrived, but Nathan walked right past me and invited Serena to dance.

After they left, I stood alone in the corner and keep telling myself it was fine.

Serena had been dancing since she was a child and every movement she made was light and graceful. With her as his dance partner, Nathan would look good in front of everyone.

I stayed and organized the meeting materials at my desk and didn't leave the office building until late at night.

The moment I stepped out, I ran right into Nathan, who had just came back from the banquet.